The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-03-09
THE EVENING STORY
Money and Marriage.
0By Maude Parsons.)

and rang three times. A lovely voice.
with little yawn in it answered.
May see you few moments, Miss
Anne 2! queried Douglass. Its mat
ter of importance"
| es,, William. returned the lovely
| voice. Come right over"
Anne Thornton. owner of Thorny-
prook, awaited the manager in a
sun flooded room In the handsome old
house. Miss Thornton was good to
look upon. In a ruffied. trailing morn
ing gown. and with dewy eyes that
looked forth contentedly on a pleasant
world. she was ravishinE.
Or so thought William Douglass.
| anyway. William was in love with
his employer.
His homely. trustworthy face was
pale and his eyes were dark dinged.
He mad not slept much for two nights
trying to decide on just what he was
going to say. Now he found his speech
curiously hard to deliver.
| Miss Anne" he began
J yes" encouraged Miss Anne, in
a tone of voice she reserved for
| Douglass alone
IS, We-you have a chance to buy
some more stock of the Du Quoin Ma
tional bank
We'll, what do you think of it?'
| 1T is a good buy" William, on ia
miliar ground, was not embarrassed
now. 1.-THE banks well managed and
1 is making money
Then buy it, william You know
I trust all those things to you, any
way"
| The unhappy William perspired.
That's what I came to see you about.
Twelve been thinking about the
back farm. Shall we pasture it again
this summer, or pillow it for corn? We'd
better decide, If this weather is go
ing to stay"
| Without the low hills were TAX
ing on a tender greenery, and two
robins made love under the window.
Miss Anne, being young and whole
some and pretty. was pulsing be-
liam was talking about blowing!
| Whatever you think best, Will
liam" And then suddenly turning
her dark eyes full upon him: What
did you really want to see me about,
William %
Douglass gasped and f1oundered.
Then. rising, he placed little pack
age of papers in her hand, and said:
| Here's a statement Of things-of
your money and stocks and your
| farms. I'm going TOTO leave Miss
Anne.'
The old clock in the hall tick-tocked
off ages of silence. Douglass kept his
stubborn glance on the sunshiny land
scape beyond the broad window. Miss
Anne studied the toe of her little slip
| per.
Going away" she said at last, as
if to herself. you are really going
to leave us! Why, William"
It's private matter I'd-well,
I'd rather not say, Miss Anne
| SIS it salary, William? You know
I've tried to make you take more
mo" returned Douglass, decidedly.
| I'm paid more than I'm worth, now"
"But you've done splendidly, Will
liam. When we hired you as manager,
mother and had no idea of burdening
you with our financial affairs, too. And
now we're depending on you to make
our investments"
IT'S all right. Miss Anne. I've
Uncle Robert says you've made us
richer than ever. And a share of
| that is yours"
| mo" said Douglass. and he meant
| 1t. cit isn't money"
| I'm sorry" said Miss Thornton,
plaintively. We've been very happy
togeth-" If William had not been
so busy watching the love making
robins he would have noticed a little
blush tinge his employers cheeks as
so harmonious"
ct know, Miss Anne. That's what
makes it hard to go. never can thank
| you for your kindness Those papers
will explain things to the new man"
| William interrupted Miss Anne,
please sit down again. I want your
advice-for a friend. You're not go
ing to leave US right away?"
"Oh, no; 1 can stay for a little
| time
s"Three months-four months?" The
| girl leaned forward eagerly
"We-ell, I hardly think so. want
to get established before the summer
is too far advanced"
| ooh" A pause. $50 you're going
into business?"
| "Ye-es: that is. I think So"
| SIS that so personal that you didn't
want to tell me?" There was an ac-
cusing emphasis on the me"
| Douglass did not attempt to answer.
zone of my girl friends doesn't
know just what to do, William. You
see, she's-she's-in love-"
| "Oh!'
.aThat oh was dreadfully noncom-
initial, William. Aren't you inter-
ested?"
s'Why, yes, certainly, Miss Anne"
| "WeH, she doesn't know whether
the young man isis in love with
her or not
"She isn't sure. She thinks he likes
her. but"
| "Oh. there are complications, Will
liam She is rich, and the young man
| is Door She feels he's too proud to
speak,
| "Oh."
seWell. what is she going to do?
She's-she's cried herself to sleep,
I'm afraid, a good many times; and
| vet there doesn't seem to be any way
to make him speak"
| William looked up. The dark eyes
gazed innocently and perplexedly into
| his own.
ssThere isn't any way I'm afraid"
| he said, with an unconscious sigh. "If
the man has self-respect. he can't be
a fortune hunter. He must make his
own way before he can ask the girl
| to be his wife,
| .'She's thought of that, too. But it
seems so foolish! They may have to
walt years and grow old and with
| cred while he makes lot of money
they don't need. Isn't marriage an
equal partnership? Why hasn't the
wife the right to bring money to the