The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-10-21
The EVENING STORY
The Maid of Arts

Unbroken blue the sky and sea
sn1ft1ng greens and browns the shore.
Along the deserted beach and through
the empty streets Autumn swished
her rustling skirts with no one to heed
her passing.
NO one, at least, save a solitary
man. who, having escaped at length
from the stern dictates of the law"
mad come to Surfside for a few weeks
freedom. Leaning over the fence
which skirted the path around the
rocky coast. he gazed dreamily out to
sea, following the ragged outline of
the shore, and breathing in the salt of
the ocean with the sweetness of the
earth beneath him.
Suddenly fresh cut in the weather
worn rail caught his eye. III. T.-W.
'04!" Some one beside himself had
evidently sought out the shore late
Wellesley" He had it, For was not
a knifeblade broken off half-short in
the wood, an indisputable evidence of
woman's work?
alone with the natives and nature.
after ALL" He started to move on.
Again he was arrested-this time by
a small, bright object at his feet. 1t
Lost it while she was carving her
name with that dolls knife. I s'pose,"
Van Dyke argued to himself, as was
his legal habit, fastening the pin
own Harvard" pin.
Strolling on, he renewed his ac-
quaintance with one after another or
the favorite haunts of his boyhood=
Swallows cave" the rock that BOOM
ed like a cannon at high tide, and In
Vulnerable coy retreats to be gained
by careful climbing over the chaos OF
big powders on the cliffs. He wh1s-
tied like a boy, as he went, and sang
snatches of the college songs SO fresh
hfc IF In H.
donment, he curled up in the lee OF
an overhanging rock and, soothed by
the lull of the waves and the minor
wall of the october wind, fell asleep.
He was awakened in a curious man
ner. Opening his eyes, he found them
covered with a soft transparent some
thing that wrinkled when he winked.
He raised his hand to remove 1t and
gazed in establishment upon his sud
den acquisition of a woman's hand
kerchief monogram was embroid-
cred in one corner. His logical mind
decfphered 1t in a flash with little ex-
penditure of eyestrain.
Exhibit c." he murmured, jumping
up eagerly. Nov here's hoping for the
lady herself!'
But the most searching scrutiny of
rocky nests" and inches failed to dis
cover her. Indeed, after several days or
to think his lady of the monograms
teasing myth.
Nevertheless he would have continued
to hope for her realization, If a letter
from his sitter had not put cruel END
to his romance.
Dear Richard" it ran. ct have just
that Helen Tudor, college
friend Of mine, is staying at Surfside
with her mother. She's very clever
girl-has just written a remarkable
thesis on some learned subject and got
an A. M. degree. You ought to like her
She's your kind. Be sure to look her
up. I've written her you're going TO- |
she's staying at the Sea Cliff" !
That dished the whole thing. His |
xind," indeed! He abominated blue |
stocking" So he fought shy of the Sea
Cliff. and ceased to look for H. t.
W., o. in his daily rambles
But, with the proverbial irony accred- |
ted to her, Dame Fate, as soon as she
Ger, bobbed up in front of him most I'M
Or to be strictly accurate.
to his own amazement, bobbed
ID in front Of her.
with characteristic alacrity, he had
aiken a handspring over a jutting rock
and landed in secluded niche below.
His sudden appearance so frightened
he young person curled up in it that
she dropped her book into pool OF
water.
out. Let me get it for you.' cts |
dry enough to be proof against
4 Wetting,' was his mental comment) |
I hope it isn't injured fatally" he add
I'd aloud, handing the water-soaked vol
me to its owner, who, he was surprised |
% notice, was dimpled, rosy-checked
roung woman with mischievous eyes.
Goodness, hope not" was her en-
,hatic reply. IT couldn't go to sleep to-
hight if I didn't find out how the story
ended"
''Ffction?" queried Richard. curious
Eyes, of course. What else does one
cad on q vacation?
ponder over-he had not fancied that
H T.-W., '04,' would like fiction. But
lie would not be misled "On a vaca-
ion," she had said-doubtless the rest
VI the year she gave up to more solid
literary accomplishments.
Realizing that he was expected to
ay something, alth ough he had quite
orgotten that her last remark had
,een in the form of question. Rich
.rd braced himself for the ordeal.
This is my favorite haunt" he an {
Iounced, unconscious of displaying any
ir of proprietorship, as he established l
imself &c; e9m la,Tta Bessie sI,ol hsr.
Eyes, judged So" she answered
imply.
why. how did you guess?" asked !
in surprise. i've never seen
GU here before"
But I've seen YOU e
He gathered his wits together at g
his. It made no difference that she :
Tas pretty and that she was fond of
1ve stories, like other girls-he knew
er real self behind this mask of CO. :
uetry. She was really a naughty, =
verbearing, pedantic person with a t
tring of academic degrees tackled on
, her name. He would round UP this
tile matter without any sentimental r
onsense. h
"Oh, yes" he said in his dignified, n
gal manner; you probably refer to -
he day you dropped your handker- 1:
nief on my face. Here 1t is. I am
lad to be able to return it to you. C
nd here is your college pin. also. / o