The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-07-27
"Dason saw past present and future with racing nerves.

There was no mistakfng his meaning; his
delicate imagery thrilled her. Other men
had sought her-some as an investment.
some with deep-throated passion she
deemed ephemeral. but this man touched
her brain. satisfied her intellect; and for
companionship she yearned-
And yet.
At last he spoke.
Don't you understand" The voice
that men called stern was gentle and
pleading.
Yes" she answered, and the tender
ness of her tone made him almost
ashamed ST do understand. 1 want you
to be good to me little longer. You shall
have your answer soon But you have
taken me by surprise"
mo, don't say any more yet. I want
to be honest with you. I owe you that.
There was man once loved. do not
know II I have any love to give II l
could love any one it would be you.
but I think my heart is buried with
his"
"Buried?" Simpsons interest in post
mortem romance was purely academic.
It could not affect her investments.
Yes" she answered sadly, I'm a lonely
grave by the side of the Fraser River. "
Simpson felt the shock experienced by
a man in the dark who tries to go down
one more imaginary step. He was &C
customed to think rapidly in times %
crisis. but this gnarled contortion of cir
cumstance transcended all experience and
left him for a moment helpless.
THE Fraser River?" he echoed feebly.
Eyes, he was drowned there-the friend
who was with him wrote to tell me.
There is a Iittlegcross on the left bank
| where they buried him." Her thoughts
seemed far away and her eyes were wet
with tears Any doubts he might have
had vanished hopelessly,' and his mind
became intensely active. For one mo-
u1ent honor and decency called to him:
clamored that he should tell her all he
knew and give her one chance-unfetter-
cd and Observation-Disclosures the man
she had loved and himself. The next mo-
ment flung before his mind the picture
of what her loss to him would mean:
pressing debts and another toilsome
| search for some one with whom to share
them, next time perhaps without youth
and beauty as makeweight for en-
forced companionship- He had only &c
say nothing and she would never know
| Gales story and Gale would never know
hers: he would help Mason-more than
| he had intended-to go abroad with MI
riei s>noney and all would be well. He
| soIaced his yet protesting conscience
with the motto usurp ped by man for every
act branded with the bar sinister of dis
| honor, "AITs fair in love and war" and
with the half-whispered words, 'Muriel
| let Us consecrate our new love by his
memory, simpson knew tndt he passed
forever into the land of lost birthrights
She turned at the sound of his voice
she had scarce noticed his silence and
was amazed at the storm of emotion visi-
| BILE in his face. The consciousness of her
power thrilled her: her loneliness cried
out for relief: she had been honest with
him, and he loved hereafter all, why
not, why not2
| A footstep grated on the gravel path
and Gale moved slowly toward them
She thought his walk rather relentless and
wished him a thousand miles away
Wholly unconscious of creating an I'M
desired triangle. he took seat with has
back to the moonlight, facing the other
two.
Your sister told me to come out here
/ to find you" he said to Simpson.
"Yes-where have you been since din
ner?" Gale wondered q little at the girls
: italicized interest in hts movements. ix-