The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-01-16
EDening Story
Change of Heart.
BY ELIZABETH WILL JAMS.

shifted his IeeC reSlleSSiy. he wanted
to look at his watch, but that would
have meant coming out into the moon
light and, Just now he preferred the
dark. Suddenly a girl appeared On
the snow-covered garden patch. In
the cold, winter moonlight she looked
like the shadow of girl, and her slow.
almost cropping movement was like that
of a sleep-walker's thought the man
who watched her eagerly from the
shelter of the great tree beside the
gate.
As she approached, he might have
seen that her large eyes were dark
with trouble and that one hand rested
lightly at her throat as if she breathed
with difficulty. The concealed man
failed to notice her distress. however.
''Well?" was his crisp. staccato ques-
ton as the girl came close to him.
She stopped suddenly at the sound
of the voice from the shadow.
Ronald" she whispered. You
you frightened me-
''Well?" repeated the man i'm
patiently.
You know" queried the girl in a
voice so low that it could hardly be
heard above the sound of the light
wind. that cracked among the dried
bushes of the garden
4 know what he wants." answered
the man impatiently. He told this
afternoon that the doctors consider his
case hopeless and that he would like to
marry you on his deathbed so that he
might leave you his money-s1 90, OO0."
He fairly purred the words. You ac-
cepted, of course
Accepted. How could I, Ronald :?
Engaged to you, and David your
rival such a short time ago."
Ronald moved irritably, then con-
trolled himself with an effort You
don't seem to understand, Helen, what
this would mean to me-to u.s." he
corrected himself. 1.-The marriage
would be mere form-a matter of a
few hours at most. Then you would
be free We could be married, Just as
we had anned--but with what a diff
ference." he went on excitedly, his
voice growing sharp with eagerness
NO waiting, no worry-I could estab-
lylsh myself in businesS-we could
have our own house-a car-gee;
what couldn't we have?"
Helen turned and stared at the man
beside her as if she saw him for the
first time. She stood erect, intent
nothing OF the sleep-walker about her
now.
''And suppose she said evenly,
that David should recover-as we all
hope?"
There isn't chance in million"
he answered exultantly.
Aodl SOu tame llldl
chance by marrying the girl you say
YOU love to your erstwhile rival, for
the hope of money" her voice fall
tered and stopped.
Helen, do be reasonable" Ronald
muttered. Just try to think what it
would mean to me!''
You've said that twice" answered
the girl, and without another word
she turned and went back thru the
winter-racked garden to the house.
A uninterrupted nurse met her at
the door. mr.. Stevens is asking for
YOU" she said in her quiet voice. He
is very low-the crisis will come to-
night. We don't want to refuse him
anything, but. please, don't stay more
than five minutes
At the door of the sick room Helen
paused a moment to collect herself,
then went softly in.
At sight of her David Stevens
stopped his restless tossings and greet
ed her with feeble smile
Helen" he whispered with 1abored
breathing. "Helen, dear, 1 have been
MISUNDERSTANDING been wrong.
1 wanted to do something for you
and I wanted. oh, how 1 wanted, to
call YOU my wife, if only for a half
hour. NBut it was selfish-suppose
that after all I should live to bring
misery to the life of the woman love.
That would be a sorry mess He
paused to rest, smiling feebly again,
but in a moment he went on. 81 can
arrange about the money some other
way" :.
Soh, don't please don't talk about
the money" Helen broke in. II can't
bear it," She took a step toward the
bed and dropped into a low chair be-
side it. She felt physically incapable
of standing longer. Her world was
toppling about her. The man she had
thought she loved had proved himself
selfish and mercenary, whereas the
man she spurned stood out at last
in his true -colors.
David she whispered. taking one
of his hot, feverish hands between her
two cold ones. ''David-I-I want to
marry your
but. darling he answered. "You
don't understand. I might live
oh, David dearest! 1t is you who
don't understand want you to live
as my husband. I'm afraid that I'm
proposing to you,' And leaning
swiftly forward. she pressed her flush
ed cheek against the hand she held.
She could not see the rapture that
suddenly illumined his face, and be-
fore he could answer, the nurses
pleasant voice came to her from what
seemed a long distance.
I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to
go now" she said. can't have my
patient excited-doctor's orders, you
know
Don't VERY about your patient,
Miss Grey came the feeble but happy
voice from the bed. Il think I'll take
little nap now I've decided to get
well this time"
Five hours later white and shaken
Helen met the doctor in the hall below
for his verdict.
THE crisis has passed. he said
gently. THE boy will live. 1 think
that you had something to do with it,
he added kindly. But Helen did not
hear him. For the first time in her
life, she had tainted.
David Stevens and his wife are a
Observation-Disclosures