The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-01
EVENING STORY
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(By Susan e. Clagett.)
The air was filled with the perfume
of roses, and the morning breeze that
blew the curtains to and fro waited
the delicious fragrance thru the open
window into the room. A little child
was seated on the floor burying
white kitten under heap of the
blood red petals she had pulled from
the stems scattered about. Near her
lay doll very much undressed. Be-
side 1t. an array of clothes ready for
use when its mistress renem bered
what was due to respecta bility.
Watching the group with listiess
eyes was woman, stretched with an
1nVal1d's Inertness upon a couch She
was half listening to the child's low
talk when she caught the sound of
step in the hall. A fain. color rose
to her face to disappear even before
the door opened to admit a man,
quick and alert in movement, whose
keen eyes softened to a marvellous
gentleness as he looked toward her.
He noted her restless movement,
slight tho 1t was, then laid his hand
on the child's head, laughing softly
as he turned her face to meet his
gaze.
Ruth, to leave your offspring in this
condition.
81 am so glad you have come, Doc
tor Max; I have been very anxious,
she answered gravely as she handed
the doll to him. II am afraid Column
bia has hurt herself and will have to
have an operation
He took the doll from her. Seating
himself on low chair he soon had
the stiffened joints in order. Then
he turned and took the slender hand
of the woman into his strong, warm
clasp. With professional quickness he
noticed the irregular pulse, the heavy
eyes, and said gently:
You did not sleep last night
No she answered, a wave of col
or flooding her face as she met his
eyes.
He sighed heavily. Rising. he went
to the window, where he stood looking
with unseeing eyes into the beautiful
garden.
You gain no strength" he said at
last; the misery in his heart told in
the sudden strain of his voice. I see
it every time I come. If I thought my
leaving would be your gain, l would
go within the hour. but you need me
as a physician, a, friend, companion.
Friend" he repeated with sudden
passion then paused. 1t was some
minutes before he could speak in his
ordinary tone.
Margaret he said at last. "happi-
ness would be everything to you. Why
will you put it from you? You need
my love and care and the peace that
will come from complete self-surren
der. What is the use of this opposi-
ton? 1t is killing you. My life is
torment seeing you slowly but surely
drifting from me. 1t is the constant
effort to keep the barrier between us
that tells upon your strength. God
knows think first of you. He knows
my agony-knows how 1 have writhed
before Him praying to be shown the
right If you were we'll and strong 1
would go quickly, without word. But
no one understands you as / do. You
need me as your physician, and yet
you are slipping away from me be-
cause of the very thing you will not
accept. You harm no one by coming to
me- You are alone as we'll as 1, and
hearts can be starved, we'll bod
les. only some take longer to die than
others. I am a strong man, Margaret,
while you Dear. it is your life
as well as mine I beg for. We have
right to happiness. and peace would
come with it. VIII you be brave and
come to me?'
He still stood by the window and
his hand gripped the frame until the
veins stood out in great cords upon
1t. He had forced himself to speak
quietly and his voice gave no hint of
the agony of fear that clutched his
heart as he made his appeal
T "And Edith" she asked gently
Edith" he said hoarsely. his hard
won composure shaken by the name.
Fifteen years OF separation leave mo
virtually free. She left me within a
week of our wedding day. But you
know the whole miserable story, the
story that should have been told to me
before our marriage. You would never
have known it If l had not told you
and now it is turned against me.
Margaret, are you going to let it
spoil our lives? Happiness will length
en- yours And mine? An he drew
a deep breath I'VE will not talk of
mine, dear, but for your own sake 1
tmplore you to listen to me-.
Max, would that be at peace IL 1
did as you wish? " she asked simply,
as she placed his hand over her la
boring heart. Gould happiness con-
Try as I would to hide it, your love
would find it out and you would be
as miserable as l.
"Auntie. what does Or. Max want want
slipped between them and threw an
arm across the frail figure.
HE wishes me to go away with
him, dear
Twill you?" Ruth questioned in
sudden fear.
the dominant ones above her, We're
held by the misery she saw in their
depths. Her own were dark with suf-
fering as she looked away with
sigh.
mo. sweetheart"
With a little laugh of relief the
child resumed her play and the man
quietly left the room
Hours later the moon shinan cred
across the flower scented room and
rested gently upon a fair, white face
Half concealed in the shadow, his face
hidden, knelt the man who had
worked as never before to save the
woman he loved. He had conquered.
Patience and skill had won. and as
he knelt, haggard and exhausted from
the strain, a great thankfulness filling
his heart, he murmured low voiced
words that carried strength and the
will to fight for health to the girl, as
yet too weak to do more than smile,
smile SO slight it was but a move