The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-09-26
TIE EVENING yTOR r
Interrupted Engagements.
~ NeIIIe Cravey Gilmore.

The outlook was distinctly unprom
ising- One circumstance in particular
! gloomed KendaIs mind. Fool-like he
had allowed himself to be drawn into
a sort of halfway matrimonial scheme
Of his Cousin Kittys, and was even
now hurrying along as fast as steam
could carry him to the second fatal
step toward its contamination. The
first had been taken when he drifted
into the correspondence. with the girl
| "a correspondence which had quickly
run through all the successive stages
TIL now 1t stood upon a decidedly
sentimental footing.
Kendall occupied himself alternately
by studying the flying landscape and
the photograph of his latest inamorita.
She WIS good looking enough, in all
sense, but for some ueryerse reason of
the hour he chose to resent her rich,
dark beauty with passionate defiance.
somehow another face. sweeter than a
mower star-ey ed--frAued IN a cloud OF
misty gold hair=kept coming in be-
tween with rnaddening insistence, bit
ter memory of his disappointment
wringing his heart as he had never
thought 1t could be wrung again All
unwonted tear caught in his eye; he
dashed it away in some rage at him.
self, and the next instant was poring
attentively over an inverted newspaper
article.
Presently came the first call for din
ner and Kendall rose with aIacrity,
making his way to the dining car
ahead- Anything to give relief from his
present gloomy thoughts. Every table
but one was occupied and he took his
seat gratefully, dashing of an elabor-
ate order IN an utterly preoccupied
fashion. Then he gave his attention to
the dingy train of freight cars whining
monotonously past, and the shadowy
chain of mountains, rearing themselves
like solemn green cones in the dis
lance Presently a driving rain set in,
adding, IL possible to his desperate
frame of mind.
After a while Kendall became con-
scious Of some one taking the chair
opposite him and he held his eyes
stifliy averted. because he was also
subtly cognizant of the fact that it was
tailor-made young lady with sunny
curls and an exquisitely modulated
voice as she addressed the waiter.
After several embarrassed moments
he permitted himself a surreptitious
glance toward his vfs-a-vis Her face
was averted. but there was no nistak-
ing the pink. oval cheek with its sweet,
familiar curve the golden mass of cob
web hair, the scarlet, trenulous lips.
The girl turned swiftly under the
spell of his eyes, a river of crimson
running from throat to brow But sud-
denly she stiffened and the color for
sock her face.
Kendall was looking at her very ear
nestly. very pleadingly. The quarrel
had been terribly bitter; but the after
nath was much more bitter There had
been only six months Of that-and a
lifetime stretched drab before themt
'Marjorie!" He leaned half across
the table, his glance full of passionate
appeal. Ffe seemed to have forgotten
altogether that half a year ago they
had parted for good and all, with the
promise never to speak to one another
again.
The girl accepted his eyes for a sec
ond; then her lashes f1ickered and fell.
Her lips were held taut to conceal their
trembling and her breath was coming
in little jerks. But she controlled aer-
self quickly and when she looked up
again her expression was quite calm.
whatever it may have indexed.
Personalities she forced herself to
say, will have to be avoided, Dick
We settled all that long ago, did we
not?"
Her words had final ring. ana Ken
dali felt himself going white under the
stab of them. Could it be possible after
all past asseverations, that she had
ceased to care SO entirely? Surely she
could never have suffered as he had
done the last six months and sit facing
him now with SO cool a demeanor. He
was on the point of speaking when the
waiter reappeared.
Marjorie welcomed his coming with 4
tremendous sensation of relief Self
control was fast getting away from her.
She raised a glass Of water to her lips
and drained it feverishly, Kendall noted
that her fingers were shaking, and his
heart gave q sudden throb. Perhaps
after all, her GOODNESS was mere as
sumption He sought her glance eager
ly, but it was frigidIy withheld.
After a trying silence Marjorie TOOK
up her knife and fork and tried vainly
to eat. The food stuck in her throat.
Kendall finished his dinner mechan-
ically.
Marjorie, he broke out, abruptly,
don't, for heaven 8 sake, treat me this
way! Can not we be at least friendly
Will you answer one question ~
The girl lost color again, though she
met his eyes openly, almost probingly.
Certainly" she said, after little.
Am I; then, utterly odious to your
She WINGED and her snowy chin lift
ed itself imperceptibly, but unmis-
takably.
I hardly think the occasion, or the
circumstances, warrant that" she an
swered, the shadows deepening in her
eyes.
Kendans heart gave a great lurch.
Had she heard2 He would be frank
with her anyway.
IF you mean the circumstances sur
rounding Enlargement" he said,
decidedly they do"
She made no answer, but the hurt
look in her eyes told him the truth,
and he hurried OH eagerly:
Marjorie. will you listen TO my side
of it? Listeni I was perate-crazy
when I thought had lost you
threw myself into nything--every
thing-an sorts of things-as a means
of getting a little relief from the eating
misery of it all Before 1 knew 1t I
found myself mixed up in this silly
business. But swear to you on my
word as a man that there is no ques-
ton of honor involved. The whole
thing, believe me, is nine parts jest.
With a little it might be made serious,
but, thank heaven, no fatal words
have been spoken"
"But she believes
mot at all; she has no right. She
does not; I know 1t. Dear, you have
always been good, and wise. and lib
eral. Don't let this nonsensical thing