The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-05-17
E0enir1g Story
The Answer.
BY CT.ARISSA MACKIE

"You wish to end our-engage-
ment?'' faltered E lzabeth Deering,
her startled eyes fixed on Teddy
Drummond's stern young face. why ?"
You are too rich, Elizabeth he
answered grimly.
She laughed. TOO rich? You are
only joking, then, Ted"
Il mean it, dear. Listen a moment,
trying to tell you. I am the assistant
superintendent at the Deering mills
1 am getting $4,000 a. year-in two
years more I may be superintendent
perhaps general manager. if l prove
myself worthy; then / will be that
much better off L am talking about
now want to marry, and yet the
home 1 can provide is merely one of
the pretty houses in Forest park, we
might keep one maid-possibly none
car; my wife will have to work about
the house" he paused and looked
at her very tenderly.
''Yes?" she said breathlessly, 60
on, Ted
''You-the girl I love and the girl 1
am engaged to marry, are the richest
woman in Pederville-you have in
herited the mills-you can afford to
live where and how you pIease-you
have been accustomed to plenty of
servants, beautiful clothes, many
motor cars, everything
Not quite everything, Ted" the girl
interrupted gently. My mother died
when 1 was a little girl and my dear
father left me only last year. 1 am
much alone save for Aunt Diana and
cousins
4 know know, dear-but I am
trying to make you understand that 1
cannot afford to give you the luXuries
you are accustomed to, and l cannot
accept those things from a rich wife
Sol have thought it would be best if
Withdrew and left you free to marry
into your own set-hang it all, Eliza
beth, you must know what l meant"
He flung around and stared out of the
window.
For a long minute she gazed at
MIN with luminous eyes, then she
arose and held out her hand Very
well. Ted. I will think it Overland
give you my answer in two weeks
win you come to me then, if / send
for you?''
Il will come to you from the ends
or the earth whenever you send for
me, The declared passionately, as he
damned his hat over his eyes and left
the house.
Elizabeth watched him until he dis
appeared around the corner She
looked down at the modest sapphire
and diamond eQga cement ring on her
finger, and suddenly lifted it TO her
lips How sturdiiy independent he
was, this poor lover of hers! How
proud she was of him-how they two
could work together for future sue
cess; suppose she waited until he had
made good, had attained the manage
ment of the miIls-they would be sew
eral years o1der-and years are longi
That afternoon Elizabeth went and
had long talk with her guardians.
The two weeks passed rapidly for
Teddy Drummond. He felt that the
hour of his doom was approaching,
No girl brought up as Elizabeth had
i
hesitate about marrying a poor man.
OF course when she had accepted him,
they had both been madly in love, and
down underneath her knowledge of
his poverty must have always crept
the comforting thought that she had
enough money to make things right.
Now, she understood that he could not
ride in his wife's motor cars, live in
the houses she bought, admire the
lovely clothes she wore-while he
perhaps merely paid for his own ward
robe and cigars. Never he pounded
his fist on his desk.
did you speak, Mr.. Drummond ?"
piped a tinid stenographer.
What is the date?' he inquired
mildly enough.
1.-The 30th," she answered.
"Great Jove, this is the day" He
looked wildly about his desk for some
overlooked missive, for she was going
to send for him. He found it. feeling
the old delicious thrill at sight of her
Dear Teddy:-Drive your car
around to Z Primrose terrace at 4
o. clock and pick me up. I promised
an answer today. Elizabeth"
After that he was very quiet for the
rest of the afternoon, and at ten min
utes before the hour he went down
and looked dismally at his very good
looking roadster. ut will cut some
figure among the handsome motors of
Eliza beth's friends. Now, let me think
Primrose terrace is in Forrest
Park-must be having tea with some
of her impecunious friends"
At four he was ringing the doorbell
at number seven, a very delightful
gray stuceo house with charming win
dows and a pretty garden. In the rear