The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-03-15
EVENING STORY
A Puzzling Case
BY A. w. PEACH.

BY A. w. PEACH.
/ Albert Hill was a mystery from the
moment he appeared at Mrs. Bates's
boarding house. From the first he
kept to himself; while uniformly cour-
teous, he did not invite advances of
any kind. Next, it was discovered
that he spent many hours in The eve
ming Just walking. zone of those
physical culture bugs" old DR.. Greene
said grimly and the boarding house
accepted his conclusion.
But Ruth Taylor, looking as she did
each day at the strong but haggard
face, reached a different conclusion.
The gray eyes lifted to hers Is she
chatted in the familiar way of the
house, were Swallowed. Each evening
after supper she saw him go out, his
tall figure swinging away into the
night; and many times she heard him
returning at midnight. And finally,
because her training as nurse had
helped her to look into human hearts
she knew that he was walking to for
get hoping to leave behind somewhere
| in his lonely strolls a memory that he
| wished to blct out.
She made up her mind as she
| watched him grow thinner and more
haggard that she must take hand in
| curing him. The fine gray eyes took
| on new and then desperate look that
| stirred her to action. She decided she
must find out, first of all what was
wrong, and she decided to take a bold
step if necessary. Her professional in
| Stinct was aroused.
| The next evening, as he stepped
| from the door, she was waiting. Mr..
| Hill, why don't you invite one of us
lonely females to stroll with you some
evening"" She felt her cheeks glow
a bit with shame at the boldness of
her request.
He looked down at her with grave
eyes. Il have noticed that you. at
lea st, have plenty of invitations from
others" He added quickly as he saw
her vince. II would like to have you
come, but I am afraid you would find
me poor company. But do come" lie
smiled this time, and the smile won
her.
the adventure began. To find his
trouble and to cure him was the task
she had set for herself. She made
little progress that evening: but they
in silence. When they returned she
had made little gain in her attempt to
solve him; but she found some salts
faction in his goodnight words:
You make a good comrade. Please
join me if you can tomorrow. My
work has been changed so L shall wan
der q Lit in the afternoon"
Lightness came into her feet as she
mounted the stair. She had helped
him a BIT to forget something-what
| B
might be some wrong doing that
preyed upon him; but the clean
strength of his lean face. the grave
kindness of his eyes seemed to shu.
away all thought of crime.
The first link in the chain mys-
terry was broken the next afternoon.
They were strolling together down
the broad, sunny central path of the
great park when she saw coming to-
ward them a graceful, pretty girl
| xuhn int a c
she saw them. She turned toward
them.
!. Greetings, Albert" she said to him
Ruth saw his face whiten and grow
that vanished as quickly as it came
And light began to dawn dimly upon
her.
He turned to her with word of in
PRODUCTION, Miss Dennis l." The
girls appraiSing eyes swept her coolly
and turned to him.
When they went on again Ruth was
aware that the vstery was nearing a
. solution. The conversation dragged
tho he made an evident effort to keel
. it up; but his mind ard heart were
, elsewhere.
She determined to use drastic meth
DDS. for that night at the dining room
table he loo wearier and more de-
, hurt eyes had first aroused in her wa;
doubled many fold. She thought over
a plan and decided to put it into ac-
. ton.
She drew him aside into the quiet
, of the reception room. She was a BIT
!, hesitant just how to begin, but she
, began. anyway.
, Listen, I want you to tell me some
: thing AMI tell me truly. 1 have decid'
, ed to hire myself as your doctor. Any
> way, you need mother-or perhap:
a sister
"The Lord knows I do he said
quietly.
'.Then-here it is-and forgive me
but did you love Miss Dennisor
once?"
, He drew a long breath and sank
back into the shadow of the corner
She was afraid he would not answer
then the words came, touched will
pain. Il love her now-that's the
| trouble" He was silent for a little
while: then his mans will broke and
the whole bitter tale came out-a stor.
r of mans true love, given fully, to {
n girl who took it; and then when i
Y had gone so far as to make ready {
g home, had been given back.
|. Ruth listened with pounding heart
and understood. Worthy or not, shi
s was all in all to him: for love doe
I not follow the cold logic of facts o
the guidance of the will.
He finished with, 80 you see
n came here to forget. and I'm not, a
the good doctor says, a physical cul