The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-12-20
The EVENING STORY
SO-SO.
(Rv Arthur w. Peach.l

bunch of roses, still bearing on their
petals the silverlike dew of the water
in which they had been sprinkled.
Ruth McRoy took them into her arms
with a long sigh of happiness. She
looked up at the nurse from her chair.
Who brought them ?" she asked Ask q,
hand. John Russell" she answered.
Dear old john" the girl went on;
eff he were only as handsome as he Is
good. Tell him 1 want to see him.
Can you catch him 2"
81 left him waiting for the elevator.
I guess 1 cam the nurse replied.
A moment later tall. sturdily built
fellow came in, his happiness at his
summons showing in a soft glow in
his rugged, homely face.
The nurse left the two together.
His face grew serious after the first
could stay only few moments, and l
want to find out just how you are.
couldn't get very much information
out of the nurse. I'm little afraid OF
these people-and this place."
Ruth let the roses drop in her lap,
and the light went from her eyes, leav-
ing them Swallowed. I'm just $3.50,
John. You see, I worked too hard in
the office, and couldn't get much
rest at the boarding house. She
waited a moment, then went on: 81
want you to know I appreciate these
things you do for me. wish I had
around
He hastily interposed, ''Never mind
what you have been. What you need
is to get out where you can breathe
She smiled. "It's cold out, John,
and warm in here. Besides I have
nowhere to go. I did think of going
to Uncle Freds, but yesterday a letter
came saying he had died. His home
was in the south. I know little of him
except that he had had a hard time,
and probably would not have felt
that I could go there. It's beautiful
county, she added, looking up visit
fully. ST used to go and see him when
L was little-before father and moth
er died. But-you see-here 1 am;
and I've got much to be thankful for"
She led the conversation into other
paths, questioning him about the peo-
pie at the house where she had met
him.
When he left, she kept with her the
memory of his kindly face, of his
friendship for her that had grown
into love.
He left her with the memory of a
small girlish face on which a shadow
1ay-the great shadow which, some
time or other, touches every face. The
thought of it led him down the hall
of the hospital to a doctors office.
The next time Russell came he was
admitted to her room. There was a
little glow in her pale cheeks, and her
eyes were Frightening.
John, 1 am going to leave you!
Don't you feel sorry?" she greeted
His face fell set am sorry, as have
always been, to have you out of my
life for moment. But what do you
mean?"
'Listen!" She picked up a letter
on the table. This came Yesterday
from a lawyer in the town where my
uncle lived. The letter 1 got was from
friend there. This letter says that
uncle left me a thousand dollars! 1t
says other things; but I've been think
Ing or that. 1t means 1 can go south
and get well. I'm going tomorrow;
and I've got a nurse to go with me.
Isn't it fine? To expect to die, then
to find you will be saved?'
He nodded soberly. Going so soon?
I shall miss you" he said, simply.
Dear John, you have been good
on his strong one. ct won't forget"
I've been good to you because I
loved you,'' he said quietly. st am
glad for your good fortune Your uncle
loved you, too. Some day I may see
you again?''
Some day-Oh. yes" she answered,
but he saw her eyes were full of dreams
in which he did not enter
He went out gently, after a long
handclasp, in which his eyes told her
much, in which his manner told her
he was waiting for something she could
knew runs into never. She thought of
him long after he had left, and the
dusk came down over the city. He was
pure gold in heart and in life: it would |
not take much to make her love him, |
if she stayed, but she was to go.
Six months passed. In the piney air
of the Carolina hills health came In
place of the white lily in her cheeks
came the rose of life Life became (
sweet. After she left the sanatoriunI
- -
and there the old lawyer, with the caus- /
tic manner of one who has little faith /
in a woman's business ability. told her
of her uncle's bequest. There. too. she !
met a young fellow. Robert Leighton. |
grown to manhood, handsome and Wig /.
orous in his youth
She had written John fairly regularly, /
but now she came close to forgetting |
him in the company of Leighton.
One evening they were sitting to- |
eether in the dusk, and she felt that |
the time for choice was coming between |
John and the magnetic fellow at her
side For a while they chatted casually /
of small matters, and, incidentally she |
mentioned the bequest of her uncle
Leighton started. She saw him and /
asked why. He told her that he had |
carried through the details of settling
the estate for the old lawyer. and there
was nothing left; that the lawyer had /
even settled some small bills for his |
old friend.
Her heart went colder as he talked,
and quickly even abruptly, she man
ged to bring matters around so that
he left her.
She went to the old lawyers home
and facing him, demanded to know the
truth. Rigidly, she held him to direct
answer and finally she knew all.
John Russell had learned of her uncle.
secured the letter from the nurse which
had come announcing his death. writ