The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-07-17
The EVENING STORY
Memories.
(By Arthur w. Peach.)

(By w. IedCH'J
Montjoy studied the silent. reliant
young figure in front of him with
cold, dissecting gaze. my boy, 1 have
all the arguments you have to offer
many times. I tell you, frankly, that
Edith is not to know anything of the
rough side of life, if can help II.
How can you save her? You are
dramatic critic of some reputation
and some future; but reputation and
mans future cut very little ice IN
the matter of food to eat. clothes to
wear, luxuries to enjoy. So it's use
less to talk to me-
But you must admit, sir, that if
the girl is willing, and the man is
willing and both face the future
bravely. they can win greater ana
sweeter happiness through their
striving together than they who have
all they wish to begin with"
Montjoy smiled. 80 the poets say
and as a class they're queer bunch:
AS a matter of fact. you are right ana
you are wrong. I'll tell you where
YOU are wrong"you are not to marry
Edith. Ah,'' he said sharply, noting
the quick light in the young fellow
eyes, don't think she will follow you
against my will. You think So
well, Wen see" He touched bell.
and to the maid who answered, he
said. Tell Edith the old man wants
to see her."
The maid smiled and withdrew.
A moment later a sound of sing
ing voice reached them, a voice full
of carefree happiness.
Into the room she came, bright
faced bright-eyed, bright-haired. She
paused suddenly as she saw the two
and shrugged her shoulders together.
"Oooh. Methinks it is chilly here!
What's the NATTER"
She happened to be just half way
between them.
Her father said, a half smile on his
face: 'Driscol has come to me for
permission to marry you. Do you
love him %
Father I love him enough"
You love him but if 1t were not
my wish would you marry him ~ he
asked quickly.
she drew back and looked from
one to the other Drisco1 stood calm,
but in his eyes and face was the plea
of a man under torture. Her father
sat calm, but in his eyes was the great
love light. too:
Il think I should"
mo, Edith, no compromise. Come
to me- if you would obey me; go to
him if you would not. If you do go
to him, I will not say a word; but 1
won't forget"
DriscoI swayed as if to go to her.
but he held himself, and MontJoy, no
ticing, smiled.
She wavered, then slowly, almost
reluctantIv she came to Montjoy. He
put his arms around her. and looked
at Driscol. Brave1y the young fellow
stood alone, but his anguish was plain
on his face.
Montjoy released his daughter, and
started away. He glanced through
the door as he went out, and saw her
throw herself into Driscol's arms.
THE boy deserves a kiss after
that They will forget in time"
Montjoy said to himself
But they did not forget easily
Clothed in her white night wraps,
she came into his room and pleaded
with him. He was iron to her plead
ings; he loved her with the love he
gave TO no other in the world and
he had vowed she should never know
a moment of unhappiness.
Driscol was silent thereafter, but
he came regularly on his calls; and
regularly she went with him to the
theaters that were on his list. But
Montjoy felt sure there would be
nothing between them, that in time
they would drift apart.
An amateur association was to give
a play and Montjoy was invited to it,
The organization was composed of
young members of the social set of the
city, and they made it point to gath
err as many notables as possible to
their affairs.
Montjoy his wife and daughter, and
DriscoI went to the hall in the big
family car. Driscol was handsome in
his evening attire, and the clean lines
of his face were attractive; lines were
there, too of determination that Mont
JOY had not noticed before. There was
a rare tenderness in his glance as he
turned to Edith.
Montjoy touched his wife, and nod
ded toward the young couple before
them: but his wife simply smiled a lit
tie sadly, and shook her head. She was
leaving the whole matter for him to
decide; but he knew her heart was
with the young lovers.
After a swift moment of wavering,
Montjoy set his Jaws. He could not
ster with nothing but ability in a
small field, with life before him in
which the chances of success were
few.
When the play started, Montjoy
leaned back, steeling himself to en-
dure an evening of amateurish imita-
ton of real life; but before the play
had gone very far, he was interested.
While the acting was mediocre and
the staging poor, there was a power
in the lines that held him. The per-
son who wrote it had looked deep into
life and understood it
He got the first blow when he look
ed at the program and found the auth
or's name was Herbert Driscol- That
discovery gave him food for thought
The next discovery held him silent
and tense in his seat. Before him was
being pictured incidents out of his
own life. The early struggles of his
married life were not known in the
city; for ne and his wife had left the
western city, and in the eastern city,