The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-04-27
THE EVENING STOR Y
The jest That RecoiIed.
(By Louise J. Strong. J


would have been, rather. for he would
| have encompassed heaven and earth
to accomplish it; and in his Utmost
! heart he had felt that the accomplish
| ing would not have been difficult.
/ AT times, wild pictures had present.
| ed themselves of the possibility of the
beastlv moneys taking the proverbial
| wings, opening for him the gates to
| paradisei But in his saner moments
| he derided such fancies, for with Mr..
| Waring to the fore there was not the
slightest probability of such an occur
renee. Instead, he had arrived at a
| condition where the wings were a
necessity to himself if he would retain
a rag of self respect. This cherished
self respect was suffering considerably
| now in the yielding that had brought
| him back; and he had sternly limited
! himself to a week, even while calcu-
| lating how often he might contrtve to
see her in the time, without too greatly
| transgressing convention.
He was hurrying to his hotel to
| make himself presentable for an i'm
mediate call. when as he whipped into
scented itself at which he reeled as from
| blow in the face. Leaning Imply
against doorway he stared, mutter-
| ing. Impossible! Impossible!"
His widest imaginingS had mater
ialized before his eyes; but he scorn-
| fully rejected the suggested explana-
tions of his reason, repeating again
and again, "Impossible!'
throng, and too deeply shocked and
absorbed to feel surprise when a hand
Clapped him upon the shoulder. and
hearty voice cried. Hello, old man!
When did you blow in?'
Ellison seized the speaker and drew
him around the corner.
Fred" he demanded, sis that Miss
Millicent Waring? My eyes tell me so,
but 1 can not believe theml"
"Sure. That's Miss Warning
"But-but-good heavens!-what's
she doing in the confectionery shop?"
Selling, same as other shopkeep-
ers."
"But why? Of course, 1 see she is
selling, but why?" he shook the other
vehemently.
Necessity, I suppose same as the
other shopkeepers, again. he grinned
winking at a newcomer over Ellison's
shoulder.
y Necessity" yelled Ellison. you
don't mean-you can't mean
Better moderate your emotion, Eli
son." the newcomer advised, indicat ting
a bluecoat who was regarding them
suspiciously.
"Of course, boys" Ellisons voice was
a murmur. "of course, I know you can't
mean that she is obliged to do it,
why not? Couldn't old man Waring
come financial cropper, same as thou
sands of others just as astute as he?"
1.-The world could come to an end
Ellison jeered, but his heart had set up
a sudden pounding that dizzied him.
Comes to an end every day, dear
little card houses tumble. It's a new
world for them, and their families too,
after that
you bet!" exclaimed one of another
couple of youths who had added them
selves to the group. Miss Warning is
finding it a new world, all right"
Sundry sly winks and mods were ex-
changed by the four young fellows, ac-
quaintances to whom Ellison had for |
gotten to give a greeting.
where's Mr.. waring?'' he asked.
"Oh, he's around. He's plucky. He'll |
pull it off again sometime 1 reckon" |
one said with a laugh.
That's so,'' affirmed another. But |
in the meantime there must be bread
and butter
something else for Miss Millicent-'
Fred Wilson interrupted Ellison's in
dignant outburst:
Nothing by which she could so quick
ly and easily rake in the shekels.'
"She's pulling them in by the hand
full, too" said Hughes. She seems
natural saleslady, has the gift for
trade"
be pleasant
'sOh, her position has its unpleasant
of course" Stream interrupted
lightly Some of the climbers snub
her and disapproval riots on all sides,
but Miss Millicent carries it off well.
She might have married-that is, sup
pose So" he insinuated with wicked
yes, she might have married while
the old mans pile was intact" Forrest
assented.
But she didn't. And a wife with
millions and one with moth
ing but expensive habits and passable
beauty are two very different things"
Stream asserted.
Ellison turned furious face upon
him and half raised clenched fist, then
mastering himself he remarked: Il sup
pose that's the way the world sees it, =.
and strobe away.
The four rascals burst into exuberant
delight digging each other in the ribs
and chucking hilariously as he disap- !
peared down a side street.
Ellison had no coherent thought at
first as he tore along. The knowledge
that the barrier between them was re-
moved dazed him. But soon he began .
to turn things over in his mind, to even .
consider the possibility of his own thou
sands which had seemed puerile before, | .
now serving as a foundation for new
beginning on which Mr.. Waring might s
build. The other the infinitely greater
possibility of winning Millicent, he tried
TO keep in the background until a prop !
ar hour for its consideration.
Having at last adjusted himself some !
what to the new conditions, he felt that
he could trust himself to see her They !.
shook hands quietly. There was little |
just then for words, but l
here was a humorous yet tender CLINT
N her eyes as she occasionally glanced S
1t his earnest, preoccupied face while c
;he served bunch of school children.
The four conspirators let her into the c
secret and departed to spread broadcast
he Jest, the prank upon Ellison, whose c
sentiment toward Miss Waring was an i
,pen secret And presently by twos i
md threes and in squads, her old friends t
ind former associates began to saunter
~ Some purchased of her with sim b
oering patronage; some with cold nod e
# recognition while others passed with a