The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-17
A WHIM OF FATE.

Richard F1oman, lawyer and orator
and successful, self-made man, was
finding himself exceedingly ooreo' anu
blamed his fate accordingly
What had he done that he Shouio
have to sit still in the Brighton Pull
man while very young lawyer pouieu
fatuous platitudes into MS uh"lliiis
ear? lie
II don't know that I'll show myself
anv too prominently about court TO-
day." the insane chatter Went snpLy
on. 81 had an intimation that might
he appointed to defend that felloW
Yancev and / don't want anything TO
do with the case. 1t does a man no
good to get mixed with these murder
cases when popular sentiment oo"is
on the criminal. You get the worst VI
of course, it would be Impossible 10
clear Yancey." ILL., 1oo,x-
ing out of the window
saOh; of course. You see, ne sot NJ
friends at all. The strikers are down
/ on him because he refused TO go ouI
with them. and yet he goes ana MAKES
an assault on Stein, the proprietor OF
! the business, right at Yancey oM ,ll
door. too, when stein was pIooap = -.
calling there to do something Tor ms
family; and Stein falls and strikes ms Is
/ head and dies so everybody else -
against him. A man gets no honor ny
/ defending a case like that All the lei
lows are n2nIllS shy VI -
I'm going to keep out OF II II ceAii'
for a mans reputation is
Pardon me, I~get out here, salo
Richard Floman, abruptly ana sWulls
himself down as the car stoP ipor-,,aIv
c.rosvenor road, wondering VaguelS
49, ~ he had done to be visited by suc1
unutterable plaques ,,is oe7ca
huf why should he hurry 10 redSh N
once where more bores awaited hliIl
5onbtless TO talk him into deepe
frenzy? Let his partner attend 70 tnSli
fo1 a little while. He strolled into IN
mark across the river and took OH ~
hat under the trees tie nau e.e - peer
almost to himself. The ehllqren We
al school. or going there; the hul Sc
maids had not come out yet
Tn ali these shady spaces, just hlnsel
and two little children They Were
girI's feet hung down, but did not toucl
fba ground. and the boys feet sIoo
s+raiehf out before him, because ms leg
were too short to hang down. Inc %
was crying dismaly, ana f lollle.ls ~
was in a lounglng IlOou' 9eoPF
7t s.Falioai Young man." he said. VIVA VIVA
are these tears for? Lost your pan
Broken your cart! ,, 40
! - he smoke gruffly and awkwardly-no
,.-i+b The silyery responsiveness tina
melted all hearts in the courtroom an
on the rostrum He was not usea I
SnaaIziner to children. There was no W
in his house. and no ball or cart ii
and a certain proud and cold Woma
would have been better and happier I
have had them there s-,--,,.
The boy ceased sobbing. a little 1rlgnt
ened: but the girl explained with
sober little smile ..v
mo. sir; he's crying because to1noi
rows the Yancey birthday and dadol
can't come home-and so we won't &c
anything. -. :
Floman found his attention caught D
this artless speech. Most of the speecf
es he heard were anything but artIes
He sat down on an opposite pencn an
looked at the two, his hands IN n
pockets.
: what kind of a birthday was tbs
Won unentioned?'' he asked potter.
ssSomethine new in birthdays?"
, The child's face flushed 1t was
pretty little face that had grown &c
{ delicate.
: 1.-THE Yancey birthday" she explain
: ed. carefully. you see, that is OF
2 name-we are Yanceys. and tomorro
. is our birthday-mamma's S, and Boy
] and mine We are all three born G
the same date. And that's what mac
2 daddie call it the Yancey birthday
5 She smiled up at him innocently, a.
t lighted to take him into her childis
Il confidence.
t THAT is beautiful idea he sal
a gravely. And why isn't daddie con