The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-08-08
TIE EVENING STORY
Kate's Conscience.

(By lola FOrreSIer.)
II think that you ought to tell Will
lard before you marry him.
Kate did not even turn her head
After listening to variations OF the
same advice and opinion for half an
hour. she felt more than annoyed She
was frankly angry and perplexed-
If you don't, some one else will,
and that will only make any subse-
quent explanation SO unpleasant. Men
are peculiar, anyway, and in an af-
fair of this Kind
"Imogene Wayne Hates face
flushed hotly, Il think you put it al
together too strongly
1T is a serious matter" Imogene
bit of the end of her embroidery
linen deliberately. IF it were my own
affair, 1 should consider it a matter
Of conscience. Willard Is the sort of a
man to take anything of that sort to
heart I know him we'll"
II don't care bit whether he
knows or not" exclaimed Kate. i
suppose I should have told him in the
first place, but he never asked me, and
I don't consider it necessary. I never
thought Bart would"
No one did, interposed Imogene.
with serene significance. But the
fact remains that Bart has
Has what? Am I always in
trouble?"
Lazily. comfortably interested, the
voice sounded from the inner room
whose windows opened on the veranda.
Kate stood, silent, indignant, her chin
appraised, her lashes downcast. From
the cool shadow of the curtained win
dowseat, Bart Holman thought her
sweeter and dearer than ever. And it
had been nearly two years ago.
Are you in there, Bart ?" Imogene
listening? Long enough to agree with
me? What ever made you come home
when everybody wanted you to stay in
JAPAN"
mot everybody. come by special
request"
cial request, too2"
Kate flashed one single glance at her
cousin. She had not known how much
Imogene knew. She wondered if Bart
had told her. Against her will she
looked at Bart. He was smiling at
her, and suddenly, vaguely, she felt
more at ease. After all Bart was a
good boy. He had come home the
same-a trihe browner, the lines about
his mouth bit deeper, the look of his
eyes 'steadier. The two years in Japan
had done him good
When Is the wedding, Kitty"
No one ever called her Kitty but
Bart. 1t was such a foolish, childish
name for girl. she thought for the
kind of girl at least that she prided
herself on being. She was not the
fluffy, childish type. She was tall and
slender, with smooth dark hair, and
eyes that changed like the sea with
her mood.
1--WE are not even engaged yet" she
answered, composedly. 81 can hardly
say when the wedding will be-"
Kate is so cautious about matri-
mony this time" Imogene said, anus
eddy. She has actually put poor Will
lard on probation. If he is good boy
for three months, and manages to full
I'LL her ideal in that time. then she will
consent to an engagement"
If were girl, I'd put Willard on
probation for life" Bart said cheer
fully. Zone would be perfectly safe.
foreclosure"
Three months is long enough, .
said Kate. "A man who cannot stand
a three months test is not worth wait
ing a lifetime for
Don't be vindictive and catty.
Kate Inogene gathered up her me-
lee of embroidery odds and ends.
you and Bart, and when you twit him
that way it is simply bad taste. Bart
why on earth didn't you have sense
enough to stay away?'
No one sent me announcement
cards of the probation" answered
Bart, calmly. 4 like Viewpoint VIII
lard and are old college pals"
Were you. really % Imogene
glanced back over her shoulder to
laugh again. Isn't it comical, though,
the whole affair? Well, there is one
thing sure, Bart you won't be pals if
Hates conscience troubles her"
They were alone several minutes be-
fore the silence was broken. Then
Bart asked:
Does it -
Trouble me?" Kate lifted her
head. and the anxiety in her eyes
startled him. YES, it does, Bart. OF
course, I intend to marry Willard
the probation idea is half of it Imo-
genes nonsense only asked him to
give me three months to make I'D my
mind
Il didn't give you three minutes"
And changed 1t in three weeks"
she retorted quickly. 1T is better to
But you haven't told willard about
mot yet" she hesitated, and then
added, nervously, earnestly: 1T isn't
that he would mind, although I sup
mind, If you had done such a thing
and had not told me. But I thought
he knew, of course, until one day he
told me he didn't believe a girl ever
and absolutely. and he was glad for
that reason that had never been en-
gagged before
Il agree with him" Bart swung
over the barrier OF the window ledge
that separated them. Il don't believe
you'll ever love anyone as you did me,
Kitty, do you ?"
The impersonaI frankness of his
tone disarmed her. She replied almost
gently:
1T was the newness of it all, that's
what makes it different. Why, Bart,
do you know you were the first man
who ever asked me to be his wife?
And it seemed so queer You never
said a word, do you member, just
II remember said Bart. 1T was
enough. You gave it back
And you brought the ring the very
next day to me-"
You gave that back. too" He
looked at her left hand as he spoke.
It was ringless. Willard was certainly
coat pocket and drew out a small
leather case. The color rose In her
checks as he tossed it over on her