The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-05-01
THE EVENING STORY.


The young man entered the carriage,
banged the door shut and settled him
SER comfortably with a sigh Of rei1eK-
opposite him sat a pensiVe young Wo-
man IN a bewildering gown Of fl1nny
Whlte. The young man removed MS
nlgh nat ana mopped his perspiri1lg
brow. he adjusted his tie and brushed
the dust from his coat sleeve. The car
rage ratified bTiskly over the pave
ments. Outside the early afternoon
sunshine flooded the streets with mel
low glow.
Well" said the young man, straight
ening himself and smiling at the girl
another good man gone wrong. Every
time assist at the weddings OF these
reckless youths I feel somehow Ike an
executioner."
Were getting to be arch eonspira-
tors in the wedding line, aren't We"
the girl laughed. 1T seems OF late that
We are thrown together at every one.
Lets see,'' he unused: this is the
uiating great weight Of responsible
ty."
IAN my friends seem to he going in
for matrimony," she said.
Mine. too" he returned cheeFfully
fHymen is an indiscrlminate old Dur
glar. He gobbles 'em right and left
And when a mans married he's as
good as lost TO his friends-at first, ne
added.
But they all come back to the club
Most Of them" he admitted.
That's the man OF it." she said
Marriage is a lottery" he said.
lacking momentarily a more original
!" pleasant the snafaes of courtship.
improving the manners and car
riage' She quoted.
g But the colt who is wise will re-
frain from the terrible thorn bit OF
marriage !" he finished.
There seems to be great many
colts lacking wisdom she remarked.
And lots more willing to lack that
commodity" he laughed.
Doesn't a wedding ever impress
you as rather pathetic?' she asked
Always" he replied. "often heart
rending."
'sWeiI, mine shan't be- she said. at
shall be very, very cheerful.
That's the kind I should prefer for
myself" he acduiesced.
'"The service should be short," she
said.
"Just long enough to be legal" he
agreed cheerfully.
"And it would be very quiet af-
fair-just few friends, the cheerful
kind, not the weepy sort"
Second the motion" said he.
She looked up quickly, then turned
her eyes and watched the hurrying
crowds on the sidewalks.
"At high noon and at the house, -
she unused. 1.-THE church is too bic
land gloomy and solemn. Surely at the
house. And for decorations a few
simple orchids"
IT'S amazing how you voice my
sentiments" said he.
The carriage swung around cor
ner and entered a more quiet street
The young man ficked an imaginary
bit of dust from his coat.
THAT would be a wedding he
said. You'd have an orchestra be-
hind some palms on the broad stairs
wouldn't you?"
yes; a string orchestra" she re
| turned.
of course, of course-a string orehes-
ira said he
"And a jolly informal wedding break
( fast and punch she went on
That's the ideal" he said approving
"
And every one who wept should be
fined So" she said.
Make it s1Os' he suggested, 'or thir-
ty days in the house of correction The
crime would warrant it,
She laughed gayly
TT wouldn't be a somber affair, II
warrant you she asserted.
'Pll bet it wouldn't" he said enthusi-
astically.
He mopped his brow nervously and
looked covertly at the girl opposite him
Her eyes were still turned from him.
I'D like to try a wedding of that
sort he said.
There wouldn't be any ushers," shf
remarked pointedly.
Certainly not" he said. II fully re-
alize that I'd like to try it as-as
| bridegroom"
'Why don't your" she asked family
well I would If were sure of the
girl he said. You see He paused
I'm afraid don't see,' she said
laughingIy.
You see there's only one girl I want
and I don't dare ask her" he said plain.
lively.
Indeed" she said coldly
There's only one girl I want" he
repeated desperately, land she's the ons
who has heard me rail at weddings
wouldn't believe I was serious"
The girls face grew very red.
'.You-you haven't rallied at this i'm.
aginary one" she said without turning
her eyes.
In an instant he was on the seat be
side her.
Then she win marry me?" he asked
softly
The girl pressed her hot face agains
the window of the carriage.
you said You thought marriage wal
"a lottery" she faltered.
sfWell. he said stoutly who wouldn'
risk a lottery chance if he knew h
should draw the capital price,
CHARLES GRAVES.
Copyright. 1904, by T. c. McClure.)