The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-04-17
EVENING STORY
Margaret.
BY SUSAN CLAGET1

of roses and the morning breeze blew
the light curtains to and fro and watt
ed the delicious fragrance thru the
open window. A little child was seat
ed upon the floor burying white kit
ten under the red rose petals she had
pulled from stems scattered about.
Near her lay doll very much UNI
dressed. Beside it little pile of
dainty clothing ready for use when her
mistress remembered what was due to
responsibility.
Watching the group with hstless
eyes was a woman. stretched with an
invalid's inertness upoI a couch. Lis
tening to the childs low talk, she
caught the sound of a quick step upon
the veran6a and a faint CLEAN of color
rose to her face to disappear before a
NAL stepped thru the long window
into the room; a man alert in move
ment, whose keen eyes softened to a
marvellous gentleness as he looked to-
ward her.
With an almost imperceptible mo-
ton the girl p1 essed mo- deeply into
the pillows supporting her. The slight
movement was not lost upon the man,
who laid his hand upon the child's
head laughing as he turned her face to
meet his gaze.
What a careless, careless mother,
Ruth, to leave your child in this con-
H. Sne VIII take COI0.
I'm awf'ly anxious Doctor Max,
and I'm glad you have come" she an
swered gravely. I'm afraid Columbia
has hurt herself and will have to have
an op'ration."
With gravity equaling her own. the
physician took the doll and worked at
stiff and broken joints until legs and
arms moved easily. He was glad of
the respite. for the slight withdrawing
of the woman upon <the couch had
hurt him to the quick. Not until the
doll was in perfect order did he turn
strong. warm clasp. With profession
al Quickness he noted the irregular
pulse and heavy eyes.
You did not sleep last night" he
said gently.
No" she answered, quietly meet
ing his eyes
With a sigh he left her. side and
stood for long looking with unseeins
eyes into the old-fashioned garden;
searching. as he daily searched his
mind for some means of combating
the will of the woman he desired
above all things to make his wife, and
as always he turned toward her feel
ing the utter futility of any effort he
might make.
You gain no strength" he said at
last, the misery in his heart told in
the sudden strain of his dice. For the
moment the usually self-contained
physician was not himself. AMI words
he felt should not be spoken at the
present time were forced from his lips
by his intolerable anxiety.
IF 1 thought my leaving you. Mar
geret. would be your gain, I would go
within the hour. But you need me.
I You need my strength, my under
standing. This, that you allow to
stand between us is a false conception
| of your physical condition You have
/ thought about yourself until you have
become obsessed by the idea that you
are a helpless invalid"
will | ever be strong, Max
! Strength would come with happi-
ness. 1t is happiness you are fighting
with all that is in you under the mis-
taken impression that you would make
of my life a failure by coming to me.
| whereas I need you more than 1 ca n
say. I need peace of mind. That I
| cannot have when 1 see you putting
| from you the love God has implanted
! in your heart; that you have told me
| you feel for me.
| THE battle is going against you.
dear Each day 1 see it 1t is the
constant effort to keep the barrier be-
| tween us that tells so upon You.
know this as your physician. know
it because of my love for you. Why
! are you so unwilling to allow me to be
| the Judge of what is best for you?
| That is what you are doing. Deciding
! for me Dear, no man who is < man
/ is going to accept without protest such
I a decision. If you care nothing for
me there is nothing more to De said.
/ 7 am man enough, I hope. to take my
medicine without whimpering. But
| YOU have told me that you do care;
| that you will not give yourself to me
because you will be drag upon my
| life"
then she put her slender fingers about
his and rested her cheek against his
hand. Max, would that be at peace
if did as you wish?' she asked gen
thy as she placed his her over her
| laboring heart. would happiness
continue where there would be con,
slant regret? You say ] am -obsessed
/ bv the fear I would spoil your life.
/ am. What help could I be to a
man climbing. as you are CHM bling
each day higher in your profession? 1
would be proud of you, yet l could do
nothing but sit and wait and listen.
And when you were not with me there
would always be regret. Try as I
would / could not hide it Your love
would find it out and you would be as
miserable as l."
You talk nonsense" he returned
roughly Il am thinking of you as
we'll as myself 1t is your life as we'll
as mine 1 am begging for. Hearts can
be starved s well as bodies, only some
| take longer to die than others. 1 am
/ a strong man, Margaret, while
i you"
He gripped the frame of the win
dow until the veins stood out in great
cords upon his hand. He had forced
himself to speak quietly and his voice
gave no hint of the agony of fear that
! possessed him.
| Are you going to let your will stand
between us. spoil our lives? Happi-
ness will lengthen yours. And mine?''
he drew a deep breath. I'VE will not
talk of mine, dear. For your own
sake I implore you to listen to me-"
! "Auntie what does Doctor Max
want you to do?" The forgotten child
slipped between them and threw an
arm across the frail figure.
He wishes me to go away with