The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-20
TIE EVENING STORY
Bob,s Gift Frona the Tree.


thrust her head in at the last moment.
Il hate to leave you alone; when do you
expect Bob2''
He was to come at T." saliy's voice
was muffled, perhaps, by the cushions
among which she was curled.
'Twelve-two hours, scarcely time
enough for primping," and with teas
ing laugh her sister fed.
Sally sprang from the lounge, and for
want of some better outlet for her feel
ings began viciousiy to toss the cushions
onto the floor, stamping on their harm
less satin covers as If they were vipers.
She stopped a little ashamed when she
found the maid staring at her curiously
from between the portieres.
Ready to go, Ann?'
YES. miss; but I'll wait SO as to open
the door,
I'm not going" said Sally calmly. lat
least not till Il. It's pity to spoil your
day just to open a door, which really
I'm quite able to do for mysyelf. Put on
your things and 60"
The girl gratefully withdrew. In a
few moments she reappeared.
I'm going now, Miss, and-I hope
you'll have a merry Christmas"
Sally, left alone, drummed forlornly
on the frosted window. There had been
a heavy snow which the sunshine
turned into myriads of crystals; a per-
feet day for sleighing, while the Jingle
of distant bells made tantalizing music
sally, you are fool" She condemn
ed herself aloud. May thinks you're
going sleighing with Bob, then to dine
and be made much Of by his family.
She innocently believes your solitaire is
at the jewelers. to remedy a defective
setting; she couldn't suspect that-that
you're such fool-such an eighteen
karat fool
Sally collapsed once more among
the cushions She knew now that she
T5yOrrIH crfxv world tn recall the
episodes of the past week Two short.
delirioUs months she had been en-
gagged to Bob, and he 50 Worshipping-
ly proud and happy that an untlmely
impossible. Sally had always been
spoiled and her wilfulness humored,
so when Bob dictated to her she re-
sented it bitterly.
Among Sally's acquaintance was a
man Of rather sporting prOclivities.
whose chief attraction was his entree
to premiers at the theaters. Sally s
knowledge that Bob disapproved OF
the man had not prevented her attend
ing a particularly interesting opening
under his escort without informing
Bob. who CHANGED to be passing the
theater as she entered. He arrived
next evening to protest, hot headed
and a little dictatorial. Whereat Sally
defiantly broke the engagement. But
though il was four days ago she had
fidence. Now, before her stretched a
long. dreary, lonely holiday. She halI
wished she had confessed her SITUATION
and gone with May and her husDdIu-
But here she was, stranded-not only
would she be desolate, but starved, for
the maid making holiday, too, the Ice
box would be empty sally shlllled ~
f-commiseration- Perhaps stafVlIle,
was not a hard death-she had nearo
it made people drowsy, a point IN Its
favor. seeing she had not slept 1oT
four nights. A conversation wherein
Bob had leased her about her prloe1
false pride" he termed II, haunted
her. YOU'D die rather than own you
were wrong he had accused her nan
seriously Now the alternative raced
her. for though she might not ole III
the body there seemed to be something
inside her breast that had sickened'
and was surely dying-Woula ol7
should Bob fail to return.
Half desperate. wholly repentahl I.
she penned a note to Bob; was
wrong, and I'm sorry-1ts not S hIlSs
mas without you. She scared II, anu,
hl1rrI,ing to the telephone, called
T71essenger. While waiting she sat
with hands clenched painfully, aILalu
of her courage deserving her. Her
voice was strangely uneven IN glvIlls
the directions to the boy; then WheE
- hod zone she grew frightened.
What if Bob would not forgive her.
and lid not come-perhaps he was
away and would never get the letteL !,
il might be nislaid; she could never
he sure if he got it or not; suppose she
had to go on looking and hoping Tor
him. and he never came she hdu
heard of such cases. Where now was
her Wanted pride? Should ne coHlS.
she would promise anything nS , asEN0 y
she was prepared to be as yleiulHs d.
NAV. she could go no further
Somehow an hour dragged itself away.
A hundred times she had gone to the
window drawn by tinkling bells; WneIi
at last the gong sounded, there neeuSG
second summons before she could
master herself sufficiently to open IN
door She found only the house boy
and at first could not follow what ne
said. 1.-THE gentleman sent TINS cai u
I'm to wait an answer.
T7ecognizfng Bob's name, she drew
hack to read alone his ~enclled WoFus.
s.Jf YOU care to drive, VIII you co lll
down: the horse won't stand, SO 1 can
not come up. 49,,
7,fn11tes before she reached athe curD'
md Poh handed her in. He was peslue
her. and the sleigh bells were Illlsl-ls
. nerfect TIE Deum of thanks ana lri.
tmph. so that at first she ala not hoeio9
how quiet he was.
"Bob-aren't you glad it's Christmas
and we're together again-arent you
Bob2" There were tears IN neI soLSe,
4ba letter had cost her much, ana she
liz elsred for his acknowledgment.
ei-in9rnir1g down a side road in the park
fbev were along and unobserved; BOD
drew the horse down to a walk, turning
a little sternly on her go.
I'm glad to have you WIN VIZ. M, 9saliy'
sample san of our getting along together, l
Doubt IL we are wise. Certain things
man can't stand for-but we won't TAX
about It now. You promised me thiF
dsv-gave up other plans-and coulc
S.o+ bear TO leave you alone
There are plenty Of other places
began sally hctly
SBut YOU wouldn't go, and acknowl-
edge our. broken engagement.
ssIIow do you know
DBecause of myself" admitted Bob
r,,ef11IIv. sNone of my people knew. You
come today just as if nothing had hap
pened." -, ,.e-s,.,