The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-07-01
THE EVENING Story
Humphrey Found His Heart
1Rv Virginia, Blair.)


He had been the Oldest son and had
assumed heavy responsibilities Wheh
his father died Now that the young
err children were wage earners, and ms
mother had married again, Humphrey
was free for the first time in his llfe
He intended to get married! his
choice Law between two village beauties.
AS vet he had not paid marked atten-
ton to either of them, but as he ram
med his hat down on his mead one
gusty September night and started Tor
a walk he knew that he must make MS
decision.
He did not ask himself whether he
loved Rose or Mary. They were good
girls, and would make good wives. HIS
mother had married his father in her
young years of romance, and the mar
rage had turned out badly. She had
impressed it on Humphrey that love
was unstable thing, and that ne
would be happier without it.
Yet something stirred in Humphrey
as he left the village street and came
out upon long stretch OF roao,
which showed white for little way
and was then hidden by the black
ness of the great beyond. Overhead
the moon raced through the ragged
clouds.
Humphrey brought his mind back
sternly to the subject in hand. Which
should it be. Rose or Mary? The
fair one or the dark, the short one or
the. tall?
The wind blew strongly. and as
Humphrey entered the shadows of
the woods a thousand voices seemed
to mock him, but above all the tu-
multi came a human note, little
cry, "Oh,, p1ease-help"
Humphrey stopped. WHO is it?"
he asked sharply.
A white shape seemed to detach
itself from the sable background. Il
v-af1
a woman's voice, 'and-and 1 am
afraid
Humphrey struck a match A face
appeared within the circle of Eight
a child's face, except for the maturity
of the troubled brow.
Humphrey struck another match.
You are wet" he said, abruptly
Were you in the storm this after
non?"
Yes" The match had gone out
and they were again in darkness.
Yes, I walked from the car. 1 am
from the city. 1 heard they needed
girls up here to pick grapes and SOL
came
He could read extreme fatigue in
the dragging voice.
Come he said. suddenly, you
must go to the village. You need
something. to eat-a hot drink.
II can't walk another STEP She
was crying softly. I've hurt my
foot"
Are you afraid to stay here?"
Humphrey. asked. TN be back and get
my horse
ct hate to hear the OWLS she sobbed,
when they hoot-and the frogs
In the darkness Humphrey smiled.
What a child she was-with a woman's
eyes. "They can't hurt you" he said,
good naturally. IN be back in a
When he returned to the girl he
found her curled up against a fallen
log. 1--WE brought a robe" he said.
Wrap yourself in it,
When she was safe in the seat he be-
gan to think where he should take her.
There was no hotel and the squalid
boarding house where the grape-hands
boarded was no place for this little
slender thing. His own home was
presided over by his married sister, a
grim young woman who would look
askance at the city stray. AS they
reached the crossroads, he turned his
horses head away from his own house.
i am going to take you" he said $40
my great aunt's. She's seventy and she
lives by herself, and she's as good-as
gold.'
But can't go on to the farm where
they want help?' she questioned
You can rest at my aunt's tonight"
he said, evasively.
When few minutes later he had
Aldoe Ills eApldnaClonS to Aunt BetSey,
and had ushered his little stray into
her presence, he was silent for a mo-
nsent before the revelation of the girl's
beauty. 5sz5s
BY the light of the match he had
seen only her face. But now all the
grace and charm of her delicate
frame were revealed
I've got some cold baked beans. -
said Aunt Betsey, bustlfng land ri
warm them up, and you shall have a
cup of tea =
Humphrey blushed as she spoke of
baked beans. He could not have de-
fined his feeling. but this divinity was
worthy of-ambrosia
But as she ate the good food set
down before her, daintily but with
appetite, she seemed somehow to glor-
| fly the act.
Humphrey said Good night" pres
emily and went home All along the
| way that tender face appealed to him,
afraid"
The next morning he went at once
to Aunt Betsey's. The girl was asleep.
7 m going to take a tray up to
her, said Aunt Betsey. She's worn
out
Humphreys stiff lips framed a ques-
| ton. What do you think of her?''
She's a dear little thing. Her
| name is Daphne. Her father was an
artist and died a year ago. Her moth
| er died when Daphne was two years
| old. Since the fathers death, Daphne
1 has been trying to work in depart
| 1nent store. But the continent ent
| brought on an illness, and now she has
| struggled out toward the country to
| she amt fit to work. finished Aunt
4 R1fzav mi FsT1 a 1xiff6r1