The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-26
LETTERS OF
TWO WOMEN
Suspense.
81 ZOE BECKLEY.

In a strange AdnO,
I must write you, Kate dearest, as
a sort of stablizer. Otherwise think
1 should go mad.
The telegram the conductor handed
me on the train was of course from
Curt wait for me Ell Garces hotel,
Needles, arriving Friday or Saturday,
solution assured. c. b. That was the
message. No word of love. No re-
assurance that all is well. Isn't it like
Curt to torture me so?
Oh, Kate, 1 feel so beaten-so at
an-end-of-everything Twenty-four
hours more of this. suspense, maybe
twice that, before 1 know whether
there is any hope of repairing our
domestic wreck, or whether Curt has
decided it is hopeless and that am
to go on alone.
When had read the telegram and
realized that the station outside was
Needles (what a name to give
toWnD I began to clutch madly at
my hat and wraps, my hand bag and
small junk, SO as to get off the train
| in time.
The conductor, a kindly man who
seemed to know 1 was in trouble,
told me there was no hurry, that the
| train made a considerable stop, and
that the hotel was right at the station,
| and very comfortable. He was
| fatherly fellow with twinkly eyes and
a shock of white hair and his voice
| soothed me, even tho I paid little at
| tention to what he said.
He helped me out of the car and
steered me into the Ell Garces, a mod
| ern hotel of quaint aspect, built by
the railroad After settling myself, I
went out and walked, to keep the sus-
| pense from driving me mad. 1 am
writing you now,-dear, for the same
reason-it doesn't matter whether you
ever get the letter or not.
1t is a strange place, division
nf he
from which prospecting parties and
men who have business with the gold
mines hereabout get their supplies.
| There are hot, wide, sandy streets
| per trees-the latter lovely, soft,
| fringy things, a joy to look upon,
wondrous shady to boot. And shops.
and business places. all quite active
| for a desert town. There are sun
baked hills on all sides, and the air is
| dry and as clear as crystal.
The beggarly-looking Mojaves exis.
! in dirty shacks along the roadside, the
men huge of stature, the women mere
| hays. filthy and painted with tribal
designs with fat, naked babies on
| their BACKS or held nonchalantly
astride one hip.
+ Lovely California is far behind. All
| is dry and desert-likc, quite BETTING
| the state of my heart.
lay awake most of the night, won
low after me in this strange fashion
| Out of the fear that consumes me, 1
picture the worst. What if he and
his mother have decided to keep my
| children and get rid of me? What if
something terrible has happened at
| home? What does Curt mean by
| solution assured? Am l to be paid
| off like some unsatisfactory employe
and sent off to find another '-posi-
ton % oh, Kate, Kate. the torture of
this waiting!
! And yet, while I am in torment one
| moment, I am caught up and borne
along on vague, wild hope the next.
| Something good MUST have come
over Curt and revived his longing TO
make a success of our life together if
it is at all possible. I look
out of my window. Kits. onto the
strange, foreign scene, where we'll
dressed tourists move about, and big
rough mining men wearing scars of
hardship and the badge of unquench-
able courage. And l take heart
little. Life and the world seem so
vast, so full of chances after all. Can
not ANYONE build anew. no matter
what has gone before? These rough
ened, toughened men going forth into
/ the wilderness in search of fortune tell
me yesi Whichever way my fate
points, 1 shall NOT give up.
1 will wire you the first moment
can, after hearing what Curt has 20
reveal. Love and blessings,