The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-07-06
Eocning Story
The Man Johanna Married.
~ KITTY PARSONS.


birthday came around she packed her
trunks and went abroad with friend
for an indefinite period of time.
The real shock came a year later
when Miss Dorsay wrote that Johanna
had married an army officer who had
since been killed in the war. Then,
they had no further news of the wild
ow until. two years later, shortly after
the signing of the armistice, she re-
turned to Millbrook.
1t was her friend, Miss Dorsay, who
was obliged to satisfy the curious
minds and inquiring friends that fllleo
the town where they lived; Johanna
showed no inclination to talk about
herself and even the most tnquisltlVe
dared not venture too far.
The young widow had Immediately
interested herself in welfare work
among the children and in a rev
months she had done wonders with
the poorer families in the towns where
she worked.
one early winter afternoon about a
year after Johannes return from over
seas she was sitting in front of the
fire in her coy living room, reaolnS
book. There was snow in the air
outside.
There was a quick. decided step on
the porch and a violent ring at the
bell. A moment later the maid usher
ed in a tall blond man in the uni
form of an army officer. -,
Are you Mrs. Richard Carhart? 2"
he asked, in a deep, pleasant voice:
81 am. And may I ask who you
are?" A eight foreboding chilled the
usual richness of Johanna's voice.
at am Capt. Richard Carhart, ne
returned promptly, noting how attrac,
tive she looked. with her black neao
against the gay chintz OF the high-
backed chair.
in action" she almost pleaded.
$50 was I; that is. they thought L
was but in reality I was in a German
prison camp" .u
don't understand" she told him.
Ut does seems a bit thick" he ad-
nitted cheerfully. You see. I was
over in Greenbush lecturing for the
benefit of something and fellow told
me there was a woman with the same
name as mine over here and asked IL
we were related. told him 1 thought
so and then hurried over to look you
up. wish you wouldn't look SO
beastly upset over the thing; but L
would like to know when and how you
married me-"
"I'il try to tell you everything If
you'll be patient with me. I'm SO
ashamed and it's dreadfully hard, but
won't spare myself"
Then she began and briefly sketched
her early lonely years in Millbrook and
her final departure for other lands.
1--WE Travelled everywhere" she went
on, land I was so happy that knew it
couldn't last long. Every one was so
kind to us and several men wanted to
marry me. but 1 didn't care for them
and I couldn't. I began to think that
there was something lacking in my
makeup and 1 should never care for
any one. Then one day met a boy
aIwanys think Of him as boy, altho
he was really my own age-he was a
darling and every one adored him.
He fell in love with me and begged
and begged me to marry him, but 1
couldn't seem to care for him the way
ought to. But he followed me every
where and gave me no peace and
pleaded with me till I almost believed
L was beginning to care for him. So,
at last, We became engaged" Johanna
stopped and caught her breath sharply
in dry sob.
Pm a brute to make you go all over
this" exclaimed Carhart, remosefully;
please don't tell me any more if it
hurts you so.''
I've got to be hurt deserve to be.
Well,' she continued a little later,
we were engaged for six weeks; and
then knew I simply couldn't stand it
any longer. He was as sweet and
adorable as could be, but knew if I
had to marry him Id so raving crazy.
So told him-tried to be as gentle as
could, but perhaps I wasn't. Any
way, he took it dreadfully to heart,
and decided that that sort of thing
would not happen again. So 1 went on
where 1 was not known, and the
wild idea came to me that if changed
my name and pretended to be a widow
they would let me alone. 1 was mis-
cradle and unhappy and morbid and
not really myself at the time
4 had gone to Egypt in the second
year OF the war, and searched the
casualty lists for a possible name
liked yours and the papers said you
! had no relations, so I thought there
would be no complications. After
that, there isn't much to tell; I drove
an ambulance for a year and I worked
IN hospital and I was wounded a
little and then 1 came home. 1 never
| dreamed of your coming to life like
this, and I'm a little stunned If
you'll give me a little time to think
things over I'll try to repair the harm
I've done you"
There was a brief rap at the door
and Mrs. Jimmy Barton walked into
the room without further ceremony.
This is Capt. Carhart,'' faltered
Johanna.
Her husband" explained that gem
| tleman cheerfully. Il was reported
dead by mistake-always making
stupid mistakes like that at the war
office"
why, how perfectly lovely! You
two must have a lot to talk about. so
I'll run along. Goodnight, dear; I'm
so glad for you"
Don't worry" Carhart treasured
Johanna, When she had said good
night to Mrs. Jimmy You can get
| rid of me easily enough, but I thought
it would be less hard for you If we
pretended everything was all right
| just now There is no need to tell
any one else the story you told me
and tomorrow you can find out I am
no good or something else that will
fix it up all right for you. Don't think
any more about it now