The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-08-22


a chance to win the $500 that was Of
fered. She had It all\spent two hours
after the verse was written.
Jack was to call on her as usual
that, evening and she waited in antici-
patton. When he read the verse he
would praise It as the rest had done,
she felt sure. Her cheeks glowed and
her hand trembled as she handed 1t to
Jack to read.
"Ahem," was the first sound that
passed Jacks lips.
What do you think of it?" she
asked eagerly.
You hardly spent enough time ON
it, did you, dear?" he ventured.
Quite enough for such a trifiing
subject she answered indignantly.
To have her work so criticised was q
new experience to Constance.
There is break in the meter in
the second and the last line" he criti-
cised again.
There is nothing of the kind" she
meter? This is not the first poetry L
have written, 1 will have you to un-
derstand."
az know 1t isn't and you do very
well, but we all make mistakes. you
know" he half apologized.
yes; some of US make very grave
mistakes. too, Mr.. Armstrong. 1t is
II understand" Jack said, as he
rose. Il hope you will feel better in
the morning. 1t is not quite o'clock,
but I think you need a rest" His
tone was as icy as hers, but he could
not keep it up. >'I would like to see
you win the prize, Constance" he
added, in kindly way, land I feel
confident that you can win If you will
only exert a little more effort"
But it was too late to fix 1t UP. Con-
stance had been led to believe that
her poetry was perfect and her pride
had been terribly injured. Jack knew
she had been spoiled, SO didn't say
any more. Constance was a pretty
girl, and when she grew a little older
in years and experience he could see
that she would forget many of her
silly notions of her own seff-irn port
ance.
The more Constance thought over
Jacks criticism, the more injured she
thought she was. 1t would mean the
that score her mind was firmly fixed
1t would be better for her to marry
someone with more intelligence and
finer feelings than Jack had. Her girl
friends agreed with her. Jack was a
nice boy, and all that, but he wasn't
good enough for their Constance-r1o
indeed She would be able to travel
on the $500 and IT would be likely she
would, meet some distinguished man
who would be more than likely to fail
in love with her. She sat awake at
nights and dreamed Of 1t.
The contest closed. The winner
would receive the check q few days
before the next issue of the magazine,
which would have the official an
nouncement in, would appear. AS the
day for the magazine to be released
! drew near, Constance found herself
weary of waiting: She could not see
| the need of the wait and 1t was cruel
| to keep her in suspense SO long. How
| she pitied the other contestants when
they learned they were not the winner
For the first time 1t dawned upon her
that perhaps she would be one of the
unlucky ones. The thought chilled
| her. What if Jack had been right
after all? He hadn't any reason to
| find fault with her verse If there
! hadn't been something wrong with it
He had always been generous with his
| praise of her dresses and things like
| that But it-was preposterous t6
think of him knowing anything about
poetry. 1t was altogether out of his
| line. He was good automobile
salesman. drew good salary, and was
a very fine young man. She had beer
a trifle hasty in becoming angry al
him and not allowing him to call JUS
because he had criticised her work. Il
| was illuCfl HlCcE 20 De HI engaged Slr
| than not to be. That was not fair tt
| Jack. 1t had been Jack she loved: she
hadn't just been in love with being en-.
gagged as some of her girl friends were
If she didn't win the prize money sh,
| wouldn't have chance to travel ant
tinguished husband in a town Xix.
| that. Distinguished husbands wer,
very often unkind to their wives. Nevel
| il their wives were highly intelligent
Perhaps she wasn't q genius. He
friends had just said that to flatte
her. If Jack was right about he
| verse then he was the only true frfent
she had. She got copy of her vers
to make sure. After reading 1t owe
she saw that Jack, had been right. TIL,
verse wasn't even sensible. the wa.
she saw it now. why hadn't sh
couldn't win the prize. she knew tina
without waiting to see the result an
nounced. The disappointment prove,
toe much. She buried her head in
cushion and wept.
Constance" 1t was Jacks voice II
the kindest tone she had ever heart
him use.
"Oh. Jack, am so glad you hav
comet" she exclaimed, as she almos
threw her arms about his neck "Yo'
were right about my verse. 1t wa
wretched. I haven't a chance for tn
prize. Will you forgive me?"
81 am here in search of your for
giveness." he answered. IT am sur
you would have won the prize IL 1
, hadn't been for me. dear
'I couldn't have" she interrupted
MY verse was terrible. 1 see it now
Perhaps IL had taken your advice
would have had a chance. Just thin,
what we could have done with fiv
hundred dollars. Won't the winner b
happy"
He is very happy Jack smiled.
DO you know who has won it :?
she asked eagerly.
He could hold it no longer. wit
; shaking fingers he took d check fror
his pocket and held 1t UP for he
, startled gaze.
Jack" she gasped, as she realize
! what it meant, you have won tn
! contest I thought you couldn't writ
| verse How Wanderfi1I Of voi,t Va