The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-09-04
THE EVENING STORY
Caretaker Within.
(By. Dorothy Douglas.)

Myra walked Slowly dlonB the New
York streets. Her lips did not smile,
nor did her heart. She was deeply
troubled, for it had come to her with
gradual force that she must, in some
| way make an honest living. The
scant 5000 that lined her worldly
purse would soon sift through it and
she would be left high and dry on the
pavement Of the city.
The thought was far from pleasant,
and Myra began to feel desperate. She
realized that a department store posi-
| ton would mean not only loss OF
| health, but also a loss of happiness.
Myra could not have stood behind a
counter and measured out ribbons or
! laces; it would mean countless hours
of misery, to which she could not
| sacrifice herself.
II would for rather be blowing in
| a field of potatoes she told herself,
| and a wistful smile found it's way into
| the shadows that had darkened her
| eyes. eff l had had a few hundred
more dollars L could perhaps nave
bought a tiny farm of some kind
roses or violetS." The smile fingered.
In a vision Myra could see herself at
tending sweet smelling flowers. She
felt, and rightly, that twas perhaps
the only commercial line in which she
would be successful. Myra was hurled
quickly back into her depths of gloom.
Why had she never been nodded to fit
into the groove of money makers
Myra smiled grimly. She had been
trained into spending rather than
making money, and her ladylike ac-
plishments lay in embroideries
and fancy sewing.
She tramped still further along the
city street. Finally her aimless glance
rested upon the signs in the windows
of a town dwelling. Having lit upon
the words her eyes remained station
airy while her brain suddenly grasped
at an idea.
ITO let. Dobbs & Clark, real estate
agents, 009 Broadway. Caretaker
Within 1t was upon the last three
words that Myra's eyes fingered. She
smiled quickly. Inspiration had come.
In another moment she had boarded
the Broadway car and was being car
ried to the office of Dobbs & Clark,
real estate agents.
Arriving within those luxurious Of
fees Myra made straight for a room
in which she supposed one of the heads
of the firm would be. Many admiring
glances from numerous clerks follower
her, and David Clark drew swift
breath of surprise when he glanced up
from his desk to see her standing in
lis office.
II came in to see whether or not
you conld give me a position as care
raxer in some of your vacant country
houses" Myra told him. One of her
particularly appealing smiles followed.
David Clark found himself enjoying
it. He looked at Myra for a moment,
not knowing exactly what to say.
Il really need the position badly
continued Myra. 1T is, perhaps, the
only way in which 1 can earn my liv-
ing she added, whimsically. except
by embroidering handkerchiefs and ia
bic centers.''
Clark smiled. After a moments
thought, during which he looked at
Myra through half closed lids, he
hesitated and selected his words.
I'VE seldom pay our caretakers. They
live iraf h.
Clark paused and the feeling swept
over him of having crushed the petals
or rose. He smiled at the simile. and
with the thought of roses he renen-
bered the rose-hung cottage on Long
Island that was suffering for want of
protection.
You have thought of something for
me- Myra said with quick intuition. and
clark felt culver of some queer emotion
grip him. Her swift reading of his mind
was as pleasing it was unexpected
Yes-that is if you know anyt hing
about the care Of flowers L have cottage
IN the country with a beautiful rose gar
den, but it is being ruth1essly destroyed
by villagers. They have no respect for
vacant property and are vandalizing the
gardens" Clark watched the quick color
spring into Myra's cheeks and the light
ening flashes in her eyes.
oh! If 1 only can have it. I will
love every flower in the place-if YOU
will give me the opportunity. All the time
that can spare from showing the cottage
TO prospective tenants Will be spent with
the flowers
Lucky flowers,' thought Clark. Aloud
he said Il will pay you twenty-five dol |
lars week.
That is far too much, - N1yra exclaimed |
Then the matter is settled. The prop
erty will undoubtedly go very soon-if |
the gardens are properly cared for. The |
neglect has been more or less of a draw
back He stopped speaking and found |
himself locking into Myras eyes and a |
certain dizziness creeping into his we'll |
ordered brain. IF you are free this after |
noon I will take you out there II
want to see what condition the house is !
in
A few minutes later Myra found herself |
again in the streets of New York, but
there seemed to be birds singing and /
was TO meet David Clark and he was
TO take her TO the cottage Long Island.
She would soon be the caretaker within
a lovely vine-hung nest and she was a
meet David Clark at the Pennsylvania |
station at O'Clock. Her smile was Sc
some hidden joy took birth.
When David Clark was seated in the
train beside Myra he fell to wondering
why he had never been happy before.
There had been other days of brilliant
other days spent beside beauti-
full women. but never before he had been
so completely contented. He glanced more
from time to time inhaled the sweetness
Of her presence.
Clark, of Clark & Dobbs. had very sud-
denly and very precipitately fallen in love.
II was very unhappy this morning."
Myra said. by way of breaking into her
whole world is wonderful. 1 am going /