The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-07-02
The EUening Story
Two Letters.

eVeri l cannot be true to myself and
marry a man who believes me false.
1 would rather go unloXed to the
grave than be the slave of a jealous
man. And although 1 confess that
can never love again-that I shall al
| Robert LorSon. l am sending back
his ring tonight. You need not fin
ish your pink chiffon. 1 shall not
need any brfdesmaids-ever. Do
! come to visit me and cheer your
broken hearted Sylvia
Sylvia wiped her eyes and wrote
another letter-a very short one:
Dear Mr.. Lorson: You will under
stand why am returning your ring.
Yours sincerely,
| SYLVIA MOORE
| The thick white sheets of paper
were folded and placed in envelopes
and Sylvia with a firm hand adj
dressed them. OF course, this is
very careless way to do land letters
frequently become mixed. But Sylvia
was preoccupied that evening.
After the letters were duly sealed
! and stamped, Sylvia returned her en-
gagement ring to it's little white box,
put that box in a larger ane and adj
dressed it to Mr.. Robert Lorson. Then
she touched a button.
Mary she said to the maid,
please take these out and mail them.
The box is to be registered. You may
bring the registry receipt to me-"
In this manner Sylvia's letters
started on their way.
Madge Fenton read her letter with
wide open eyes
Robert Lorson read his with slowly
whitening face. With compressed
lips he, laid it down and stared at it
for long time.
The box containing the engagement
ring he tossed into a drawer of his
desk.
Sylvia" said her married sister one
day, what has become of Bob?''
Really said Sylvia indifferentIy
Il haven't the slightest idea"
Mrs. jameson stared at her. What
has happened? You have quarreled ?''
she asked quickly.
We are no longer engaged" ex-
planned Sylvia. You see, Lisa, Bob
is terribly jealous-he was fright
fully angry because 1 talked so much
to that delightful Mr.. Enright, the
novelist He was actually rude to
me-"
You were flirting" accused Lisa,
bluntly.
Not at ALI" farcd Sylvia. holly.
Then you really meant all you
older woman slowly.
we'll Sylvia's voice broke.
Every one was talking, and I'm not
But as long as you don't care-if the
broken engagement is a. welcome re
lief to you, dearie, am glad for your
sake" Lisa oent and kissed her sis
ter and walked toward the door. |
by the way, dear, had glimpse
of Bob this afternoon-he was having
tea at Berry's-with Madge Fenton.''
She vanished.
"Madge Fenton!" Sylvia's voice
wavered into a little sob. She was
her dearest friend, and Sylvia knew
that if there was one other girl in
the world who fancied Bob Lorson
it was Madge Fenton. And now
Madge. taking advantage of Sylvia's
confidence, was making herself |
agreeable to Bob. |
1T is a hateful world.'' sobbed
Sylvia
A few days later. while scanning
the morning paper, Sylvia read a
Madge Fenton had been married |
Quietly the day before and were sail
ing at once for voyage around the
world.
heart of ice, laughed at her own re-
Election in the mirror.
Liar, Coward! CheatI" she |
tainted herself.
Robert Lorson came back to Amer
lea alone. His bride was resting in an
unknown grave in some Alpine crew |
aSse.
Long months afterward Sylvia met
him riding in the park The scene |
of their meeting was a sheltered bril- |
dlepath, and each would have gone on |
with nothing more than the most for |
NAL greeting had not Sylvia turned |
around and surprised Robert in the |
act of looking at her over his shout
der.
Both drew rein.
Sylvia wheeled her horse and held
out her glovcd hand
II am sorry for you, Robert" she
my closest friend
81 know said Robert gravely ut
was a great shock to all of u.s.
1T must have been terrible for
He nodded gravely 1.-The ice had
been treacherous we had been
warned An avalanche swept her
away"
Sylvia murmured a few words of
further coincidence and rode on.
Lorson watched her until the droop-
ing branches hid her from view
Sylvia had changed in some way. If
he could have explained, he would
have said that she seemed even more
adorable.
They met again and again Often
they passed with the mereSt greeting |
Sometimes they rode for a while to-
gether, but this new acquaintance
never overstepped the wall raised by
the unhappy past
Two letters, a ring and an Alpine
grave lay between them.
Then Robert went away again, and
she did not see him for a year. When
he returned he went to Sylvia's home.
He poured out his heart to her and
asked her to marry him. He had
never ceased to love her he con-
fessed. He did not attempt to ex-
cuse his hasty marriage to Madge
Fenton; that explained itself.
You will not want to marry me
when I tell you all, Robert" said Syl-
via gravely. Then she told him about
the two letters she had sent | ,