The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-19
TIE EVENING STORY
a IPIay I'd the GaIIerr.
-(By Cecilia A. Loizeaux.)

1t had just dawned upon Philip
Smart that Kate Hampton was the girl
he wanted. He wondered how he could
ever have hesitated or ever have had
a. doubt. Why, she was simply cut
out for him, he thought. as he dressed
with care and precision to go and tell
her so.
I should have told her months ago, .
he mentally argued. she must think
1 m an awful duffer." And he won
dered anew that he had been such a
blind fool as not to know what had
been the matter with him all these
months He believed now that he had
been in love with her ever since they
had gone to the kindergarten. and had
not known it.
His heart was very light, and he was
singing at the top of a lusty baritone
voice, But oh love you, dear!' when
there was thump at his door. and his
best friend, Fred Bart, dropped in:
Fred was also dressed with care and
precision. and accosted Philip with his
customary below.
Going up to the Hamptons? Well,
hurry up! You must have been dress
ing for an hour. What makes you so
happy-got your salary raised? ~
mol" said Phil, shortly. He sud-
denly felt anything but cheerful As
he knotted his crayat he said many
things under his breath-ostenSibly at
his feelings was dropping. He wonder
ed what in thunder Fred had to go
up there tonight for. Couldn't he see
when he wasn't wanted? The last
time Kate had been not much more
than civil.
He finally turned from the glass and
wriggled into his coat with a flushed
face. well, come on!" he said.
AS they strolled up the shady sub
urban streets Fred did not seem to no.
tice the drop in Phils spirits, but talk
ed away with his hand on his COM
panion's shoulder, until Phil began to
hate him.
Hampton house and found two white
clad figures on the porch, his heart
began to bound again. It was quite
likely that Fred was going to see
Hates sister, Rose, who was much
more his style, and doubtless in the
course of the evening he could get Kate
off by herself.
So the four sat on the steps and made
merry And when Phil proposed
walk Fred cordially seconded the idea,
and they all got as far as the gate to-
gether Phil thought there couldn't be
a better time for telling q girl you loved
her than the quiet moonlit night, nor
better place than the deserted streets OF
a quiet suburb. But when they reached
the gate Rose decided she wanted
wrap. and. instead of waiting for her as
he should have done, Fred strolled on
up the street with Kate, and Phil mad
to wait.
seemed as out of sorts as Phil, and they
were both glad when they reached the
gate again and could get away from
each other Phil would not accept
Roses invitation to wait on the porch
until Kate and Fred came home He
didn't want to see Fred at all But he
consoled himself with the thought that
very likely Kate was as disappointed as
he himself and the very next day ne
telephoned for permission to come up
that evening 1t was graciously granted
and he went down town ana oought
ring-being an old fashioned lover
The next afternoon he CHANGED TO
meet Kate on the street and she stopped
him. BY the way, bring over your DAN
10 tonight" she said. Wen nave a
little porch party, and your pan1o Is
always so much in demand" And then
he began to wonder whether it could
be possible that she might not care Tor
him If she did, why was she always
getting a lot of people around when
he came? Then his brow cleared .Ine
dear girll'' he thought .'She is afraid
| will see that she cares, ana II IS her
way of defending herself"
The porch party was jolly, and there
was a good time, but Phil saw next 10
aothing Of Kate. She was here ana
here and everyWhere-the moving
spirit of fun. Nevertheless, he felt
hat he gained a little, for when he
said good night he held her hand de-
.idedly longer than he would nave
wanted another fellow to hold 1t, and
he did not draw it back, as of course |
,he would have done had it been an !
1ther fellow.
on Saturday. when he asked to take |
Ter. driving, she assented with a prop, |
.r show of reluctance. She knows!
le thought When he called for her |
n the twilight her mother explained |
hat she was not quite ready yet, ana |
aid that a girl friend had come to |
IL hot c1
own quite unexpectedly ana that sne
md Kate had forgotten time in their
,hattering.
OF course the least he could do was
. offer to exchange the Stanhope for
surrey and ask the guest and Rose
: The fse guest stayed two weeks. and
Turing that time, though he tried
lurnberless times, Phil did not get to
ee Kate alone. He waited as patient
v as he could-there seemed 10 pc
Iothing else for him to do-and hoped
he would see the Self-sacrif1clng
epth of his affection.
He had always known all the Hamp-
ems and had been a frequent caller at
he home The Judge liked him and his
,olitfcs which he talked to the poor
GLOW at all seasons. The mother ad-
Gifted him to the family sitting room
ri darned the family stockings in his
resence. The small brother. Jimmy,
Omitted that Phil was his equal. Ad-
antaReous as was this family friend
hin IN some ways. it was as disadvan-
ageous in others. If by any accident
q called and found Kate apparently
lone something always happened
he telephone rang and some one
yanted to come over for a few min
ties. or some Dresumptuous fool stop
ell in to see Rose and stayed to talk
, Kate.
Phil grew sick at heart and Kate
cyan to seem a little cool and digni-
ed He felt that he must speak soon
+ forfeit the girls love. She was too
roud to help him bit One evening
e rang her up and asked If he might ,
ee her alone; he had something very
articular to tell her, ne explained. ,
Tavine gone so far, he swore by all