The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-05-01
,Eoening Story
For Betty's Sake.
BY III. LOUIS RAYBOLD.

'sWeIl-well-weIi Bruce Eliot, of
all men. Back from the frozen north
and looking as fit as anything Ste
phen Hastings had risen and grasped
both outstretched hands OF the taH,
well-knit fellow who had burst I'M
ceremoniously into his office and now
stood before him.
Eyes, I'm home at last, steve, and
you're the first old friend I've looked
up and, believe me, you certainly do
my eyes good!'' Bruce threw his Ions
frame, spare but husky from long
months of canoe and sledge travel in
into the chair Steve drew for him and
fairly beamed at his host. Tell me
all that has happened during the two
years have been away. I've had no
news to amount to anything and I'm
as gossip-hungry as an old woman
at her sewing circle. FIRE."
So Steve tipped back in his swivel
desk chair and did the best to COM
ply with his listeners demand, while
Bruce occasionally broke in with an
eager question or startled exclamation
of wonder or dismay. So the Carter
girl had eloped in the end! A big fire
had Quilted the business district Old
Caleb Rich was dead,
At length, after Steve had all but
exhausted his supply of news. Bruce
tentatively put the question which had
been on his lips since he entered the
room. Yet he endeavored to endow
II VIII lAlG ullHOSl CdHQdAHSSSs
Il say, Steve. by the way, how
how is your ward. Betty Griswold %
''Betty?" repeated Steven why,
1 expect, Bruce, you'll find Betty
much as you left her-sweet, win
some, keyed to- the joy of living"
''Not-not married, then, CIR en-
gagged ~ Bruce didn't realize the aw-
full anxiety in his eyes as he hung
on Stoves answer, but the most in
different observer could not have
f1flad To ha inf Int 81
which leaped to them at the others
reply. mo, indeed-neither, Bruce"
There was a moment of silence in
the office Then, quite suddenly. as
stephen leaned forward. i've half
a mind. to- tell you something. Bruce,
which concerns Betty. Being her
guardian, 1 know her affairs pretty
a confidence, am doing it for Betty,s
sake
Bruce was frowning, uncertain
whether he wished Steve to continue,
but the other allowed him no choice.
L said that Betty is not engeged.
That is true. She is not-but she has
been. Wait. The fact was known
only to few, was never publicly an
nounced. The breaking of it caused
no comment. 1t Was very soon after
the attention of man considerably
older than herself won't mention
his name now, but leave that part to
Betty, if she wishes, to disclose. The
affair is over and he is on the eve of
leaving the country. gather that
she mistook a certain similarity OF
tastes and that sort of thing for love-
or else as an adequate substitute.
And the man, to do him justice, am
sure was very much in love with Betty.
Well, to cut the story short, the
days went by with Betty growing
quieter, more subdued than was ma
tural, almost as if she were suffering
from some inner nialady. Then one
prised her sitting before her fireplace.
her face white and drawn, a news =
paper crushed in her hand.
Questioned she reluctantly showed
him an account of the reported loss |
of your expedition. with you declared |
to be missing, swept away on an ice !
foe. If I remember
Stephen paused and Bruce gripped |
the arms of his chair until his !
knuckles whitened.
Stephen. nodded slowly. yes, I can !
see what you are wildly surmising |
And you are right. Betty's-er-
her eemotion could be |
in but one way. He com- /
forted her as much as he could then, |
and when the report came thru of |
your safety released her from the /
engagement Betty loves you. Bruce" /
Bruce sprang to his feet and grasped |
hand. "'Steve, II didn't /
dare hope. I have been crazy about
Bettyfor years, but didn't think it !
fair to tell her until 1 came back from /
this trip. But now, if what you say is /
true, Stephen, 1 must see her imne- /
diately."
An hour later Bruce entered the
library. where he had been /
told he would find Miss Betty" And |
there, in front of the fireplace where |
she had first read of his possible |
death, he found her-the girl of whom i
he had dreamed thru the long arctic /
nights whose fair face had been with
him across so many miles Of barren
wastes.
At his entrance she rose. paled and
steadied herself at the table as one
who is not certain she has not seen al