The Topeka state journal., 1914-02-25
The Euening Story
A Message From Marcia.
(By Laura Kirkmau.)

10y H1TAman.J
He could not ask her to marry him
even though he loved her because Of
her resemblance to his first wife; the
specter of disloyalty held him back.
suppose Marcia had looked upon re-
marriage as an act Of faithlessness?
1t was strange that in their five
years of married life they had never
once touched upon this subject Of re-
marriage. Not one word of Marcia's
could he recall that would give him
clew as to her feelings upon the
taking OF such a step.
So the one thing that remained to
do now was to break with Amy. 1t
was not fair to the girl to keep on
paying her attentions when he knew
In his heart that he could never con-
sc1entiously, ask her to marry him.
Nor was there any time to be lost
IN making this break. Already he had
delayed longer than was consistent
with his code of honor. He must, that
very morning. let her see that rela-
tions between them were changed. OF
course she would be angry that the
new order of affairs should be estab-
lished by him. but would he not rather
nave her angry with him than heart
heavy because OF him?
True to his resolve, he started to
make the change upon reaching the
store.
Good morning." he said briefly,
and with purposeful aloofness. as he
which her face glowed as brightly as
the ribbons.
AS he stopped. few feet away, to
give his orders to his assistant floor
walker. he could feel her great brown
eyes fixed on him in surprise: it was
the first time in weeks that he had not
stopped at her counter to say good
morning.
His heart sank when. as he turned
swiftly. he saw her eyes switch fur
lively away. He wondered how long
it would be before she formed the
habit Of averting her face altogether
when he was near.
Yet in the afternoon she was still
friendly.
Whats the matter-sick ?" she
asked solicitously when. to allow a
customer to pass. he was forced to halt
at her counter moment.
He looked down at her Wistfully It
was just so that Marcia had looked
when she was worried about his
health.
"Yes!" he answered fiercely. 'sick
sick all over!'
Binding tears sprang to his eyes as
he strobe forward. She was enough
like Marcia to give him that babyish
feeling he had always had when she
worried over him-that childish ham
kering to be mothered.
And then he began to feel really
sick. HIS head began to ache duly.
The pinkish glare Of the artificial light
stupg his eyes. He tried closing them
moment to rest them. 1t was In this
his arm and speak his name.
'Loring!" he exclaimed.
The tall. middle-aged man before
him smiled.
didn't know 1 was this side Of the
Rio Grande. did your"
John took his hand daxedly. The
sudden appearance Of this man. so
closely allied in his mind with Marcia,
brought thousand sad memories
rushing back over him. It was this
man who had been father, mother,
everything, to Marcia In her child
hood. He hung onto the rough miners
hand silently.
Then. wincing at the glare Of the
light, he nodded his head toward the
door at the back Of the store.
Lets step out into the vestibule-
let's get some air." he suggested. I'VE
can't talk here, anyway"
Anxiously the older man looked at
him as they made their way through
the crowd. When they reached the
daylight. his hand fell heavily on
You're looking sick; what's the mat
ter?" he asked.
John smiled Wanly.
Its a disease I've had for five years
and two weeks"
Marcia's guardian fell silent. Then
glance and his lips moved half az
though they wanted to speak. but dared
not.
John saw the hesitation. ''Go on''
he said.
"I don't know whether to or not. It's
not q thing young widows and wtd-
overs like to hear, but it's what they
ought to hearr He stopped. gave John
q half defiant look, and plunged on:
IT'S just this. You fellows that marry
and lose out, ought to marry again:
less you do. You let some little, foot
ish idea of loyalty hold you back-cr
else you don't let yourselves see all the
pretty women still left In the world
and what good are you to anybody?
That's what Marcia used to say to
Mother Hardy. She used to say"
Marcia said that!'' cried John. lie
clutched his friends arm. Marcia
said Mother Hardy ought to marry
asain?' He waited. breathless.
'tOf course" he said in surprise.
You didn't think Marcia was the kind
to hold up her hands at second mar
sensible. She used to say to Mother
. Hardy. Mother, why don't you marry
again? Dad Hardy would have >een
the first to say marry again. You know
he'd much rather have you happy than
1onely!"
Fi1edly John stared into the dis
tance.
Marcia said thatr' he repeated
It seemed to him suddenly <hat
Marcia herself had led this man to his
! side. A gentle breeze swept his fose~