The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-04-13
The Eueni,,s Story
Example 70 Arc.

(By Martha McCulloch-Willia
i "A full moon, red and angry. had
climbed q muFky east and hung quar-
tter-heaven, shaping for ftDelf z gh0ee-
ly halo. The halo was small; one
star shone In it-rather twinkled.
and bright for real other shintng.
IAlicia's heart sweled at sight OF the
single star; she was supersttttous IN
spite Of herself. In spite OF college
and her aunt's high ways. She had
come up from the farm. full folk
number OF stars within q full moons
halo. so would be the number OF days
before your true love came.
Alicia, sweet and twenty. warm
blooded, eagerly adventurous. had. OF
course. a true love. even though Aunt
married, out Of her class, q lot Of
money with a manilkin appendage.
She hoped better things for Alicia
money plus a real man. She did not
want her niece. who stood to her for
daughter. to be sacrificed az she had
sacrificed herself. Twenty years she
had served in bondage to the Whfms,
the whimperings OF a semi-idiot. His
death had not fully rewarded her.
Though she had control of the for
tune. it was for life only.
The income of its was ample. but
she had nothing in fee. At her death
all would pass to heirs of the hus-
bands name. but very remotely of his
blood. The widow. Mrs. Vetter, knew
no more of them than their names
and number-three, q brother and two
sisters, who ignored her as persistently
rs their high-headed father had done.
The father had thought shame Of
any woman who would marry for his
money q patent imbecile. who had
yet some CLEANS of ahreWd sanity.
The CLEANS had sufl1ced to make and
keep him his own maSter-hence the
distant ktnsmen could do no more than
remonstrate-not with Nicholas Vet
ter himself. but the woman who had
him thrall. She had answered him,
her head as high as his: Talk IL easy
you don't know what 1t n to long for
ease, comfort. luxury-and see nothing
ahead OF you but hard work. How
should you? You've never done a days
work ins your life. You have never,
either, known the lack of a dollar.
Nicholas isn't getting bad bargain
I'll see to 1t he is kept az gentleman
should be-and be good to him, as
well. What If 1 am doing it for q
living? You don't slur trained nurses,
well as pay. Besides-Ntcholasg viii
marry somebody-he can't do better.
but may easily do WORSE
That had sent the remonstrant
away, bafiled and silenced, IL uncon-
WINGED. Alicia knew all about IT.
knew. too. how his interference yet
ranked in Aunt Mary's mind There
lay the root of her seeming avarice
she was saving up for her heiress,
in hope to make those Vetters angry
and jealous. Alicia must marry well
somebody with more money than
been well educated, she was moreover
beautiful. with a rare hfgh-bred
beauty. Indeed, she looked the duch-
ess rather than the dairy maid. 1t was
surely disappointing to have her turn
down Judge EwelNs son, because of
a strapping engineer fellow, head Of a
bodybuilding crew, who. though a
decent enough youngster, had no
more than his pay, and was silent an
to his antecedents.
Whereas, the Ewells were leaders
in the countryside. Generals govern
ors. a senator and a cabinet minister,
their line could boast. Rich Wfthal-
though less SO than Aunt Mary would |
have liked them to be-still there was
not likely to be any suspicion Of for |
tune hunting.
Young Tom Ewell had been bowled |
completely over by first sight OF Alicia |
had propoAed in a week. and re- |
turned to the attack inside q fortnight |
Aunt Mary had smiled approval Of |
the first rejecting-it was balm to |
not to be had thus offhand for even |
a Ewelrs asking. Next time she had /
looked family troubled. When Tom |
came to her for comfort and counsel |
after the third failure, she had frown-
ed-and taken Alicia sharply to task. |
Yes. it is because Of Billy. Billy I
Davis, you know" Alicia had admit
ted candidly. IRA really like to like
Tom best. Aunt May. only somewhow
I can't. Unless marry him-I-I
think I-shan't marry-anybody." she I
said suddenly with hard breath. Il
hate to disappoint you-it would be
dne to be young Mrsl Ewell-but-I
There her voice had trailed
on into silence, q slow mist dimming |
her velvet dark eyes
After this there had been truce Of
sorts-Aunt Mary knew she could
trust Alicia There would be nothing /
even an engagement. L
Billy was for marrying Immediately
and taking Alicia gypsying with him.
in his tent, up and down . green
summer world. But she shook her I,
head. smiling calamity, not daring to
speak. He understood she would not
grieve Aunt Mary, nor leave her. It
ought to h8y0 made him anA oP angry {.