The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-10-19
The Euening Story
Love on Riverside.
(By Keith Kenyon.)


After a residence of twenty-nine
years in New York, Weldon prided
himself upon his utter lack of sent1-
ment. He lived on West End avenue,
with his mother and two sisters. He
had succeeded to his fathers place in
the firm at the latter'S death, and was
always alluded to as Junior" Weldon.
He had never known want or worry.
He was a rather stolid, clean-Shaven,
healthy young fellow, with a sense of
humor and NO enemies.
Every evening after dinner it was
his custom to take a short stroll with
his two blue ribbon terriers along
Riverside drive. 1t was somewhat
deserted at this hour. and he liked
the first fall of gray twilight over the
Palisades and the river. The whole
setting soothed his complacency. he
felt like a young prince on the castles
parapet, surveying his domain. And
into this quiet hour, one night in Oc-
tober. there intruded the scream OF
q woman.
Weldon stopped and waited. 1t had
come from the strip of park below the
drive Almost imm ediately he saw
girl running along the path, ana as
ne looked she beckoned to him falntiy.
The stairs were at 1929 street With
the dogs at his heels, he Sprinted back
and reached her side as she stood
leaning against tree, white as death
and half unconscious
whats the matter2" he demanded.
MY rather" she breathed. Il am
afraid he is dead"
Weldon did not quite realize that
he was supporting her as he led her
back to the seat half hidden by the
tail shrubbery Some way. too. he
was catching her broken words
there had been no work, they We're
without food or money, her fatner
had been very i'll, he wished TO ol Err,
Don't worry, he told her IL
look after everything"
Which, after all, was only his in
stinct of efficiency. He was useo TO
looking out for everything, and felt
that ne could handle any situation,
even this But as he stood over the
old man. with his handsome, hlgn-
bred face and closed eyes, he had his
first lesson in what life may do TO IT'S
Hes not dead" he assured her,
listening to the faint heartbeats- It's
exhaustion "a.
terly.
ing lust how he did it he never
quite remembered, but taxi was
hailed and he had both of them, the
girl and her father, placed in II, ana
took them straight to him home 1t
was an adventure, the first he had
ever run into and it interested him
keenly. Even then, he said to his
mother, it was only the mans face
that made him do it, but she smiled
silently and was kind to the girl.
Viola Mclean, she told them her
name was They had lost their home
in Maryland and had come north,
thinking to find some sort of employ
ment Her father had been me-
chanical draughtsman. His health had
failed and she could not leave him.
You should have placed him in
some institution and gone to work,
my dear" began Mrs. Weldon
"Oh, nonsense, mother dear. That
may be common sense, but OF course
she couldn't do that from sentiment"
interpoSed Junior" And so senti-
ment found a footing in his heart
more than a footing. He granted 1t a
tiny shrine in far corner, but the
light that burned on it was love, and
it illumined the whole temple.
While her father was slowly gain
ing his health in an upper chamber,
with a good trained nurse to care for
him, Viola tried to make herself use
full to Mrs. Weldon. The two daugh-
tiers were in college, and gradually the
old lady began to rely on her Junior"
saw, and smiled to himself. And the
days drifted by for a month, until
one evening, as he was ready for his
walk, she followed him out into the
wide entrance hall, dressed for walk
ing.
May l go with you?"
Rather" He held the door open,
and they went out together. Would
you like to walk or driver
.-Oh, walk. I don't want to drive.
1 only wanted a chance to speak to
you-Seriously.
Go ahead" His eyes rested on her
amusedly. 1t was the unacceptable mo-
ment. he knew. and he had prepared
himself for it.
Il want to know where 1 can get
work. You have been so good to me
and to father, but 1 must work and
pay it back. I'm strong now, you