The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-03
EVENING STORY
At the Cross Roads.
BY A. W. PEACH.


Edna Duncan read the note swiftly.
growing sense of dismay and shock.
1t, was q brief note, written in a wav-
ering hand,~and it read:
1 Dear Edna-As the result of an op-
GRAFTON year ago Elmers mind was
fully restored. Since then he has been
planning to see you, and is now on his
way. felt that I should tell you. Any
great shock might be harmful. With
love. - BESS.
The note drifted to the floor from
numb fingers, and Edna stared with
unseeipg eyes thru the twilight of the,
room. That note from the far off New
England village turned her world up
side down. She was engaged to Elmer
Kerney there three years ago His
head had been hurt in a brave attempt
to halt runaway horse dragging a
lscarriage in which a baby had been left
by some careless parent.
For two years his mind had been
blank. yet she had been true-to him,
until 1t seemed that never again would
he be himself; and now the wonder
fingers of some surgeon had brought
MIN life and understanding, and he,
waiting to be sure of himself. was
coming to claim her, while she, in the
past year. had about given her whole
heart to a young doctor of the western
village, Philip Wenton.
Her mind travelled over and over
the situations. Her thoughts had often
been with Elmer, for he had been
worth her love, and he was now- she
added In thought. His gay and CHEEKY
ways-how they came back to her!
And he was coming to her because he
thought she was still true to him as
she had once said she would always
be. "Any great shock might be harm
fu1'-ifS he came with high hopes, far
across n
what would happen? Yet, she told
herself she must not consider that; the
| question was-did she love him?
With a low moan of inner anguish,
she walked to the bed and lay down
upon it, trying to find, hoping and
praying that she could find way out
Her thoughts went over the old and
happy days with him in the far away
home town: his CHEEKY voice sounded
again. and his big-hearted ways fresh
ened in her memory.
Yet, even as she thought, her mind
pictured Philip, grave and kind, be-
| loved in the village, always gentle,
tender and patient. What should she
do? What was right for her to do ?
Elmer was coming for--that warning
| note from his sister told her that;
Philip had been patiently waiting, and
she had been about to answer Yes
to the question hesitating on his lips
| Yet
The faint, silvery chimes of the
clock in the hall had echoed thru the
house the strokes of o'clock before
she reached her decision; and calmly,
like one who had found peace thru a
| decision touched by the immortal
beauty of sacrifice, she arose--to
pause with freshly beating heart.
| She heard outside the even, meas
ured steps of Doctor Wenton. and a
moment later the ring of the bell. For
| n will 1oI1f oh fnif a CD,
not face him; then. setting her will
she went quietly down the stairs 10
meet him.
| His hand held hers without releas-
| ing it, as his grave, fine eyes looked
| into her face with glance that touch
| ed her with a caress that was both
| alteration and homage.
| After the familiar greetings, she
drew him aside, and breathlessly she
told him what hey decision was. He
did not stir; ep1y the slow, tense
clenching of his left hand told her his
mental stress. When she had finished,
it seemed to hers that the room was
throbbing with the pulsations of her
heart.
| His voice was vibrant with effort
as he said, IF you love him. and 1
can understand how you might. now
there is nothing else for you to do. 1
wish-well. 1 wish you happiness, lots
of it, all the years,
| He rose, and stepped to the door.
She stifled low .oh, Philip!" upon
| her lips.
hand a bit huskily, my dear-my
dear" Then he turned away
abruptly.
Hardly had he passed from view,
when up the walk came a rapid fig
ure: and weak with the strain of
Philips parting, she fairly swayed
| with faintness as she found herself
greeting Elmer.
1t was with difficulty that she man.
i aged to light the lamp in the room,
/ while his CHEEKY voice with its old
time merriness went on:
Don't wonder you are surprised,
Edna, for I wanted to surprise you.
Well, you haven't changed-and I
| haven't, I guess, but those two years,
you know-queer to have two blanks
in your memory. However''-his face
shadowed-'what counts now is the
future" :
They chatted for little while of this
and that. old friends and old days, and
| suddenly he leaned forward:
/ : Edna, 1 have come all these miles
to find but" Then as he sought
for words she said quietly:
81 am ready to marry you, Elmer,
whenever you, are ready"
He jumped up, came to her, and
put his arms around her. his voice
| shaking, Little girl. have you been
faithful to me all thru this?''
She did not hesitate. II came very
near to loving someone else, but have
been true, because 1 thought-you
might-come back some time"
He kissed her gently. You guessed
| right"
Then they talked of plans, but with
the glow of her sense of sacrifice for
him gone. her heart was lead within
her He was restless-and she re-
membered of old that he had been.
Her thoughts went to PhilIp--to the
soothing, strengthening presence SC
welcome at the sick beds of the vii
lage;, and she heard again with a
sense of pain his last broken my
dear. My dear" But she was