The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-24
The EVENING STORY
Surprising semple.
(By william f. Bryan. }


canary, but you will surely look after
the plants, won't your" pleaded Mrs
Semple. Those palms are such beau
ties it would be a pity to have them
die"
.sThey won't" assured Semple. Zone
pint to each plant. I remember"
You're a dear she exclaimed. tits
awfully good of you, Ned, to let me go
when you won't even have a teenty
vacation yourself. I feel almost
ashamed of myself, leaving you all
alone in the hot city"
You have the time of your life," or
dered Semple. "I'll be all right; don't
you worry about me-
81 have such a surprise for you,''
she said, smiling through the tears
write and tell me just how you like it,
whats the surprise? I'll bet it's
cat''
Better than that and not half the
trouble she declared.
There's my train being called. It's
a shame they will not let you pass the
gate. Kiss me again, dear, and do be
careful Of yourself"
Ned Semple kissed her not once but
half a dozen times. He worshipped
this dainty little woman who had lift.
ed him out of bachelordom and board
ing houses and had made home a bit
of paradise on earth. He hated to give
her up for a whole six weeks, but he
could not get away from town himself
and she needed the rest and change
He waited until the train pulled out
of the station and went back to the
hot and stuffy Office. 1t was no hard
ship to work when he worked for her,
and there were certain deals that could
not be neglected. If these deals went
through, they would both go to Europe
next year and the occasional problem
of where the money for bills was to be
found would be solved.
He remained at the office later than
usual to make up for the time he had
lost over their last lunch together. The
occasional charwoman only made the
desolation of the huge Office building
seem more pronounced. The elevators
stopped at and it was after when
he descended intermfnable flights of
steps and the sense of depression grew
upon him.
In the street the open cars whizzed
past crowded with tired workers who
found in the speeding trolleys the
breeze that could not be coaxed into
filled some of the cross benches and
Semple thought regretfully of how
only two nights before he and Aida
had taken a ride in the cool of the
evening, going clear to the end of the
run, and stopping at the restaurant for
a bite to eat
He did not feel hungry tonight
though he had had no dinner. He left
the car at his, corner and crept UP the
stairs to his apartment. =
BY this time he vast thoroughly blue
and the darkness of the place crowned
his misery. AS. he opened the hall
door he seemed to hear. her voice call
a CHEEKY Good evening. dear l hope
you had an easy day. Did you ?''
Gould it be possible, he asked him
self. that Aida had come back? She
might be hiding in one of the closets
He lighted the gas in every room, but
he could find no trace of her save in
the orderly neatness which worked all
for his comfort. =
He went back to the parlor and
puffed thoughtfully at his pipe. In
his low nervous state but one explana-
ton of the phenomenon was sug-
gested Aida was dead and, in her
love. she had come to greet him. So
thoroughly wrought up did he become
that he telephoned the railroad COM
pany to ask If the train had been
wrecked.
The response did not seem to soothe
his rufhed feelings, if it did reassure
his anxiety, and at last he went to
bed, only to toss restlessly. Sleep did
not come until absolute physical ex-
haustion closed his eyes.
1t seemed scarcely five minutes be-
fore the alarm clock rang and he
dragged himself out of bed. Aida had
left coffee and crackers and condensed
milk in the house, and he slipped
Gun of coffee while he searched the
morning paper for news of wreck.
He could find nothing of the sort
and at last he started for the Office. AS
he opened the door. Alida's voice rang
in his ears again, "Good-by, dear. l
hope you have luck today"
It was what she always said, and al
though it did not sound exactly like
her voice. there was no mistaking GER
tain tricks of speech. He hastily closed
the door and hurried down the steps.
There was telegraph office at the
corner and he sent a telegram asking
her to wire her safe arrival. In the
Office building was the booth of an
other company and he sent second
She was not due at her des-
tination for a full two hours yet, and
he could not hope to receive mes
sage before noon, but he paced the
office -inpatiently. unable to concen-
trate his attention upon anything ex-
cept the tagging hands of the clock.
At last the blue uniformed boy ap-
peared with a yellow envelope and de-
parted richer by half-dollar tip. He
was back in an hour with another
that ran: Both kilograms
received. Telegraphed upon arrival.
Of course nothing is the matter"
The assurance brought contentment
and that afternoon Semple put through
dined at their favorite restaurant, and
1t was late when he reached home. The
same ghostIy voice greeted him and
dashed his pleasure. He moodily
smoked his pipe until late. and the un-
usual allowance of tobacco wrought |
further havoc upon his tired nerves.
The natural result was a dream, in |
which he wildly saw Aida, swathed |
n bandages alternately calling to him |
and begging the attendants not to let |
him know her peril lest 1t interfere |
with the contamination of his plans |
Tt was clear that in her longing for |
him her spirit projected itself through |
space. and that same self-denia1 which |
lad led her to keep back the news of |
1er danger led her to give the old ia |
niliar greeting and farewell. Her |
pirit must be in the room.