The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-03-06
The Epenine Story
Tho Six Years.
fBy Laura. Kirkman.)

Tho Six Years.
(By Laura. Kfrkman.)
There was no embarrassment in Mrs.
Bancroft's face as she poured a cup Of
tea for the girl from home. the girl who
had seen her in her hour Of deepest hui
initiation.
And how is George?'' she asked
frankly. striving to pronounce her hus-
bands name as though it were that Of
any friend.
Maud Railway started.
II believe he's well,"' she said guard
edly, though seldom see him. He
stays on his farm most Of the time
And your cousin Amy?" went ON the
embarrassment. lis she well. too7''
At the mention Of this name Maud's
eyes snapped.
Yes. she's WELL" she answered ex-
ciedly. but shes going to marry that
Frank Collier-that drunkard! She's
silly enough to think she can reform
him" Tho words froze on her lips. She
had forgotten. for the instant, that Mrs.
Bancroft had married q ''drunkard.''
But Edna Bancroft was neither hurt
nor angry. She smiled kindly into the
girls horror-struck face.
Let her marry him." she said. frank
~. He'll never reform without her
help; perhaps with it, he can. Just be-
cause my trial failed, there 10 no reason
| to believe that hers will
Maud was speechless. She marveled
at the woman's frankness. But she was
yet to marvel still more.
What Is. Isl went on Edna Ban
croft And 1t might as well be brought
out into the daylight. Anyway. it will
do me good to talk. The reason I
couldn't reform George was that I got
hold OF him too late: he was beyond re-
fDrms He always made me think OF q
piece OF cloth which once must have
been fine and delicately colored. but
which had fallen into the hands OF un-
skilled dressmakers who marred, and
| soiled. miscut him. When I married
him he was garment bungled beyond
repair"
She got up now. With reminiscent
eyes. she wandered to the window.
And yet she went on, staring down
unseeingly at tho street. ia do it all
over again. I'd marry him again. know
ing this, for those first six years when
he was tryingr'
stung her eyes. She hoped Mrs Ban
croft would understand that her train
left in fifteen minutes: that she simply
had to go: but whether she did or not,
Maud had no voice to tell her. She was
thankful when she was out in the hall
with the door closed between them.
| On the other side Of the closed door
Edna stood a moment with clenched
hands: then, bending YEARLY. picked
up her sewing. She sat down beside
her work table. Desperately she tried
to focus her thoughts on her work. on
| the dance dress she was making for
Miss Evans, and the evening wrap for
Mrs. Perrin-on the triumph Of having
successfully transplanted business
| from Greendale to New York.
| But she failed miserably to govern
her mind. All she could do was to
hold the soft dance-frock material in
her hands and stare at It dazedly. In
| it's whiteness she seemed to ind
George-George as he was in the
years when he was trying. She sank
her head into the soft fabric and
cried
And Maud. on a train flying back
to Greendale, was crying. too.
George Bancroft shall know just
viciously. I'll tell HMM a round
about way. Of course; but I'll tell him
just how she feels about things! He
shall know how helpless a thing he
has crushed
When she reached Greendale, in
stead Of going home, she took a
hack to George Bancroft's farm.
Reform work; not q social ca1l!'
she explained to the hack driver,
whose wife belonged to Maud's sew
ing club, and who was, therefore, a
person worth explaining to.
when she arrived.
81 won't keep you a minute" she
said, with feigned friendliness. ST
just drove out to ask you q question.
Would you be so kind as to let me
hire the young man on your place
who, I hear, is able to tune pianos ?
My piano is frightfully out Of tune.
and the travelling tuner doesn't come
until October. you know
"Of Counsel" said the man cordial
ly. I'D be only too Glad to. Aiss
night"
Tonight" she cried. "Oh, how
lovely! Then I can try my new mu-
sic over tonight. You see, I've been
in New York all day buying music
} for church performance-and I'm
Isimp1y crAxy to try it,
II As she hoped. at the mention of
New York a change passed over the
lman's face. A keener look came into
his eyes
"Sit down." he begged hastily.
hear about New York-if It has
changed since saw it. and al that .
| Gladly she sat down With Z
} feiened carelessneas she passed her
hand YEARLY over her head and said:
1 I'm afraid ! can't tell you much
Iabout the city; / didn't have any time
Ito waste admiring 1t. was too busy
rushing around, doing shopping and
seeing my friends-by the way. saw
Iyour wifer'
The effect upon him was electric. He
half started from his chair.
~ "Ednars escaped him inv0luntarily-
nhs noddsd ught1y. Al NJ Txey-