The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-10-16
EVENING STORY
Dawes Handicap.
BY IzoLA FORESTER.

words over the party WIRE. 1T Ildu hot
been her fault, unconsciously caves
dropping on. David She had picked
up the receiver to call a number and
the very sound of his voice had made
her hesitate and listen when she found
he was talking to Hardy Goodwin.
"I'u be able to meet 1t next month.
surely. Hardy. II you can hold 1t over
until then. No, not the principal, but
/ can swing the interest
Then came Hardy's voice, curt and
businesslike. He was sorry, but he
had a good buyer for the Ashley
place. and the firm would not allow
him to let the mortgage go for a
matter of sentiment. Besides, Dave
had given his word he would meet it
the 18th.
But my mother has been very ILL.,
You knew that, didn't you? I've had
to pay for nurses and the hospital
bill besides. 1 could not foresee that,
Hardy"
~ Connie hung up, softly and stood
m otionless. staring out of the win
dow at the row of NAPLES that served
as windbreak before the house She
had wondered why Dave had not
asked her to marry him, and now shs
knew 1t was his mother and the
burden of debt on them.
Her hands clenched as she thought
of Hardy daring to press the mortgage
and put them out of the old Ashley
place, Hardy, who hal gone to school
with both the boys and had been Hairs
chum before his death She crossed
quickly to her desk and picked up
Hardy's letter that had come that
morning asking her 10 so to the yacht
races across the sound. He would sail
his own, the Reminder, he told her.
Did she remember why he had named
it that
- Connie bit her lip. 1t had. been a
little boy and girl joke between them,
ever since she had turned him away
for Dave, and was to remind her of
his being. like Barkis. within
Then she thought of Dave. big. curly
haired, blue eyed, with a smile that
everybody in town would have ac-
cepted as legal tender. Ever since
his fathers death and Hairs he had
kept up the home for Mrs. Ashley.
Connie often stopped her runabout be-
fore the lovely old-fashioned garden
to chat with her, and sometimes take
her for a drive.
She had not been strong since the
doctors death, and Connie often
thought she was like one of her own
fragrant day lilies, slender and white
and fragile. She shut her eyes tightly
at the thought. of her living in one of
the boarding houses down along River
street after half a lifetime in the pic
turesque old Ashley homestead. Then
she stepped across the hall into the
long study thst crossed the end of the
house. rag s
Love me. dad ?" she asked. as she
always did before she landed" as the
head of the house expressed it, She
perched on the arm of his chair and
rumpled his hair thoughtfully.
How much?" frowned Mr.. Wade.
Don't try to mollycoddle me, Connie,
when you want something. know
you"
.,All right. then. Strictly business. I"
ously, and he laughed. II mean it
now. dad, truly. Do you like Dave
Ashley ?"
Il like him. yes. but with Hnlita-
'uons," his gray eyes twinkling. st
don't want him in the family, but I
like him.
Comics eyes never wavered as she
looked at him.
How much money did Grand
mother Walton leave me?'
About ten thousand. It's gone
over that now, on compound interest
home, AMI father. Con ?" He slipped
his arm around her teasingly.
NO, of course not. I wouldn't
marry even Dave if you said no, flat
ly. but you wouldn't" Connie added
confidently. mot if 1 really wanted
him. Don't. worry, dad; he hasn't
asked me, and he won't, not with the
handicap he's under. l want YOU to
go to Goodwin & Hart and take over
the Ashley mortgage with my money,
and not let Dave know who has it.
Hard's going to foreclose, with Mrs.
Ashley just home from fhe hospital"
Mr. Wade stared back at her, sud-
denly alert and aroused. The Ashleys
had been neighbors for years, and the
doctor a close friend. He rose and
r.1- = 1t, -
telope aptlers on the wall. Connie
never spoke as he swung out of the
door like a boy and down the walk
to the street
She saw him turn at the corner on
the way downtown. and then dropped
in the willow chair by the desk, and
laid her head on it, Even if he did
help on the mortgage, she knew it
would not put Dave on his feet nor
lift the barrier between them. 1t
would only tide him over until he
could get a start. She sat in the study
until it was almost dark and Mrs
Hopkins came to say supper was ready
twice. Finally, she heard steps on the
walk, and two figures came up to the
door. She tried to fasten up her
rumpied hair when she heard Dawes
voice in the hall.
I've brought him back to supper
because we've got to talk over some
business, said Mr.. Wade cheerfulIy.
Hope you've got something good to
eat, Con. Better open up some of
those strawberry preserves and the
pickled apricots. Can't have apricot
brandy any more, Dave, but they
haven't shut down on pickles yet
Sit down and get your breath. It's all
right. Connie. I've got the mortgage"
He went out of the room and left
them together. Connie could not
speak. His directness left her without
defense. and she wondered if Dave
Observation-Disclosures