The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-06-19

as he rode home under the calm
stars. Il 'spose 1 could do a little bet
ter. but 1 hain't agoin' to stand it to
be nagged all the time"
At that same hour Margaret was
crying softly. her head on the window
sill To go through life blushing for
a husbands mistakes ashamed to
have people hear him talk-could she
do it? Could she hold fast to her
own ideals if she were Jasper's wife !?
should be theirs, how could she teach
them Alright if her teaching plainly
put their father in the wrong?
For three days, she pondered those
questions. Then she did two things
she promised the school board that
she would teach another year and she
wrote a note which ran:
Dear Jasper:
There has been no change in my
feelings. l love you, but 1 cannot be
happy with a man who disregards the
things I hold essential. Therefore
must take back my promise to be your
MARGARET"
Jasper made no reply to the note,
no effort to see Margaret A month
went by. The cessation of his visits
proved to their friends that the en-
gagement had been broken. He be-
gan to hear rumorS of the many let
tiers she was receiving from one of the
Girton college professors. When on
overtaking Jane Harris, Flooding
along in the rain, Jasper took her
home, the story was repeated to Mar
garet so many times that she became
convinced that it was a matter of
daily occurrence.
The Grange picnic came early in
July. For years Jasper had taken
Margaret.
"Il not go this time" he decided.
Everybody would look and smile,
even if they did not say anything. III
work in the harvest field"
He found his task a wearisome enc.
RecoIlections of past joys crowded on
him. Suddenly he strobe off. resolving
to go to the farm wood lot 1t was
there, in the shadow of a grove of
birches that grew on the bank of a
stream, that he had told Margaret of
his love- There had been little need of
words; his face and his acts had pro-
claimed his devotion, yet the telling
and her response had been wonOrouS-
Nv sweet. Since that day the spot
under the birches had been shrine to
him.
"She never loved me. though" he
thought, as, entering the dim, cool
woods, he slackened his pace. IF
she'd really loved me, how L talked
wouldn't a. made any difference.
lust then ne came in sight of the
ground, her dark head leaning against
trees silvery-brown trunk A breeze
stirred the branches, and the waving
mosaic of light and shade that fell
across her face showed that she had
been CRYING. AS if, in some vague way
aware of his presence, she lifted her
ewes. and their gaze met
1t was but a moment that each look
ed into the others face. Yet the frag-
ment of time was long enough to en-
able each of them to glance ahead,
seeing dimly what the future might
hold for them estranged-
Life devoted to an ideal might be
noble and inspiring, but 1t would be
desolate," Margaret said to herself
split infinitives, plural subjects with
a single verb, even widow woman
WHY. they are nothing compared to a
lonely life. and Jane Harris. Sinking,
because she has won him. I'll be
proud of his real worth and think of
the other as little as 1 can"
AS for Jasper, he compressed his
lips. "It don't matter. Or should
say doesn't? I'm blamed if 1 can tell,
but maybe 1 can learn. It's sure I'll
have to be nagged all my life, but
SEEM as how she will be the nagger,
I'll make no fuss. And that college
Teller might as well know he hain't in
this"
Neither of the lovers thought of the
word compromise, but both were
swayed by the idea the world repre-
sents. Margaret sprang to her feet,