The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-11-26
EoeningSto
After Many Days.
BY MARTHA M'CULLOCH-
WILLIAMS.


natural sweetness fermented in its
vacuum to a sour verging on bitter
ness. Very human, very tlmld, wholly
| wanting in conceit, apparently she was
| foredoomed to tragic spinsterhood-
| tragic because she had a warm heart
ings for her very own. A husband,
| little children, a snug place to keep
spotless and comfortable--such were
| her dumb desires-which she would
admit. "A born old maid" said her
| world, unsuspeeting-that is to say its
kindlier half. The other half, led by
Jerry Dayton, sneered;. "a monument
to mems ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS could
anybody even a blind man, find in her
to attract?"
Jerry was wicked-spirit, tongue
and temper. Hated things and people
| for simple sake of hating. Rich,
! stormily beautiful, avid of conquest
and dominion, she chose to feel af-
| fronted by Spasia's meek existence.
planted in childhood, when Spasia had
ventured to put her small niece's pic
ture in a local newspaper contest,
where it had won first prize over sew
eral presentments of Jerry. Jerry had
cried herself into spasms over the hurt
to her vanity-mysteriou that night,
the prize picture was defaced, nobody
could tell how. But shortly afterward
a Dayton footman left service to set
up in business for himself. Tongues
wagged discreetly, behind hands to be
sure-but nobody got further than
saying the Daytons would never let
money stand between their girl and
anything she might want to do or have
done.
T Timid tho she was. Spasia had tex
| ture-witness that when she was left
on the small place she kept on living
there king I'd
chickens and dairy to live decently and
keep far from debt. This in spite of
feeding, clothing and housing Black
Maria and her blind twins. Maria did
the milking and marketing, working
out in spare hours for money which,
added to her modest wages. would
send Bill and Jimmy thru the blind
school when they We're bigger.
One fine day a bomb fell into this
islet OF content-the convalescent
pretty in an elfin way, with infantine
curls beginning to crisp above a white
brow, and faint roses to show in Shol-
low cheeks. The sometime prize win
ner, grown up, had been mighty near
death. She had oVerdone piteously
after the manner of fresh youth,
working by day in the art school, GO
ing the pace of Bohemia at night.
Her dead fathers gift of artistry lay
colnpellingly upon her; then, too. she
small brood which seemed to have
crowded her out of her mothers heart.
The mother had remembered Aunt
Spasia in this extremity-and sent
Leslie to her without the formality of
asking a welcome for her.
Spasia. doubtful thru minute. in
| the next took the girl to her heart of
hearts. 1t somehow warmed curious
| W and the queer pain in it lulled. But
! habit held her d4mb-she could only
No. ~, E.s-
lie gaodnight-yet tho she had long
ceased praying, she knelt that night
crying voicelessiy; Sage her, Lord.
save her!"
Leslie was up very early-she had
run thru the dewy garden, with Dash
dog at her heels, inspected the cows,
and siamelessly let out broods of tiny
peeping chickens. She was so rosy
and bright-eyed health seemed to
have come back magically. But to-
ward noon she tainted dead away
AMI next day and next stayed abed,
claiming to be not i'll but merely lazy.
Halfway the second morning she
lay alone in the cool spare chamber
opening from the porch, smiling a lit
tie and signing more. At a vigorous
Knock, lmpatiently repeated, she
called: Come in! Or out! Auntie,
1 think. is LOST
Entered a tall young fellow, brown
and wholesome, good to look upon,
u.
why, you are Leslie!" he cried, COM
ing close; And you've grown up to
your picture. I fell in love with it
twelve years ago and have been wait
ing for you ever since"
"Indeed"' said Leslie, meaning to
speak saueily, but achieving only
shakiness: why wasn't told of it?
might have taken more pains"
Wasted them, you mean" the Wis
iter retorted. I'm John-Doctor
Manton's john, they call me. 1 knew
you had come, but didn't expect to
find you in bed this time of day
II didn't-expeet-to Leslie
tried to explain-but somehow her
voice trailed into silence. After one
look John was calling frantically to
Leslie may be dying"
Followed ten perilous days turnout
which the elder and younger Mantons
haunted Aspasia's house. Shoulder to
shoulder they fought for a girls life.
And close beside them, tireless, sleep
less, white-faced, but never quailing,
fought poor Spasia, with no thought
but saving this creature of her own
blood, upon whom she poured the
wealth of her boarded love.
Love won its battle-tho 1t was
touch and go. Jerry Dayton raved-
she had sprained her ankle, and after
dressing it, neither of the Drs. Manton
had answered calls for their presence.
Young John indeed had said undiple-
matically: ''All you need is to behave
yourself and keep still, Jerry; of
course, if you drag around the foot, it
will keep on hurting. We simply
can't spare time-father and 1. We
are-watching desperate. almost
hopeless ease-but we're going to
win by the Lords good help"
Other people were upset. but made
ne outcry. The Mantons practiced for
the love of it, being well able not to
think of money. The father said open
ly he was fighting for his sons hap
piness-John had really loved Leslie
since that far-away time. She was
not only beautiful but fine and deli
cate TO the core. Even in her widest
delirium there had been nothing the
whole world might net have heard and
applauded. There would be no court
ship until until she was fully herself
-strnng and well as she had never