The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-10
TIE EVENING STORY
Little Bald Head.
(By A. Maria crawford.)

NIT tnaL you tONe me out reTuSe TO
marry me, believe that 1 am justi-
fled in wanting to know exactly
why
They were having late supper at a
table in an alcove in a large restau-
rant. The gold tassel at the side of
her little. theater cap swayed Slightly
as she leaned her head over, staring
at the white cloth with its mound Of
yellow roses.
Look at me, Helen! It's high time
that we threshed this thing OUT con-
t1nued John Haldon quietly.
Helen Rayner's face flushed pain
fully Il wish you wouldn't dis
cuss such personal things-here.'
Nobody is listening to us. Dean
Sherwood is grinning his usual She'll
never have you, my boy and I am
not willing to submit to expressive
public speculation any more. You'll
me over for good. I won't hang fire
another day.
Mercy. John! You astonish ME-
You are SO dramatic. Be pleasant
per-
mo, the worm has turned, Helen.
Anger certainly affects a mans ap-
petite. You laugh at me constantly.
What is your attitude? 1 want to
understand it perfectly"
Are you Jealous, my dear?" ques-
toned the girl in a half hooking
way. 7 rode home from ElleE's
luncheon today with Freddie DIM
stead. He has a new car, a beauty.
suppose you've heard about it, Dear
me- she sighed audibly, jealousy is
such a stupid habit"
Helen, have put a plain question
to you. can't force you to answer,
You can't play with me and my love
for another day"
Her eyes met his for fleeing sec
ond and she saw stern look on his
face that forbade further bantering.
John?''
do you still admit that you love
Ne. Yes. You must know that do
marry me? L can offer you all that
your father is able to give you"
Il am not ready to settle down /
want to have a good time. When
girl is not yet twenty-five she doesn't
want to give up all her fun"
Granted, but why give it up2 Is
at because you want other men
around 2?
No, mo. As it is. go practically
Helen, it's because of Tom Gray
ner You want to remain single until
after he comes home with your
brother in the spring. He has more
money than I have Are you mer-
cenary, after all?''
IF I didn't love you, John Haldon.
would never speak to you again.
III tell you why 1 haven't wanted to
marry you. You have so many the
cries, Il have been afraid 1 would
TRUTH
What do you mean, Helenq~
GU believe in what you call
brotherhood and try to help people
who are less fortunate than you are. |
You believe in really doing service
FOR your friends. For instance. when
Jim Thorton's trouble came and I re-
monstrated with you for giving I'm I
your time as well as your money To I
help him. you said, Anybody's money |
can accomplish as much as mine b4t
NOBODY can do for that boy as I can I
Tor he loves me and has faith in me
With a little announcement and helm /
from me, he will soon get on his feet /
again. He will do whatever I expect T
OF him. I never forgot those words. !
They were indicative of your oufIootr
on people in general and on me in !
particular L was afraid to fail you"
dear - o''' YOU
That's just it. You think Won won't
but If we ever came TO marriage. YOU
would be sorry that you had taken a
woman who was in no sense your
nelpmeet. I know, John, have
thought about it a great many times
and tried to laugh the fear out Of my
heart"
Don't say that, Helen. It's like
a whip in my face
You expect so much of a woman
NO, you're wrong about that.
Every man has theories about the sort
OF woman he ought to marry, but 1t
isn't necessary for him to follow them.
L believe that a man ought TO marry
a woman who loves him we'll enough
to marry him if he needs it. but if you
Just love me well enough to marry me,
that's all I will ask. want you. Don't
you see what a hypocrite I am. My
theories are not personally applicable
they are for the other people. If
you are only waiting for me w-1en the
days work is over, that is all I want,
truly, Helen. all want in the world
Perhaps I am not the woman you
want to marry. I am selfish. All my
life I've been warm. silk lined and well
fel. I have never thought of any
bodys comfort but my own"
t.Heredity and environment have
created that attitude. When the time
comes for any service, you will rot
be lacking either in willingness or in
a bility. I know you better than you
know yourself
AT any rate, your faith in me is
Il love you, Helen. Are you going
to put me out of your life tonight for
a mere shadowy fear that will prove
to have no substance?" II
She sat there, toying with q jeWeIed
chain about her throat and looking
c11riousIy at some new arrivals II
why, Jol1n,'' she said, forgetting
his tender love speech and all-import-
ant question. those people must be /
stopping between trains. / never saw
a baby out at this time of the night
Possibly not" he answered indif- {
ferently-