The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-09-04
EVENING STORY
Turkey Red.
BY DORA NOLAN.

/ Inc new DOCTOR ana MS young Dr1oe
excited much interest in the small
town of Carringford. After a weeks
inspection the consensus OF opinion.
even among the women, was favorable
toward Mrs. Loring. She's quite
pretty" said Mrs. Pettigrew. describ-
ing one of the new-arrivals to her
next door neighbor. She has wavy
black hair and black eyes; the type
that can wear red, you know"
The minister's wife gave q luncheon.
Loretta Loring was very charming in
a pale yellow gown. Her manner was
| naturally bright and vivaclous. but
when the little groups had filed into
| the ding room and were seated
around the table, which was decorated
with red carnations, she became quiet
| and i'll at ease. The talk turned on
| childhood days. The hostess. with
| the good intention of bringing the
stranger into the conversation asked
| Were you city or country bred, Mrs.
Loring?"
Against her will the color flooded
Loretta's cheeks as she replied;
Scarcely either Mrs. Atherton. My
! childhood days were spent in an or
murs of sympathy; then the subject
was changed, and Mrs. Loring's sub
! sequent demeanor was attributed by
| the hostess and guests to the unfor-
tunate question.
No one dreamed that the young
doctors wife had told a direct lie in
| that reply, or that the color of the
| table decorations was the real cause
of her changed manner.
Doctor Loring had noticed this
strange antipathy before. There had
been the time when Loretta had
begged him never to wear a red neck
tie If he loved her; and the Incl
dent of a set of o. Henry, bound in
| was somewhat astoniShed, on return
| ing home that afternoon, to find his
| wife in tears. the doctor was not sur
prised when she told him the rea-
son. Leaning down, he lifted Loretta
in his arms. With a puzzled frown he
said: That horror of red is a strange
| thing. Did you ever try to overcome
it, dear?" AS there was no reply he
continued: Did 1t ever occur to you
that is minght be a birthmark?'
Mrs. Lorfng sat up. why, never
| thought of that" she said. eagerly. ut
! sounds plausible. doesn't it? When
can't help showing it people would be-
lieve-' she stopped abruptly and
shot a quick glance at her husband.
Dear" the latter answered, there
! are times when 1 think you know the
real reason for that strange dislike and
are keeping it from me-" Loretta tried
to look him straight in the eye, but
somehow failed. However, she shook
, her head. why, of course not, Hal.
My past is an open book to you, just
| as yours is to me"
The doctor seemed about to make
some reply, but he closed his lips tight
for a moment, then changed the sub
ject.
The Lorings were apparently very
happy in their new home. AS time
went on the doctor built up lucrative
practice in Carringford. Loretta
made many friends. But it came to
be generally understood among them
that the subject of her past life was
one to be avoided.
AS the minister's wife expressed 1t.
1.-The poor girl seems so sensitive on
the subject Probably she led an I'M
happy life in that asylum, and the
thought of it upsets her."
But DR.. Loring was worried about
his wife He had faith in her love
and tried to believe her repeated as
surances that she was happy. But
there were times when Loretta
thought herself unobserved.
Then her expression changed; 1t
become strange. almost desperate.
There were nights when she couldn't
sleep, or had horrible dreams.
During the influenza epidemic Mrs.
Loring was one of the numerous vic
Tins The doctor, coming in one
offered to relieve the nurse for a
while. AS he sat down by the bed
side Loretta said. with a trace of
hysteria in her voice. Hal, I've been
thinking Suppose I don't get we'll
/ Suppose I should die. Why"
4 'TNonsense!' said her husband;
you must put those morbid ideas
right out of your head. You're COM
ing along all right" The patient
| looked at him strangely. But if I
do" she persisted; IF I should go
| with this awful lie on my conscience
l must tell you
Stroking his wife's head. DR. Loring
babe her not to talk then. Tell me
some other time he said. Here.
dear, take this" and he gave her a
sedative tablet and little water. But
Loretta was not to be quieted thus.
ct know 1 will have to give up your
love If I tell you why 1 hate red So"
Her face flushed. her eyes wide.
i She pushed aside the restraining
hand on her shoulder. Hal" she
said. IT lied to you the first time we
met. 1 never saw the inside of an or
phan asyluDl-and 1 know all about
my parents. They drank themselves
to death soon after 1 was sent to the
reform school for theft. 1 was kept
: there four years, and once I tried to
escape. They found me and took me
back-and put a turkey-red dress on
me as a badge of disgrace and made
me wear it for months. The very
sight of the color brings-it all back"
Mrs Loring's voice died away in a
weak sob.
She was exhausted and lay with her
eyes closed, SO she did not see the ex-