The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-12
THE EVENING STORY
Thernaopylae.

I -
sBy Martha McCulloch-W illiams.)
came here to play am dryad.''
Eispetn said. smiling wickedly at Hin
/ don as he toiled after her up the steep
ana narrow steps that led to a rallied
PLATFORM, weather beaten but still
sound and weight-worthy, set in the
low branches of giant oak. Hindon
| thought the climbing a crazy perform
ance, but love which makes the fool
| oLten wise man makes the wise man
oIten a fool. And he did not deny
| 20 himself he was in love- and with
| the bit of quicksilver he was so pain
! fully following
"H-ml seem to remember that
dryads were not always all they should
| De, he said, sitting down, SO ponder
ously the branches quivered. Elspeth
| laughed softly You are to have a
| reward for coming I'D with me. 1
tdore stories. You may tell me one
instead of writing it. The very best
story of them ALL"
"ImposibIeI" Hindon said gravely
| Don't you know there are but seven
stories IN the world, and six of them
unit for ladies'? That leaves only one
| had much rather lie it than tell it,
No! You must tell it," Elspeth
said, decisively. Begin! This is
much better fun than private thea
tricals-"
81 tell you I can't begin. The story
has to begin itself" Hindon interrupt
ed. Again Elspeth laughed. "At least
you can say how it begins she muir
INJURED. Hindon smothered a growl.
4 can tell you what it takes to make
a story" he said. First. of course
there's a girl
That's me-" Elspeth interjected.
Hindon nodded. And a man in love
with her.
THAT fits you." Elspeth said, in
corrigibly. Hindon flushed in spite of
himself and bit his lip, but somehow
kept MS voice gay as he ran on: "And
an obstacle-any sort, some sort The
obstacle. you know, is what really
makes the story"
Dear me! What what a pity!"
Elspeth said. yet 1 quite under
stand-but for the obstacles the sweet
hearts would have to marry right at
the thi start and live happy ever after
thlnk-yes. I'm sure the obstacle is
looming up. See! Jack Delany is get
ting down at the steps"
plague on him-on all Delanys
everywhere, Hindon began. Elspeth
shook her head at him. saying: How
ungrateful You said there had to be
an obstacle. Could you ask a more
proper one than Jack?'
mo! That's just the trouble" Hin
don admitted. You might easily fall
his way
ct believe he has cast you for the
obstacle role" Elspeth said. demurely
yet with dancing eyes. you don't
on. 81 asked you for a story-and
here I'm making up one for you"
you've reduced it to its lowest
terms-anyway 1 don't like it, Hin
don broke in. his chin in the air, the
light of battle in his eye. He saw Jack
Delany sauntering toward the oak, his
hat in one hand, the other swinging
his ivory-mounted crop. Jack was a
youth of parts, rich, we'll bred and dis
gustingly good to look at. Moreover.
he was new-until a month back
Elspeth had never seen him. Hindon
had discovered the real Elspeth a t
he had come down to Worlds End for
silence and measure of solitude.
After years of struggle his latest book
had hit the public hard. He wanted
when the opening of it was fairly in
mind, he had dined at the dean house
and fallen under Elspeth's spell.
There had been week of rebellion,
then submission to the inevitable. He
had had a conceit of knowing women
kind, also the verb to love. in all it's
moods and lenses. E1speth had shown
him how greatly he was mistaken.
women had found irresistible. After a
surfeit of sweets one relishes a whole
some bitter. Elspeth's artless joy over
his subjugation had not misled him
into thinking she was to be had for |
the asking. He had two minds about
her, one curiously aloof, wholly de- |
tached, ever noting the effect of un- |
likely conquest upon nature girlish- |
ly vain and human. and marshaling its |
impressions as for future reference; |
another palpitantly masculine and pos
sessive, alert to win and keep her |
against all corners.
Now the virile impulse dominated |
him. AS Jack came within hail, Hin |
don swung himself to the head OF the
steps, clutched a hand upon the rails |
at either side. and half shouted: |
or,Sk
come upi"
"Can't-eh! why not?" Jack demand
ed, moving forward.
''Oh! Because you're quite too good
this cranky structure would never bear |
the weight of it." Hindon flung back at |
him, settling himself more firmly in
his seat.
Jack laughed heartily. I'm comingI |
Look out!" he admonished making a |
dash for the stair-fcot. AS he touched |
it, Hindon looked down with twinklins
eyes to cay: Remember Thermopylaei
Behold me, a new Leonidas, holding the
pass!"
Hang Thermopylae-and all those
other sissy games, Jack said with
gcaring st a fellow that's been NTH through
straight football"
so perceive" Hindon said, his
twinkle broadening. He turned half
about to glance at Elspeth- She was
ed hard on the book in her lap the
ghost Of a dimple Pickering in one
cheek. The estate in life wherein Just
now she found herself was clearly not
displeasing to her. Cautiously she peep
ed over the edge of the platform. and
said to Jack hating below it: II wish
you would come up, Mr.. Delany. We
we ere making UP story-Nr. Hindon
liz going to write it-and you can't
Imagine how fascinating it is
III 1 can't imagine 1t, can find out,
Jack said energetically. stepping back
Ave PAGES to survey the big oaks
spread of branches. The branches were
broad, and some of them pendulous.
Upon the farther side one swaying tip
came within six feet of the ground.