The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-08-01

| 80 -D-& ANAN0~ - 1870 ~ SCI
ousiy. that's all
But I am perfectly serious
You think you are Some day-tonior-
row, or the day after-you'n know bet
| ter
Why don't you believe meg"
You're only a boy
I'm as old as you are"
That's a very different matter
Twenty-two's ahsurdIy young for a nan
ana quite elderly for a girl"
You're always laughing at me-"
It's all for your own good"
mayn't see you again for ages"
ITS 10 be goodbye now?'
Yes, dear old boy. Goodbye and Cod
bless you!'
That was three years ago.
| Evelyn Marsh remembered every word
| rs though it HAD been spoken yesterday.
| As she sat in the dingy ante-roorn az
| Whitefielc's D~amatic agency. she
| thought, with q sigh, Of the change that
2aG come into ner life since that day.
| Ihen she had been the petted child OF e
wealthy stock broker. NOw-well, HOW she
was sitting at Whiteheld's waiting for
| that long promised engagement which
! never seemed TO come.
Vel, Tom had gone away, and, as he
| had prophesied, they had not seen each
| cther for ages. That wasn't Toms fault
| OF course. He couldn't help il that she
was IN Germany when he came home
from his first tour, and that she had re-
str7ined from writing to him when the
smash came. ard she had left the old
square and gone into rooms AZ Brixton.
Stin, he had forgotten all about her
| by this time. Of course. After all, she
was right. He had probably had half
dozen different fancies since then
IlpTa = f.r inc
the stage-even in the provinces.
1t was a molly ever-changlng crowd
that thronged in and out of Whitefeld's
from Il a. m. to p. m. every day Of the
week.
Evelyn was used to waiting. She knew
that to obtain five minutes speech at
Whitefeld it was often necessary to spend
room. and she waited among the rest
with the dun resignation born Of long
acquaintance with dramatic agencies.
Today, however, Evelyn had business
elsewhere, and, having passed a useless
hour in the familiar place, she turned to
80 hoping for better fortune on the fol-
lowing day.
On the landing she almost ran into the
arms Of a tall young man who was
hurTying up the stairs three steps at
time The stranger apolOgized politely.
He glanced at her carelessly as he did
so. then an exclamation of glad sur
prise burst from his lips.
'Evelyni You here?"
Toni!
Il have found you at lastr
"Have you been looking for me?'
Looking for you! Oh, Evelyn. where
had you hidden yourself that I couldn't
find you? Why, I've But we can't
talk in this place. Come away from
here"
But you have business at White
fields
Business that viii keep. Never mind
that row. You don't know how glad I am
to see you. For three years I've been
waiting thisi"
you hadn't forgotten me, them"
did you think 1 should? Did you real
" mean what you said that day three
years ago?'
Il don't know. think. But where
are you taking me to? have to get
back TO BriXton- I'm staying there with
an old nurse of mine, you know
wen have some tea first, and then
we'll cab it to BrixtOn. That viii give
you a chance of asking my forgiveness
for your most outrageous conduct"
What do you mean?"
You know you have behaved very
badly to me-
II believe I have"
Yes. You don't know what a lot you |
have to answer for. I mean to nave it all |
out with you presently"
They entered a quiet little cafe, and |
when the waiter had brought them their /
tea and toast and retired out of earshot /
Hereford turned to his companion with a /
glad sigh.
You don't mind my looking at you" I
he said It's 50 good to see you again" /
Il don't mind a Bit" she returned.
You're prettier than ever" said Tom. |
slowly, but you are different somehow. !
You look as if-forgive me for being so
if YOU were not very happy, |
and had got used to it,
We'll, you've changed, too, for that |
matter. You wouldn't have made that |
speech three years ago"
why not?
You weren't old enough then. You
were only boy. Y6u are a man now"
Don't talk like that, Evelyn. We're |
such old friends"
'Well, I suppose you heard"
Yes, he replied a little awkwardly. !
Il heard Of your loss when 1 came home
become of you. / only had q week in l
town; then I was obliged to be off again
with De Gears Company without having
discovered your whereabouts. I wrote
several times to the old address, but the
letters were returned"
And since then you've been in Amer
lea, have you? You came back week
ago?'
Evelyn! Then you hadn't quite given
me up"
L noticed your name in the Stage quite
by chance" she returned hurriedly
I'm a pro myself now, you know"
SO that is why you were at White
field 50"
Yes. You see I had TO do something,
and I fattered myself I should make a
success at that sort Of thing. 1 know
better now"
T am so sorry" he cried. Don't
think me impertinent. but the stage is
profession for a woman"
You are right" she said, bitterly 1T
is heartbreaking. But you-yOu have
been more successful
Yes. I have been luckier than I de-
served"
Tempest has engaged you for his new
play, hasn't he2 / read paragraph
about you few days ago. 7 am very
glad"
Thank YOU"
What a fool I was" said Tom again.
as they were being driven Brixton-
wards
You see my hard common sense didn't
deceive me. after all she reto-tec-
You don't understand
4 think 7 do"
I'm sure you don't. and I'm making
2 bigger fool OF myself than ever. bay
speak &C you plainly?
You're speaking plaiaiy enough now.
aren't you?'
Evelyn. ] never was good ~ putting
thoughts into words Three years ago I
wanted You 10 promise 70 marry ne some
day You didn't believe me three years
7g0.( You thought me a silly, sentimental
boy I'm q man. now. DO you remCu-