The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-04-12

the picture against the wash bowl and
stare at it fifteen minutes at time.
asserting time and time again that
she was true" We are all deranged
more or less on some subject ESQ the
experts say) and that ideal notion
was Hopes.
Determination will win almost any
thing, and at least Henry broke down
the big barrier; or, rather, he broke
down the barriers guarding the secret.
which was the big barrier. 1t was just
after his nineteenth proposal. He kept
track of them on a calendar, so he
know just which one it was.
While he was uttering the same
words that he had given voice to the
week previous, and the week before
that, etc, etc, Hope sat in deep
thought and heard him thru. That
was something, for usually she broke
into his pretty speech and did not al
low him to reach the end of it. This
time when he was thru. she said:
Henry. I'm going to tell you the big
secret. It's another mani"
Henry nearly fell off the chair. He
had often thought this might be the
solution, but the confirmation of his
suspicious was startling just the same
He was almost sorry he had learned
the secret now, Tor In a way ne would
be taking rather sneaking advantage
of an absent rival if he continued his
suit 1t was all right when he did not
know there was another man." but
now it was different.
While he sat mum in state bor-
dering desperation, Hope went to the
dresser and brought forth the picture.
She handed it to him. and while he
gazed at the face in it with sort of
vindictive CLEAN in his eyes, she told
him the story of the photograph
Slowly a smile spread over Henry's
face as he listened to the tale of how
the ideal came to be- and he bent low
over the likeness of his rival in or
der to hide the manifestations of mer-
riment that were taking possession of
his countenance.
The next evening, while Hope was
busy reading a book, some one
knocked at her door.
Henry again. she decided, and
went to the door, which she flung
open. The man who stood there was
an exact replica of the one in the pho
tograph It was the idol, she could
not doubt that. Yes, there were the
kindly eyes and benevolent forehead.
and the heavy mustache.
and watched the apparition enter.
without speaking, and seat himself
comfortably in chair.
"Why do you treat me so coldly?"
asked the flesh and blood idol.
Haven't you been waiting for me to
Gomez"
She closed the door and stood look
ing down at him, unable as yet to
grasp as a reality the fact that she
was gazing upon the living original of
the picture that lay in the dresser
drawer. Perhaps she was dreaming,
she thought, and even looked for a
pin with which to prick herself as a
test.
Suddenly the strange visitor broke
out in laughter, shaking all over and
rocking back and forth with his head
held in his hands.
''What-what are you doing?" Hope
managed to, inquire, in a rather thin
sounding voice.
I'm laughing" he roared. and
then, behold! Off came the heavy
mustache. out came the mans hand
kerehief and with it he obliterated
various benevolent" wrinkles from
| his. forehead The kindly eyes re-
mained, because they were Henry
Wadsworth's. and his always were
Hope sank weakly into a chair. She
was unable to understand whether. he
was playing a rather crude hoax on
! her or whether the photograph in her
possession actually was one of Henry
with the makeup which he had just
removed. He evidently OWNED her
thoughts, for he said:
Don't be angry, Hope. I can't help
/ it. Your idol and 1 are one and the
same. I had it taken when 1 was
playing the title role in 'Miser Moses,
when I quit living at Mrs. blossoms
place. You evidently were the next
occupant of the room and you found
| the picture. How about it, are you
still bent on marrying, the picture man
or will you have me? Either way, it's
Henry Wadsworth that will be the
\ lucky man, because I'm both"
Hope looked meek and>submissive,
and yet there was a lot of happiness
shining from her eyes as she replied:
It'll take you both, then. I've often
wished during the last few months
| that 1 could do that"
| Copyright. 1919 by the Mcclure News-
paper Syndicate.)