The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-21
THE EVENING STORY
The Discovery Of His Kingdom.

s-I-s,
She gave a CHEEKY greeting as sne
passed. which Deardorf returned VIII
stiff embarrassment q Women always
embarrassed him, which fact had been
construed into a dislike of the sex, thus
accounting for his. bachelorhood.
No one would have believed that ne
lounged on the veranda solely that ne
might watch her down the street; much
less would any one have imagined that
evedy time he looked into her candlo.
womaply eyes his lonely, minated
compAnionship he saw therein. He hac
not learned that this kingdom In Wo-
mans eyes is discernible only to the
king to whom it is given to possess
if he will. Therefore, the little music
teacher with the bloom of youth behind
| her was to him most desirable IN the
prised, only startled to the stopping OF
his heart at what he overheard from
a couple of young men behind him:
She viii make him a sweet little
The sweetest in the world, the other
aSsented. And there's nothing for the
rest of US but hunting weoulng pres
ents. Come on
Tney went their way, and with
strangely blurred vision he stumbled up
the stairs and through the gloom OF
the han to his rooms at the end. Her
door was opposite, and as he funbled
with his key he glanced across fur
lively. with an odd sense of guilt for
the accustomed thrill that shook him.
II was DIS II Stl6T were dlI6dQy the vic
of another, and closing his door with
emphasis, he turned on the light and
! set about packing his minerals, telling
himself that he would move immedi-
ately-that there was neither sense nor
reason in his staying in this dingy place
where his poverty dong thing of the
past) had at first stranded him. No
reason, except that, cat-like, he Iclung
would acknowledge it-because she was
there He frowned and essayed a non
chalant whistle when he caught him
self, as usual, straining his ears for
the sound of her footsteps-it was time
that he went.
But subsequent reflection persuaded
him that his departure at this juncture
might be connected with her marriage.
and excite comment He felt that he
must remain until the lucky dog had
carried her away, and-he blushed pain.
fully at the thought-he must procure
the inevitable wedding present II he
would not be conspicuous.
Then followed strenuous days and
Esleepless nights of vain endeavor to de-
clue upon something with bitter Feviling
of the custom which forbade his pre-
of an article which would probably be
but an unweicome duplicate He
hunted the shops and stores, confusing
himself uselessly with the multitude
and variety Of their wares. He AreW
thin and heavy-eyed under the burden.
thereby arousing in her an anxious
solicitude he was too absorbed to per-
ceive In despair he sought advice OF
the office boy.
Billy, he asked that versatile young
person, what would you give to a
lady for wedding presents"
law. that's easyI Something, she'd
like of course Billy said airily- Then
he explained: II mean, sir, something
vo,,'ve heard her say she'd like. That's
the only kind O. present worth having,
only folks won't give EN- I've tried
it. a limiting and limiting what | want
{, hristmusses and birthdays. and al
ways get some old thing woman
take if I cOuf4 help it," Billy snifTed
That seemed an eTninenfly Senslpls
suggestion to Dearborn, and he pre-
scented q grateful dollar to billy TOT
the idea, realizing, when he came TO
make agpIicafien of it, that the only OBJ
iert of which he had any knowledge
Concerning her desires was undoubtedly
questionable, regarded as a wedding
present Still. according to Bily's de-
cision. it would be pleasure to her-
He had. one day, CHANGED upon her
standing behind two little girls VINO
were engrossed in the contemplation
OF an enhancing toy tea set III d sHop
window. It was obvious that such con-
temptation was all their lot IN NE az
lowed. and she. was lingering her sum
purse doubtfully. with moist eyes
at was wondering if I might not give
II +o them for the sake of lonely lit
tie girl whose one desire in life was
vain longing for a tiny Tea set sue
said as he stopped.
"I,et. me- he begged. expanding un-
dor the influence of her impulsive con-
fidence.
: After some fnsistence she yielded.
They took the amazed children inside
and she examined and extolled each
small article with delight that equal
ed theirs ,-.,,..,.
-1-1 al T1TE q n
thew were outside. II love the wee
things vet. and some time''-she
smiled efiantIy-tsome time when I
can. and not feel it a wicked extrava-
gance, I am going to have my cniidlsn
hearts desire. I am so sure that you
Will not laugh at me that I will in
wife YOU in to my first tea party
He thanked her gravelys under
standing and sympathizing entirely-
Did he not carry in his pocket Won |
darfnl carnelian "taw'' in memory of
fhe ungra tilted longing of the boy he !
f,sed to he? He had been waiting for
the Christmas opportunity TO grau1y
her innocent desire. reveling IN mag |
ed hospitality Now he mad put
away his day dream with sign ana
extinguished dim hope that mad |
glimmered feebly.
But it remained that ne must make |
b+e wedding present. And finally be- |
ing confident of her perfect sincerity, |
he ignored obtruding doubts as to APP |
propriateness and procured fairy
like tea set worthy the possession OF a |
nTincess. which. being unequal to pre-
senting it personally, he left at her
door with his card one evening, just
escaping her as she came up the stairs.
And then when it was done, he Tor
tho frst time considered his offering |
from the probable viewpoint of the
prospective bridegroom and her
frineds. and the utter absurdity of It
overwhelmed him. With shame ne de-
o;ded mat after such piece of idiocy
there was nothing for him but flight,