The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-01-26

naU cost fabulous 54tnc per ODLlA1- Z
The ladies' want some plng-pong. I
We're going to have prizes and all that
sort of thirg-"
Bingham and Miss sartoris fronted /
one another in the drawing room in /
mute expectancy. Bingham had
service" like an express train. Miss I
Sartoris an elusive twist which always 4
sent the ball on the edge of the table, I
and made any attempt to play it worse /
than futile. Their friends expected a /
,iireful struggle, a HOmeric combat, a /
disintegration of Identities in the mad
absorption Of the game. They sat
round breathless, longing for laureates /
to sing the scene. The gladiators were
about to begin.
They began.
Miss Sartoris sent over a feeble, in
effectual serve" which baby could
have smashed back. Bingham. appar-
entity. was not a baby. He missed it
in the most futile, pottering fashion,
and wondered what mad come over
him. He tried to explain to Allingham
that it must be the effect of TOkay on
his nervous system and Allingham in
audibly muttered something imprint
able When Bingham had made a mess
of four more Intellectual balls, it was
his turn to serve and Allingham en-
treated him to be unlike the late Mrs.
DOmbey. and make an effort" When
the effort was made, Allingham became
still more inaudibly unprintabl7, for
Bingham got three balls into the net
( IN raE--faDlQ COIbHGSSlOIs as tilG Dlu
buffer" woke up to remark. Neither of
the confused cOmbatants knew which
had Won and they were not within Il
mile of gaining prizes. The other play
ers eager for their turn, motioned to
them to get out Of the way; and Miss
Sartoris. looking round the hot ROOM
declared that she must have air.
Bingham deserted conservatory
door in the distance, and offered her
his arm There We're the usual hooks
( and lanterns and orange trees and
\ masked corners Lower down the con
serVatory was a sort of floral kopje,
which required knowing Bingham
suggested that it would be cooler up
there They climbed up the kopje, Miss
{ Sartoris stretching out her pretty hand
4 to be helped over an obtrusive flower
+ pot. This gave her an unconscious op-
portunfty Of displaying the loveliest
ankle in the woodland Bingham saw
/ it. also uncOnSciOusly.
They confronted one another in this
little masked haFbor. Some one told
me you were a champion ping-pong-
/ list, she said, wondering why he had
not the sense to tuck the fragment of
handkerchief out of sight. If her aunt
saw it there would be trouble.
oh yes; I'm one of KipIing's fan
neled fools. >"
Aren't you an ardent player?"
yes. but somehow couldn't play
tonight
Il couldn't either"
"Why?" She sank down in basket
chair.
Couldn't see the net"
Was uncle Tokay SO potent, then 2'
"Oh, no. no, no. Only-Only-you
stood there. IL couldn't slam things
-Did-did I slam at them at your"
she asked softly.
''N-no no. All I could do was to
pretend to hit them I couldn't even
see them I don't know where they
/ went to-"
She half rose
Il was thinking of you all the
time"
eyes. You have no right You have
no right" She sank back helpless.
He fell on his knees beside her. Il
know, know haven't, but I couldn't
help it."
'.Why?"
Il love you"
The hoodgates We're opened. He had
never loved before, could never love
again. Had been feeling awfuIy queer
since first meeting her, but, like the fool
he was, didn't realize the symptoms.
Now he knew. OF course, she couldn't
love him. He was going to India to hunt
microbes. Hoped that the microbes
would hunt him. and he'd die there
Some fellow would be sure to snatch her
up while he was away. The world
wasn't full of such blind fools as him
self But he must speak He must
speak. He didn't care what she thought
of him, and, of course, it was sudden;
/ true love always was. A man had such
homage and love to give only once in
his life. He gave it to her now-DOured
it out at her feet-laVished it on her a.
he would lavish his life blood If she
refused him. he would 20 out to India
and yield up his life to the first microbe
that wanted it. He could not live with
out her: he could not live to see some
other fellow blessed with her love; moth
ing but the strongest self-control had
prevented him from making a scent
when the old buffer patted her cheek
She had looked at him-and there was
light. Were she to look away from hin
there would be-perpetual darknessl
But we don't know one another" she
faltered.
IAN the better. All the better. Think
Of the joy of finding out. We can begin
where other people leave off"
But" Her tone changed to alarm
( There's aunt What shall 7 do2 Shell
see at once you have been Dro-Dro-
posing to me"
II want her to. I want the whole
. world to see it. I want the whole worlC
; '.Hush-hi oh. hushl" She laid he.
pretty fingers on his impetuous young
= lips, and made him her slave for ever
, more
Mrs. Allingham came into the conser
: vatory Thus confronted with tangible
obstacle. Bingham hastily lit a cigar
and sauntered down the slope. Looking
FOR any one2" he asked innocently, al
though his shining eyes betrayed him.
! It's my niece's turn to play again,
! said Mrs. Allingham, with a significan
I glance at the koDie. is she up there
, III have it leveled tomorrow
Bingham took her hand fsYou'v
! known me ever since was a boy. VIII
I YOU do me the greatest favor 7 can i'm
: agine2''
She looked at him in amazement.
Don't find u.s." he implored 'Fo
: PHYS sake give often heard my mOthe
= speak Of the chances she used to Civ
3 you and Allingham) don't find US jus
y yet. NOu-yOu don't know what a DIFF
= ference it may make to both of us
: Im-Tm just doing it. This is the frs
! time I've ever looked upon your kin
. face and wished it elsewhere.
. ''Why2''
: ..Na,re inst a tte .,.iais ,, he s-na n el