The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-24
TIE EVENING STORY


by Fannie Heaslip Lea.J
The only feeling that ever lasts. be-
tween man and q woman, Is friend
snip Make your friend yotr lover. YOU
lose him when the Irritation has reacn-
ca It's climax. and the artistic ending
Is nnal separation. Make your friend
your husband you are bound to him
Dy rope OF fading illusions and me
vitabIe discord-when Life has chang
ed to doggerel, what Love began, a
tender rhyme. Keep your friend your
Irlend-no more, no less-he is yours
forever"
Thus said Donald Random. "A and
didaettc, to Helen Ward, 10 ana affiict-
ed with the world sorrow Of her years.
On these tenets was their friendship
established, and though in treacherous
moments, months apart, It sometimes
occurred to Helen to wonder how Don
AID voice, unusually rhythmic Of ca
oences might sound in pronouncing
words Intentionally emotional, she al
ways dismissed the thought as maudlin.
they had been friends hums,'
they called it in their warmer mo-
ments-for four years, when Lila
Gardner's wedding with its demands
for man and maid of honor service
confronted them.
IF only Lila had asked some other
girl, or Martin had asked some other
man" said Helen uncomfortably. 81
shouldn't in the least mind being maid
Of honor to Lance Folsom's best man,
you it's different. One has to flirt with
the best man-it's part of the cere-
mony.h She glanced across the moon
lit space between them. Were friends,
and I won't f1irt with you"
''Of course not" said Randolph with
unnecessary hrmness. Are you going
up tomorrow"
Evening train she responded brief
Iy.
mo need for me to wait over. is
there?" he inquired. Il thought Of go
ing in the morning"
How absurd" protested Helen.
why should you waltz I'd much
rather you didn't. It would look so
significant"
Very well, see you tomorrow then,
he said, and left her with a handshake,
cool and friendly.
She did not see him till eight o'clock
the next night, when, after a late train
and a later dinner, she descended to the
library in search Of the other members
Of the bridal party. In nook by an
open window she found Lillian and Mar
tin absorbed in certain arrangem ents
for their departure the next day With
them was Randolph, and Helen fell at
once into the discussion of evading the
rice and old shoes by means of the side
door and a hired vehicle.
Once the question was settled, how
ever, the conversation langulshed, and
at the interrogation of a third tele-
pathic communication between the low
ers, Helen sprang up in desperation.
TITS too warm in here" she COM
planned. Lets go find the others,
Donald
"They went out there somewhere,
Lila suggested cordially.
Il dare say we can find them" said
Helen with a smile.
She stepped through the window on
Ito the wide porch, and Randolph fol-
lowed without delay.
Now this is what I object to, she
broke out turning when they were out
of hearing of the two inside, zone
DOESN'T want an enforced tete-a-tete-
do you know where the others are ~
Dancing in the sehoolroom. said
Randolph without interest.
Dancing" cried Helen, that settles
it. I simply cannot dance tonight. I m
tired to death It's a good thing were
ehums and don't have to talk, isn't it ?
know I'm not at all interesting to-
night. She sat down in a hammock
swung behind her, and mOtioned to a
big wicker chair. Smoke If you like
and don't bother to talk unless you
Randolph produced a stubby pipe
from his coat pocket. When he had
pulled few moments in silence he
crossed his legs and clasped his hands
behind his head.
you make man adorably comfort
able Helen" he said slowly then add
ed more decisively. You're the finest
kind of a chum.''
Always a chum-always, she an
swered, with a queer difference of in
donation in the repetition, that Ran
dolph interpreted as a warning
Martin got his passes today for the
Frisco trip he said hastily, ia
business-like tone.
Did he-then they go direct?"
Not quite-Lilia wants to see Salt
Lake city. and Martin knows a fellow
who has ranch in ColOrado-they' re
going there for a week or ten days.
Jove! that's a trip"
isn't it? But I think the coming
back will be almost as good Have
YOU seen the house2 In town. you
know, on Boliver street. I went over it
this week with Lilia-its almost per
feet. Not too large, and yet large
enough. A dear little reception hall
dining room in Flemish oak and tap
estry paper-drawing room in duh
light green-but the library think
could improve on the library" she
cIasped both hands about one knee and
What's it ike?" asked Randolph
with interest.
VERY good papering." said Helen
earnestly, dark red. and stained moor
with some very good rugs-but the
boOkcases-i"
Separate. I suppose
'eYes-and they ought to be low,
along the walls-all around in one
wood-instead of which he has one
mahogany. one cherry-youscan mag
inc the disjointed effect. Then. instead
of a bis leather chair at the fireplace.
there is a rocker" She broke off with
a little sigh Il can imagine how that
library would look on a winter even
ing, with wood FIRE and the light
coming through those loaded window
panes and the chair piled with cush-
ions. and the books one likes best to
read
Lila has red hair said Randolph
thoughtfully, land she wears pink
gowns-she'd jar on the color scheme
ooh. Donald. you are nice sighed
Helen mirthfully, you see what one
thinks so well=and that's my idea Of
friend" she concluded with sudden
fervor.
"a library like that would 1T a wo
man with dark hair" said Randolph,
his ewes on the duslzy head beside him.