The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-06-25
DOING A KINDNESS.

g. man, - she said and stood looking at
me
So Come, it might have been worse, - I
said. 1T might have been a COW or an
earthquake" Esther unskewered her hat
and sat down.
but he-foIlowed me. " she said i'm
pressively-
He didn't catch you9'' inquired.
Don't be silly Esther replied Il tell
you he followed me. III never think Of
walking home so late again-alone. "
''Mhy did you t0night?' I asked.
f'Weu, you know, I had to do those
sketches at the dress rehearsal, and I
couldn't get away until 1870 Then I
could only get bus to Oxford circus. And
then waited, and every bus was crowd
ed, and I felt horrid waiting there So 7
determined to walk And as soon as L got
q man following me. -
s. Closes''
No, not very, but
Chow did you know Did you look
around"
'sOf course I didn't. But a girl can tell
when any one is following her -
She can tell a policeman, - suggested.
Esther reflected a moment as she drew eli
her gloves
poor man wasn't really doing any harm,
you know. So there was nothing to tell
really
''Then why disturb yourself about hin?''
ooh, you can't understand how girl
feels, % said Esther, looking a little an
nOyed.
f'But, p said after a pause, II thought
you came home in a cab -
From the Marble ARCH - said Esther.
ST couldn't endure it any longer. I walk
ed as fast as I could, and he walked just
as fast When I walked slowly to let him
pass, he walked slowly too. Twice Cross
ed to the other side of the street And
would you believe it-he crossed too - Es-
Their leaned forward in her chair to note
the effect. I signified astonishInent with
my eyebrows in the usual way.
''And, " she continued, when I was
nearly at the Marble arch, I could feel him
coming up behind me-qUite near. I sim
ply had to take a cab. -
''It was a close shave, - I said very
close shave indeed. y Esther looked at me
rather doubtfully
'But-do you think he meant to do any
thing she asked
''Wel, - I said, ''I can hardly say, with
out knowing his previous career. OF course
he might have been q highwayman, and,
on the other hand-hello Martini Come
in
81 beg your pardon, - said Martin, halt
ing in the doorway. s. thought you were
alone.
All E18GD GEAAL. i FRtaS OK kJECl4llk4
you. You know my sister. We were just
discussing the possibility
George, don't, said Esther under her
breath the pOssib iliUy, p continued, 50 of
assault and battery and highway robbery
upon an unattended young woman in OK
ford street What 90 y0-l think about itS''
That's rather curious said Martin,
sitting down. only this evening have
benin q sense-protecting a female IN
distress was confronted by a problem,
and should like your opinion on it, Miss
Matthews. -
Martin looked at Esther. who turned
slightly in her chair with an obviously as
suned air of interest. can never under
stand why Esther does not like Martin,
though am quite certain she doesn't
81 spotted her, - said Martin, 81 hulTying
along Oxford street Just in front Of me.
She was lady, and could see she was
very uncomfortable at being out SO late
alone 1t really distressed me to see her
edging into the road to make way for DO
lite and ino1ensive people. When She
heard q couple of men coming along sing
ing, she almost ran, and then almost stood
still to let them get in front Of her. Now,
there was problem for me. -
I don E see that there was any problem
at all, - said Esther, turning her face a lit
tie more toward the fire away from Martin
Here was a girl, y said Martin, who
nothing to be afraid cf-sO frightened that
she was running backward and forward
across the road Whenever she saw any one
within 80 yards Doubtless she was silly
little goose. But she was a fellow creature
and as was going in the same direction
it was my obvious duty to assure her OF
safety. The problem was how to assure
her. I may smoke, mayn't I?'' Martin
lit a cigar and continued: 60 by first idea
was to follow her until saw her safely at
home But then it struck me that she
wouldn't know L was behind, and so !
should be doing her no good at all and
giving myself lot of trouble. p
50 You might, 80 I suggested, have called
cab and offered to give her lift " Mar
tin shook his head.
No. - said he, "that would never do.
Do you think so, Miss Aatthews?''
''Ireally don't know anything about it, -
said Esther.
well, 80 said Martin, this was my So
luton; I determined to address her re-
spectfully-tel her L had noticed her en-
barrassment, assure her was respectable
lived in a house and serv ed on juries and
all that-and offer to walk a dozen yards
behind her until she reached nor front door
and then leave her without speaking. What
do you think of that?''
You didn t do it, I said
"No, said Martin Just as had
nearly overtalen her lot of rovdy men
came along. and she jumped into a cab. So
I didn't bother myself any further"
what did she look like" asked Esther
with her face still turned toward the fire.
'-Oh, like girl, 80 said Martin, Just an
ordinary girl-with one Of those silly capes
that girls wear
Anything like thisP' asked, picking
up Esther's cape.
Martin looked at the cape, at Esther,
whose face looked very red in the freight;
at the sketchbook on the table and then
at Esther again.
II will say good night, " said Esther,
rising.
oh, but. - stammered Martin, you're