The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-01
zE EHElxaNG STORY

ZW EVENING 37oRY
A Family AffAir.
(By Ferdinand Carstein.)
'Weu, Tn glad to see you again.
old fellow! It's Jim Rodgers. Pear
SON. You've heard US all talk OF
him."
Natalie Thurston. hearing the voice
behind her, swallowed twice. then
moistened her lips before she could
answer the question her future
mother-in-laWs had just put to her.
She felt hot and cold by turns ana
her heart began to thump 30 vio-
lently that the soft drapery across
her breast Quivered. Jim Rodgers
home again one week before she was
to marry Bob Stafford!
She slipped her arm through Mrs.
6tanord's and moved away. 6he
wanted time to get herself. well IN
hand before she should encounter the
man who had taken such care to
win her love only to toss It aside
and leave her with no balm to salve
her wounded heart and vanity. She
had been eighteen-he was thirty. In
the fiYe years since he had gone away
she thought that she had schooled
herself to forget. but at the mention
that he was near, memories rushed
like an angry sea into what she had
believed was the safe harbor Of her
affections in her betrothal to young
Stafford.
II any Of the girls should prove un-
kind enough to tell Stafford Of her
long. sleepless nights and tho anxious
waiting for news from Jim Rodgers,
what would he do? She shuddered
to think what would become Of her IL
| another man Tilted her.
Bob loves you 80, my DEAR" She
tinctly as II she were far away in
stead Of there, close beside her. I'VE
are all so pleased with you. Bob
never really cared for any girl except
you, unless perhaps 1t was Katie
Rodgers"
and Bob has been an ideal lover"
Natalie controlled herself with an ef-
fort. So Bob had loved Jim's sister!
She had heard something OF It q year
before.
In a secluded place she stopped and
opening q tiny jeweled vanity case,
she powdered her nose before a d.
minutive mirror. At any rate. she
would be looking her best when she
met the lover Of her youth. She felt
very old and sophisticated after the
experience.
i ME0s 0l0IOI0 1AukuSQ 1nQUlR60IlYe
Look your prettiest," she said. That
lace you are wearing il wonderful
You are superb in it.
| Natalie glowed with the thought
that at least he would not have any
visible evidence OF her grief. The
ravages OF love had left no outward
effect.
They came suddenly upon a crowd
around a punch bowl in the fragrant
conservatory. Natalie was seized and
turned about for inspection. The
women were so busy getting hints
concerning the wedding and the men
were 50 intent on looking at the
lovely bride-to-be. that none of them
noticed group enter by another
door and stop at the punch bowl.
Cups were passed and Dick Wilson
lifted his and proposed 4 toast to
Natalie.
ITO Natalie Thurston. the girl we
have all loved. but who has been won
by lucky Bob Stafford. To the future
Mrs. Bob!''
There was the sharp metallic ring
Of splintered glass az the crystal cup
in Jim Rodgers hand crashed on
the marble floor. Everybody turned,
but he looked only at Natalie. II the
girl had wanted balm for her injured
feelings, she had 1t when people saw
the. look Jim Rodgers gave her then.
The sudden news OF her marriage
| ndQ COTu THO 1u6Sk from MS I0C4s
Pride and self-c0ntrol deserted him.
With the loss of his own self-pos-
session. singularly enough Natalie
felt herself grow cool and collected
and able to hold her own in a situa-
ton which he had made difficult.
you thought that I was an ap-
partition. didn't you. Jim?" She went
toward him smiling, her hand out in
frank welcome. your cousin wrote
mother = note Of coincidence q month
ago. He said that you two had just
heard somewhere in Egypt on your
travels that I had died recently. j
daresay mothers explanatory letter
failed to reach you before You sailed"
The strain was over and everybody
laughed Nobody heard Jim's ans
wer, II he made any, for the men be-
gan to joke about being 20 wicked
that he was afraid to die and meet
the happy spirits beyond.
You know I was quite Ill all last
spring. and If news travels any dis
tance, 1t always becomes exaggerated
doesn't It? No wonder gossip had me
dead by the time 1t reached Egypt
ford was gone. and pretended that she
must go to her and hurried away
There was such q wild surging joy IL
her heart that she wanted to laugh
Then she grew frightneed at the emo
ton that had stirred her with the
knowledge that Jim Rodgers still
cared. Was she glad for the sake OF
her pride only? She dropped down in
L. window seat partially screened by
curtains and palma.
'T love you and I can never love
anybody but you." she heard q wo-
mans voice say passionately.
Then the mans voice. answering
brought Natalie to her feet.
II love you, too, Kate, better than
ianything In this world. but I've been
such . fool. It's too late to do any
thing now"