The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-03-06
THE EVENING STORY
Letitia,s License.
by Molly McAIaster.J

/ 10y molly AcMaSter.
The Rev. Samuel Durand strolled
ielsufely through the park. 1t was
not often that the young minister had
| the time TO stroll, but even ministers
| hnd that all work and no play makes
a tlresone pilgrimage through life. The
park was still wearing it's winter garb
yet there was that in the air which
suggested an early spring The Rev.
MI Durand expanded his massive
cnest and drew in drafts of the fresh
| air. He realized then with the blood
| cours1ng through his veins that he
was thankful to his big congrega tor
| Tor insisting On this much needed rest.
HIS eyes glanced ahead through the
| labyrinth OF glistening trees and the
winding path below. A few yards be-
| You'd, in the middle of that wide path,
| lay long envelope. and VIXEN the min
| lster reached the spot he stopped and
picked it I'D. There was no writing
to indicate an owner and the Rev. Mr.
Durand turned a searching glance
%Dout the immediate vicinity. Perhaps
someone would even then be returning
10 look for the lost property.
But the park was deserted save f II
the sparrows and the little beggirg
squirrels that sat up with forepaws
against their breasts in mute appeal.
Inc minister's hand went deep into
his pocket and drew forth the desired
peanuts; three days in Central pa rl<
mad taught him that New York squir-
rels were not the untamed variety Of
the western woods.
The Rev. Mr.. Durand stopped to
meet the demands of the little crea-
lures that waylaid rich and poor.
saint and sinner
When his pockets were emptied his
mind returned to the legaI-looking doc
ument he had picked up from the
path
"A marriage license, Now what
man could be so careless as to lose
so precious a thing?' For a Tnomeu-
the minister's eyes were wistful IF
the right girl had ever come into my
mine-I think I would not let go the
paper in a hurry
He scanned the document for the
names of the couple.
'Letitia Larken and Harold Dryer"
The minister repeated the last name
and thoughtful line drew between
his eyes. He stopped still in the path
and probed his memory.
Harold Dwyer? Where have
seen AM! He continued his walk,
but the puzzled frown only deepened.
I married Harold Dryer toto
Rose Lange five-no four-years ago.
And during the remainder of his
walk back to the hotel the Rev. Mr..
Durand was lost in thought. There
might easily be two Harold Dryers
that it was not so in this case. He
suddenly felt as if his trip to the east,
his walk in the park, and in fact his
whole life had been a preparation for
the finding of this marriage license.
Argument whispered to him that
Harold Dwyer may have lost his first
wife, but wisdom told him that such
was not the case.
cense to the girl he decided and
wondered why he sought the girl rath-
er than the man. Yet instinct told him
that the man could not be trusted and
that the girl was in need of warning.
1t was toward the late afternoon
when the young minister made his way
to the home of Letitia Larkin. Some
how he had had a preSentiment that
the girl would be living in a boarding
house.
domiciles for the homeless in the big
city. A slovenly but affable maid led
the young minister into the front room
with the information that Miss Larkin
was engaged with the ladies' guild,
but that she would bring her down
from the top floor.
Lost in wonderment as to why the
parlors of boarding houses invariably
contained a plush album and a table
with a marble top, the minister did
not hear the soft entrance of Letitia
Larkin. When he did catch sight of
her he arose quickly to his feet with
q quickly 1ndraWn breath. He had not
prepared himself for the big innocent
eyes of Letitia or the demure smile on
Letitia'S lips or the smooth shining
braids on Letitia's head or in fact any
of the manifold charms that made up
the entire Letitia. He only looked at
her and gripped himself the harder
because of the pain he felt he was
about to inf1ict.
She drew nearer and held out a
steady, cordial hand. Any member of
the clergy was always welcome t.
Letitia and she supposed he was one
who had learned of her little odds and
ends of charity work.
The girls eyeJashes swept quickly
down when she felt the warm. pro-
tecting pressure of the minister's hand.
Then she looked Up and said:
won't you be seated?'
Il have come On a rather peculiar
Grand" The minister spoke with a
touch of gravity. Il found this He
held out the marriage license and saw
the quick color flame into Letitia's
cheeks.
'tOh. Thank you so much. Harold
Mr.. Dwyer must have lost it,
Il found 1t in Central Park the !
clergyman said and waited until the
color had receded from the girls face
Z could have mailed the document but
1 used 20 know a Harold Dwyer--in |
fact" the Rev. Mr.. Durand hesita- |
ted fer the fraction of a minute then
went bravely on, Il married a M |
Harold Dwyer four years ago His
wife was a dear friend of mine
The minister watched the girls face. |