The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-09-18
THE EVENING STORY
Prominently.

Propinquity.
when I was young and foolish,
which was about year ago, observed
Miss Margery White argumentatively.
as she surveyed her tan oxfOrdss Il
should probably have said yes had you
asked me to marry you. In my en-
hghtened present I distinctly refuse to
do so.''
gloomily observed the unhappy young
man sitting in the porch chair beside
her. Why didn't you tell me-a year
ago?"
tradicted the young woman. with cold
dignity There hasn't been a ghost
of chance for any other man. pc
cause you've been my shadow and you
know it. Why, Bob, ever since we
played marbles together we've been
inseparable. I'm as used to you as l
am to breakfast 365 days in the year.
It's absurd to talk of marrying
young man you certainly like me
or you wouldn't have stood having me
around all these years 1ou know
you like me-awfully well, too. And
you don't dare deny III love you.
Miss Margery White turned a little
uneasily In her chair. You think you
do" she admitted. ''And I'll be honest
deal for you. But rive been thinking
seriously. And it's nothing in the world
but propinquity ANY two people who
lived next door to each other all their
have been would fancy they were in
love when they grew up.
ssNonsense!'' shouted the irritated
young man. 81 don't fancy I'm in love
with that Phillips girl and she's lived on
the other side of our house nearly as
long as you have. And she's a mighty
nice girl, too"
The young woman distinctly and
daintily shifted But she's-she's diff
ferent,'' she said airily. ''Shes not your
STYLE
'And you are?" queried the young
man hastily, eager to grasp the chance.
Don't be silly said Miss Margery
While with an attempt at sternness, Il m
glad l have common sense If you
haven't. You are to forget everything
you've said tonight and we will go on
as we always have done, just being good
friends. You'll be glad some day re-
81 WON'T stated Bob. "And what's
more, neither will your
Miss White regarded him with plying
indulgence. .All right. Bobbie,'' she
full things you can think OF. I'll stand
| it because know in time you'll reach
my point of view and see how extremely
foolish was the idea that we were in
| love with each other
For a week both sulked. Then inter
mittently he began dropping in again
at the White residence. He seemed
more cheerful. He did not confide
where he spent the numerous evenings
he did not drop in. Miss Margery
White would have died rather than ask
/ him, but her curiosity finally changed
| to annoyance and then anger. 1t is not
| pleasant having ones slaves shed their
| letters so easily and cheerfully. Besides,
she was bored with nothing much to
do; Mortified to find how she had de-
pended on him for amusement and cross
/ at the wLrId in general for no particular
reason. Her family did not find her
1 household treasure of light and JOY
those days. Sometimes she even wished
| she had not reached years of discretion
| and intellect and reduced love to a
formula which she had analysed to her
! own unhappineSS apparently. Still, she
was buoyed up with the martyrs joy
| in her ability to see clearly into the flu
! ture. If she had not had strength OF
mind how unhappy she and Bob would
| have been, married.
| sence. He was calm and placid and ap-
parently contented. Say he observed
| casually there is a great deal in that
propinquity theory of yours. Now, I've
| been looking up the Phillips girl Of late
| and we get along swinmingly. And |
suppose it's nothing in the world but
| being together so much, either, that
makes me think so much of her"
| SO 1T was the Philips girl! A swirl
| of vindictiveness almost brought
Margery to her feet. How dare she
how dare any one on earth appro-
pirate Bob? Why, he belonged to her.
Whats the matter asked Bob,
| for the silence was not broken. The
girl in the porch chair could not break
it, for she was fighting desperately
with the accumulated emotions of the
| last few weeks and the tears were
very near the surface. Her face was
! turned away. She felt hurt like a
little child.
The young man got UP in some
\ alarm. why, Margy!" he began with
| the old-time tenderness. and turned
| her toward him.
1--we been SO lonesome." she
| stammered
"So've T. cried the conscience
| stricken young man, heartlessly aban-
doning the Phillips girl on the spot.
At told you you'd be sorry. Aren't
s'Uh-huh," admitted Miss Margery
| White.-Chicago News.
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