The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-01-05
THE EVENING STORY
Reconciliation.

dome of rich glass threw a warm
yellow light over the linen and silver
on the table.
He blew some smoke rings, which
foated lazily into the dark shadow
above him. Then he blew more, and
they, too, thinned and faded. Truro
was long time coming.
Truro was the faithful Jap he had
brought home with him when he was
war correspondent. That was before
alone again. he and the Jap, as they
used TO be, and Elise-Elise was back
home as she used to be.
And Truro ''valeted and butled and
chefed and chauffeured," as Mcclellan
told his envious friends, with equal
skill in all.
Truro had adored Elise. and much
as he was devoted to his master he
had pined since she left month be-
fore to go back to her fathers home.
Mcclellan had sent Truro for a pa
per. He must have gone distance
to get it, he was so long away. The
man went into the living room. 1t
looked emptier tonight than usual.
The piano in the corner was closed
had been for month. And he never
failed to notice the empty spot be-
to lay her embroidery.
He Tipped a dollar and watched it
settle on the hearth Tails! He
would go to the opera. He had rather
hoped it would be heads, for he pre-
ferred the club. That was what had
started the trouble-but no use go
ing over the old story. Mcclellan
shrugged and stopped for the coin.
Something seemed to be wrong in
the street. The apartment was on the
first floor above the ground and he
walked to the window
A crowd stood around an autOmO-
bile in front of the building and Nc
Kellar could make nothing out of the
confusion. Then the sharp clang of
an ambulance bell rang out on the
night air and the crowd disappeared.
1t was then he saw the PROSTATE form
on the asphalt near the car.
Suddenly the door of the living
room was flung open behind him. He
turned and faced Elise, her face pale
with terror. She gave him no time
for word Even as she spoke a po-
lieeman appeared in the hall beside
her and touched her arm.
"Quick, Vivian, go down. have
run over Truro with my car. They
want to take him to the hospital, but
make them bring him up here, won't
you?" Then turning to the officer of
the law she said simply, 81 am ready
to go with you now
Vivian had to let her go alone The
poor, crushed body of the little boy
him tenderly on his own bed and sent
for the best doctors he knew Until
they came he could not leave.
At last he was at libery to go. But
!
Elise had been allowed to CO. Her
father had signed the bond for her
temporary freedom and taken her
home.
Mcclellan turned YEARLY away. The
feeling of relief at finding her free was
overcome by the overwhelming sense
of his uselessness to her. He was not
needed. He never had been. Elise
had home as good. better than his
and her father was an all sufficient
protector 1t was true, she did not
need him.
He learned at the station that she
was driving her car alone when it ran
over the Jap. Why she was without
& chauffeur he did not know Then
the feeling of uneasiness returned
What il Truro should diei It would
ing of responsibility, of wanting to
protect her was strong in him
He bowed to the inevitable, and
when he opened his own door again
| he looked like an old man.
The doctors had gone Truro lay
sleeping quietly. He was unconscious
| of pain. Vivian sat near watching
| him. He had refused to have a nurse
| The little fellow who had sat night
after wight watching him while he
| tossed with fever at Port Arthur and
nursed him back to life should know
what gratitude meant. He was going
to fight for his life. The battle had
already begun.
The night light was turned low
| Mcclellan in dressing gown and slip
pers had allowed his MAGAZINE to slide
to the floor unnoticed. He was awake
/ but dreaming. How he 1onged for
Elise. Every fiber of his body cried
out for her Then the barbed shaft
sank into his heart for the second
/ time that night. She had ceased to
need him. ceased to care for him. His
head bowed an though under a bur-
| den he could not bear.
Tt was time for the medicinei He
| sprang UP guiltily, brushing his hand
overhia eyes to Danish the bitter
4 thoughts.
Was he mad? Had trouble turned
/ his brain. had the dim light at
tracted the world OF spirits? He
looked again. Elise was standing be-
| had slipped to the floor and her hair
| and the long white veil across her
| shoulders spark1ed with drops of melt
ee snow. But her eyes-her eyes, how
4 the~ shonei
The man tremb1ed. The sudden
shock weakened him. Why had she
! come back to mock him. Tt was hard
enough to bear without this. He stood
silent. He had no words for her; he
1 could think of nothing to say.
Elise moved slowly toward the bed.
'sDo you know what this boy has done.
| Vivo2" Tt was the old name. HE
sacrificed himself for us-to save US.
Don't YOU. see2 have thought it all
out He did this to bring us together.
He saw me alone in the car out there
| and threw himself IN my way. He
| knew you were in here that you
would come out Toto help me. He
i must have seen me night after night
/ pass by and look I'D at your windows
He knew you cared and that II still
: cared and he was generous enough to
risk his life Toto break down our
/ pride"
ssE1isei"
she turned her eyes full of the old
love light toward him. s'Vivo. will you
! take me back7 We must not make his
| sacrifice in vain.