The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-05-12
The Eoening Story
An Awakened Conscience.
(RU A ri hIJr Wallace Paaeh


The convention during the after
noon had been a busy one, ard the
men were glad to gather for a COM
Portable smoke and chat in one of the
smoking rooms of the hotel. They
were mining engineers and had come
from different parts of the West.
Naturally. while the cigars were go
periences that ranged from the tragic
to the ludicrous. Finally. they swung,
under the guidance of the spokesman
of the group, Granger by name, to a
consideration of what might be called
the neanest act they had ever wit
messed. After various experiences
had been related, a man who was
known to be a friend of Granger
spoke:
I'm not going to tell you that I
have witnessed a mighty mean act
personally, but I can tell you that I
know all about that act and what the
man must be who committed it.
Suppose you picture yourself driv-
ing UP a winding read in New Eng
land, up among the hills, and coming
to a lane that leads to a house set
some distance back. 1t is almost twi-
light, and as you approach you see
figure at the entrance. Driving near
er, you find the figure is that of girl.
And, then, suppose you recognize her
as the girl who had been waiting
there at dusk for ten years for a chap
who had never returned.
THAT is what l experienced one
early evening last year. 1 was going
there to see a man of the name of
Epson, who owned small right in a
stream that we were planning to dam.
There l heard the whole story.
7 found Epson to be a grim sort of
fellow, in way, and yet friendly
enough after he thawed out, and that
nix oh Of l,a I.
and | smoked a pipe together. In the
midst of our conve rsation, I happened
to think of the young woman. at the
entrance. and asked him about her.
She had been present at the supper
table. She was Sight of stature,
sweet of face and gentle of manner,
but there was something about her
that appealed to me as no woman or
man ever had-an air of resignation
just touched with hope. 1 was puz-
zled by her and l wanted to penetrate
the mystery.
time. Then he said slowly: Well. to
tell the truth. 1 don't like to talk
about it,, But it will do no harm
Ten years ago, had quite a little
money, and / was looking around to
invest it, and wrote in to a Boston
firm l wanted to putsthe money to
as good use as possible. Well, it was
not long after 1 had written that a
young fellow came from the city and
explained proposition to me. He
seemed to be a fine sort of chap in
every way We enjoyed him and Xix
ed him, and made him at home. The
boys took him off for a fishing trip.
hunted with him little and all the
time he was talking to me about the
proposition.
well 1 fell for it. But I wasn't
the only one who fell. That girl
seemed to find in him just the man to
love. 1 didn't blame her-he was
attractive. She was well educated and
had stayed by us old folks because
she loved us-that is her reason for
most everything she does. She was
and is-sunny of temper and gentle
of disposition. I, of course, saw how
things were going, but 1 let them go
on. They were together a good deal,
and many times alone, and the upshot
of it was-she came to me one night
in this very room. with him following
close behind her, and told me they
were engaged.
She was so happy that her happi-
ness went all through the house Even
a sour. old hired man of mine began
to smile-a remarkable change in him.
In fact, I used to think it was as if a
sunbeam with a voice had landed in
the place. Naturally, of course, we
were all cheered up, and we saw
They made preparations for the
wedding and the wedding day. He
talked about it as much as if not
more than she did.
zone day he departed, taking my
money and her love. = shall never
to forget, and / had better not bring
it up again. Anyway, she drove him
to the station, and came back little
saddened, but happy inside and filled
with music still.
Everything moved on smoothly I'M
till | could see her beginning to be
troubled Finally, 1 got the truth.
He had not written My suspicious
were aroused, and 1 wrote to the COM
pany.
THE Information got was like a
bomb in our quiet home. 1t seems he
had left the employ of the company
to go West, had vanished so far as
they were concerned, and had never
reported the money 1 had given him.
He had cashed the check all right,
but he had kept the money.
Il felt badly enough, for 1 saw old
age near, and only hard work ahead.
l tried to find him, but this is a great
country, ana the West ard East are
large enough for a man to hide in if
the one who is hunting him has not
money and patience to continue the
search. He dropped out of existence
as far as / was concerned.
"She recovered from the shock, for
she comes of stern stuff; but the girl
still believes that he will return.
suppose there are such things in the
world, but 1 never believed it before
the faith that outIasts the years. She
believes he will return and explain
what has happened. We have never
been able to shake her faith in him,
and-I-I-well-aft awhile l gave
up the attempt.
4'She goes down to the road about
the time you saw her, for if he came
back he would arrive about that time.
1t used to make my old heart ache
waiting for a scamp and a scoundreI;
but, some way. 1 have come to see a
meaning in it. 1t has helped my faith
in humanity after the jar he gave it.
She is serene and sensible through it
ALL The only thing 1 fear is that as