The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-02-24
TIE EVENING STORY
Miss Travers' Transformation.
(By Temple Bailey.l

Icy 4emple BalIey.t
Il should love you," Arnold said
doggedly, under any circumstances.
You are what you are by the grace of
GOO, and I want you for my wife,
From the other side of the fireplace
MISS Travers regarded him gloornily
women who act she said. what
can you expect Of themf They are
never domestic, and you are used to
domestic women. Your mother is
home-keeper. You have always dwelt
IN Wen ordered establishment You
nave nothing in common with Bohem-
ianism; and I. why. my life swings
from the prosperity of q table d'hote
ness OF my own morning bacon
COOKED over the gas jet"
that" he said hastily. aThat win be
over when you are my wife"
viii it?" she asked What If my
genius should insist upon finding ex-
pression?"
"I am not asking you to settle
down." Arnold told her almost with
irritation. Il love your art, love
gown, and the freight bringing out
the red In your hair. I'm not. sure
that I should enjoy you half as much
IN conventional shirt waist or an
apron
II should like to think" she said
wistfully. that you should like me
love me-in anything"
why analyze? pr he asked lightly.
TO me you are altogether lovely"
She bent toward him eff decide
tonight" she said; "if say yes to-
night. are you sure you won't regret 2"
Very sure" he said gravely.
Suddenly she surrendered and wIlis-
pered, "If It will make you happy"
He went home radiant His moth
er's door was half open as he passed it,
SO he went in and found her propped
up on pillows, her Bible on the table
beside her, the latest magazine in her
hand
IT came to tell you OF my happi-
A shadow on her fne old face. but
she said quietly. '"Then it is Alice
Traverse"
Yes he said. 1--WE are going to
be married as soon as her season is
over next month";
"She is lovely" his mother said,
yet I'm half afraid. dear boy"
Please" he pleaded don't be
afraid. She is sure that she won't
come up to the standard of family
domesticity, but want wife. not a
housekeeper, mother
His mother shook her head. Ills
tie blind boy she said. Every man
needs a caretaker. not q housekeeper,
not a cook. but the guardian of his
home; one who makes it a secure
a. wife like the one you have chosen
there will be no fixed abode. VIII
you ever be happy in will-o'-the-wisp
life?"
"of course" he said stoutly. but
his heart misgave him. AL of his
boyish dreams had tended toward the
fine old estate which his father had
left him.. He had seen himself play
ing the host with his wife by his
side. Yet he had fallen in love with a
T-oT L. 4wn
hotels, and the rest Of 1t in chair cars
or s1eepers.
Yet when he saw her the next night.
an appealing figure in the little play
which suited her, her red-gold hair
falling unbound to her knees, her
bride-Iike beauty, he felt no doubts.
She was perfect and she would soon
be his
In the spring they were married.
He had planned a honeymoon at his
cottage in the pine woods. but fate
a great play, and it was necessary that
his wife should go to Paris to see the
author, so he went with her
Arnold gave himself up to g. life that
contributed to his wife's success He
spent money on her freely, lavished
upon her every luxury. and was
amused and interested by the novelty
of it all. Yet he felt that he did not
make her happy. Now and then she
would look at him wistfully and say:
"It is going to end; you won't like this
always"
Then he would comfort her. Some
day We'll settle down."
but can I settle DOWN." was her
insistent question.
"Of course you cam he said. Yet
there were times when her genius
seemed to separate her from him, and
he felt forlorn and alone.
He never felt 1t so much as on the
last night of the season when she
bowed her farewell to clamoring
audience. She seemed to belong to the
people, not to him.
When she came to him behind the
scenes, she laid her head against his
arm and said, Lets go away some
where, far away from everybody, just
you and I, and be happy"
He took her to his cottage in the
pines. Her maid went with her. The
little house seemed crowded for the
first time Before he had married her
all the service had been performed by
one man, a native woodsman. Now, |
however, with the chattefing French |
maid and the two stalwart Swedes
there was little left of the charm of
isolation.
He said something of this once to
his WIFE "Alec and got more out of
this than you and IL
"Why?"
He used to go off in the woods and |
leave me alone Arnold said. "but you
and I are never alone"
"You mean the maids?" she asked. |
eyes There are too many of us
here-there is no romance"
at had not noticed it. I have stud /
led SO hard
leone with me tomorrow into the
woods" he pleaded. 'I want to show
you some of my old haunts."
"You must go alone" she stated. IT
have so many things to do |
In the morning he went off, taking |
a dog with him, and a gun in the hope
of birds In the evening it began to |
rain. AS he neared the cottage he saw |
a point of light in the window. He |
half wished that Alec might be there |
in the shadows cooking their bachelor
dinner over the Goals. He knew that |
he mould he met nv Swedish nerfecfinn