The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-12-02
FACT AND FICTION.

tic table and letting her chin drop on her
hand
81 don't believe We wrote Eaore than
half page, replied the young man who
was stretched out full length on the oppo-
site bench
s'And we were Just at such an interest
ing place, too, - she went on. don t you
remember Harold had just found out
that Virginia cared for him. y
Yes. He had just found his initials
written opposite that sonnet of Mrs.
Browning's that I like, How do I love
yOus' I think she better tell him right
out she loves him. It would be lots more
interesting. Can't you just see her DO it?
You know she never wears anything but
soft shapes of gray, with purple passion
flower in the front of her gown, and her
gray blue eyes have a soft, melancholy
light in them that suggests a history, and
her hair is dark and cloudy, just like Mary
Hamlin's, and she is intense and fearfully
refined, and when Harold tells her he is
going away and won't give any reason
she just gives him one look and says, I
wish to God were the reason. I think
that would be rather smooth. I thought
It all out after I went to bed last night.
Doesn' It it give you the thrills?''
Sort of Elaine business: I have gone
mad. love you. Let me die, " remarked
the young man.
mot at all ." she exclaimed 'sShe
knows that Harold loves her. -
"But don't you think it would be just
as well to let him have the first shot, he
protested.
you are so old fashioned. There,
that's settled. Let's go on. What would
you have Harold do when he discovers she
loves hinf'
''Why, I don't know This would be
rather nice: Let him take her hand and
say, Ny poor girl, do you, too, have to
suffer- and leave her without another
word, and that very day take the steamer
for Kamchatka or Timbuktu. "
"How perfectly awful" exclaimed the
girl 20 Eou really mean TO say you
Vouldn' { have him take her n bis arms or
kiss her or anything? How frightfully cold
bloodedl''
"But her husband y he protested.
"Well, what of bim2 Every body knows
she just married him to keep the mortgage
on the home from being foreclosed and to
save her mother reason
81 don't see why she had to be married.
anyway"
Don't let's go over that again.
thought we had settled it once for all -
"How would you tx it, then, you i'm
moral young person.
I'D have him say, after few prelini-
naries of course, Let US at least have one
happy day together before we part forever,
or words to that effect. And then I'd havs
him take her down TO a lovely bay with
woods-pine woods coming down to tbs
beach"
"But thought it was to be in New
Yorkg''
cob well, We could manage that some
way. They might be spending a few days
somewhere else. You re so darned par-
ticular. Besides you mustn't interrupts
me. It makes me forget what am going
to say Well, then, on the beach they find
a sailboat and they get in and sail cut to-
ward the ocean, with the breeze in their
faces, and the low, white fog drifting down
around them. and the seagulls swOOping
down Oh all sides. And he lies at her feet,
and she smocths the thick, tawny hair away
from his forehead, and he holds her other
hand, and every now and again he raises it
to his lips, and
81 But who is managing the boetf'' the
young man inquired with al air Of inter
est. If the wind was in their faces, they'd
have to tack occasionally
'Of course, haven Thought out all the
details. I'd be hanged if I d be as practi-
cal and unsentinnental as you are. -
How long do they stay outs''
"UntiI quite late=midnight anyway.
You know tIds is the last time they are TO
be together
And don { they have a blessed thing to
eat? If Virginia were like her creator,
she'd get hungry
Like God, do you meant in an awe
struck voice.
NO; like you. You're her creator, - he
answered, with a laugh.
''Oh, mol OF course I'd let them have
something to eat. 1t would be part of the
fun. They land in a little cave and Harold
carries her ashore so that she won get
her feet wet, and he can't resist kissing
her, though he knows ne ought not to.
And then he goes to 4 hollow place among
the rocks and brings out a bang up lunch
con.
What did they have?'
champagne ana all sorts Of good
things-artichokes cooked in the way we
had them the other night at the Hamlins.
for one. -
Il didn't have any You and VIII Tai
colt emptied the dish. BY the way, you
seemed to be having an uncommonly jolly
time in your corner.
1--WE were. He was telling me about
Alice's engagement. Do you know, he
says the men at the club say that Mr.
Murdoch had difficulty in getting to the
point, and that she helped him out; but
don't believe it. She's a really nice girl
and she wouldn do anything SO dread
full
"Talcott's regular gossip"
"Hes lots Of fun. He always knows
everything that's going on Promise you
won's tell if I tell you something
Wish may die if I do
"Well. he says he saw young Mrs. Ar
mold taking lunch with John Hughes in q
little Italian restaurant the other day.
thought there was something dshy about
her. You know they say she lets men kiss
her hands. I am not going TO return her
last call don t like people who do queer
things
-" How about Virginia and HaroId9' he
asked
That's quite different. - she exclaimed. /
Then she added hastily: g There is one criti- 1
oism I want.to make on that last scene 1
you wrote. You make Virginia use ex-
pressions like making a dead set and be-
ing on 20 things, and she uses words like
elors If sor1nds firsadflIlv vuloar. I