The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-08-06
The Euening Story
A SaIaried Man.
(By Sarah Whiting.)

crloQ 1InpuISlNely u RATHER HalA
starve with Elsie than feast without
her.
How about whole starving 2"
Louise, his cousin, asked provokingly.
Sure it may not come to that?''
"Yes-with little help from these"
Jack retorted, stretching a pair of
muscular hands high about his head.
'Starve we will not so long as I can
work. I'm pretty husky-and not ex-
actly a FOOL
Except sometimes, and this is one
of those occasions" Louise persisted.
Il know you can work-that you will.
But first you must get the work. II
you marry out of hand on love and
nothing, trusting to Providence, you'll
handicap yourself fatally, 1 am
afraid
which means, being interpreted.
you hate Elsie Denton" Jack retorted,
his mouth setting doggedly.
Louise looked at him reproachfully.
Il deserve that for the folly of think
ing you would not misunderstood me"
she said. Il have nothing against your
sweetheart except that L have nothing
for her. Like all the Denton girls she
has been brought up with an eye sin
gle to misunderstanding rather than
husband serving"
Good afternoon! L won't stay to
hear her slanderously dissected!"
Jack burst out. mot even by the
Don be uneasy-I'n pay you every
dollar. Elsie will help me. She is al
ready planning how we shall save and
You owe me no money, but think
courtesy is due the b1ood-our
Blood she interrupted. You have
been like my brother-my dear young
er brother-for whom I had such
free, white and twenty-one. Elsie Den
ton is twenty-two-ten years older in
feeling, in experience, in maturity.
What she is she always will be. You
you are just beginning fairly to find
yourself Be halfway sensible, Jack
for the bIood's sake. Wait until you
have your profession, at least"
az shall get it, never fear" Jack
said holly. but not at your expense.
I'm deep enough in your debt al
ready"
her eyes growing steeliy. TEL me
exactly what your plans are"
I'm going into Blaney's office to
study" he replied defiantly. He'll
give me something-not much, but
We'll make it do. I shall do things
for him-things that will teach me
better than any law school, and he'll
throw things in my way, things he
don't care for himself
"And the wedding?" Louise asked.
Jack flushed. II want it right
away" he said, tomorrow, if it rest
ed WIN me. But Elsie anu HeT peO-
pie are set on having a church affair.
so we have settled on October-after
everybody is back home"
"Meantime?" Louise queried relent-
lessly.
Jack looked down shamefacedly. at
can get out of your sight-if you say
so,'' he said. But it would help me
out to stay on here-until We can
settle on a place to live"
you must not doubt you are well
come,' she said with long sigh.
Understand, though, 1 wash my hands
of all responsibility henceforth. 1 had
hoped we need never part-that you
would marry some girl I could love
dearly. AS things are-you have my
good wishes. When you are ready 1
shall do something toward making
your home complete
With this, Jack rushed away to Ell
sic Sore and bruised from the con-
f1ict with his cousin, he sought COM
fort and reinsurance. 1t hurt him to
find her on the verge of tears, sur
veying his ring with petulant frown.
ring and was set with a small dia-
mond of fine luster. He priced it SO
dearly he had thought she must do
likewise.
May Cutter ran in to show me her
ring" Elsie said petulantly. "Such a,
beauty blue-white solitaire. She
says it cost a thousand - and Job
Means is going to give her a string of
pearls when they marry. 1t made me
so ashamed 1 hid my ring hand first
but she saw it. So had to tell her
was wearing this just until you had
time to run up to the city and get me
a real ring set in a special design.
What an unprincipled little fb
bert" Jack said fondly, with yet an
unaccountable sinking of the heart.
"Say-I'H have to invest in prize
packages until I win the special de-
sign. Then you can wear it once-in
a very dim light-say it doesn't suit
you, and send it back"
81 wonder who'd be fibbing them"
Elsie cried, her eyes sparkling. Then
in her most coaxing tone, Don't you
think, Jack, it would be better if you
got me the real ring? L know your
cousin has a charge account at Let
field's.'
But I'd starve before 1 added any
thing to it," Jack burst out.
At this she tossed her head, saying
with a pout. why, she's bound to
give us a handsome present-for her
own credits sakeI Just do as I say,
and tell her that settles it. 1 simply
won't let May Cutter put it all over
me as she Does
Let me tell you a few things"
Jack said, paling to the lips AS
briefly and as badly as possible he
told her of his cousins attitude, of
his own hopes, plans, even his fears.
ct know it's going to be hard-an
awful pull. grille he wound up;
"but-we'H face it together. Isn't
that better than being apart?''
Elsie was sobbing. She had never
dreamed of a situation like this. Her