The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-03-13
The EVENING STORY
Up Through the Dawn.
(By Temple Bailey.3


They were both very tired. The
womans face was white. and her
loosened hair blew untidily about her
temples.
cant We rest?" she asked
The man set his bag at the foot of
a rock, then unfolding great plaid
rug he made a seat for her.
IF you could sleep little" he sug-
gested.
She shook her head. 81 can't
think and think.
His lips were set in stern line.
ed to the others. I have taken from
you your lightheartedness.
She chung to him. Don't didn't
mean to reproach.
ct know-but if there were any way
to let you out of this"
She was sobbing wildly.
But there isn't, it must always be
| 'Wkither thou goest,' Alec"
He soothed her rough hair for
moment in silence. Then he said: "At
you care to be with me, Margaret.
Ibid you think-that I would leave
you?'
Il didn't know. Yours has been
such a butterfly life
'Then I have gained this out of our
| troubles, that am all yours"
YES
He drew a corner of the rug about
| her shoulders, shielding her from the
cool, damp breeze of the early morn
| ing.
"Yes." he repeated. sit has been a
great thing to know that when failure
came you believed in me; that when
| disgrace came you trusted me. YET
| there is a whole life beyond this,
| Margaret
| What of that ?'
"You have never known hardship,
and we shall be very poor"
- IL IN
| his. "I don't know just how to say
| it, but somehow I feel it is going to
bring us nearer together. In that big
! house it seemed to me that we were
| always separated. Even when we
were alone at dinner there were the
servants and the formal service.
There was never anything I could do
| for you. You were always doing things
| for me-but my hands were tied. /
felt useless. But now it will be diff
His face did not brighten. "I have
no faith in such a future for you." he
said. att is dear of you to tell me
such things. / know you want to be-
| lieve them of yourself and of me. but
| no woman raised as you have been
can come down to the hard realities of
life and be happy. 1 don't expect it.
| and sometimes 1 feel that I ought to
think out some other way"
Her startled eyes looked up at him.
what way
st ought to let you go back to your
own people" slowly, ''and fight it out
alone"
"Oh," her voice was shaken by deep
feeling. Last night when you came
| to me and told me that the decision
of the court had gone against you;
that you had lost your heart, your
pride, your self respect, that the world
would call you dishonest. although you
| had not been dishonest tE intention,
that you wanted to drop out of every
thing, 1 said that we would go away at
we could be hidden, and you seemed
so glad to have-me &c with you.
Her voice faltered ''And now you
want to send me back
| "Only for your good"
! She cried a little, softly in his arms.
at shall be happy" she whispered.
81 hope you may" but his voice was
dead.
The rose red of the eastern sky had
turned to gold. and the world was
flooded with radiance.
| There is a house over there, the
man said. "behind that clump of haw-
thorn. We will go and ask for coffee"
In her long travelling coat with her
velvet hat hiding her hair, she made
an homogeneous figure on the country
road The little feet in the high
heeIed shoes were better fitted for a
city boulevard.
but I'm not hungry" she pro-
| tested
| The small house, as they drew near
er. showed itself weather-beaten gray.
/ A yellow cat summed herself on the
| stone walk. and there was a row of
| shining milk pans on side porch. AS
/ thew crossed the road the cat came
down to meet them, purring a welcome.
Margaret stopped and lifted her in her
arms ''You pretty thing" she said.
| Thus they went up the walk together.
| An old man opened the door. He
| dragged one foot and carried cane.
He started; then smiled Come in,''
| he said, heartily.
: eff We might have breakfast" Alec
! said, 1--WE would be glad to pay for t.
| We left the train at Rosedale, and !
| think we've wandered somewhat out of
our way
/ Come in the old man said again.
you are welcome to such as we have.
You're from the city, reckon
/ Yes Alec replied absently.
/ He was watching Margaret. She had
| taken off her hat and the cat was
playing with the loosened strands of
hair. "Oh, you poor little child was
| his hearts cry.
ssPIl go out and get Lefty" said the
old man. shell have things ready in
| a minute
| The woman who came back with him
/ was as old as he, but stronger and
fresher She had brisk way with her,
| and cordially that put them at once
/ at their ease.
you like my pussy, she said to
Margaret He's the descendant Of
| one I found here when 1 came, twenty
years ago.
Twenty years." Alec asked sharply.
Have you lived here twenty years.?
/ Yes" she answered brightly.