The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-09
TIE EVENING Story
Annette and the Angel Child.
(By Temple Bailevl

| cut of the West. He was big and
blond and the strongest man in the
summer school.
Why do you bother with him ?'' An
nette's best friend asked. reproach-
fully.
He amuses me-" said Annette, and
mashed bright glances across the table,
winch glance the Angel Child met with
''wilI you go for a walk with rne7.'
asked the Angel Child. as they went
out OF the dining room together.
.. NOT until Saturday." Annette said.
tomorrow am going with the pro
lessor OF chemistry, and on Thursday
go with the professor of English and
on Friday I go with the lecturer on
pedagogy"
but the lecturer on pedagogy is
married." said the blond giant. staring
at her.
But he is very NICE" said Annette.
and his wife is not here"
The Angel Child walked on in Sd
lence for moment and then he stam-
mered, 81 wouldn't IL were YOU"
Wouldn't what ?" asked Annette.
well, I wouldn't walk with the leo
turer on pedagogy" sati the Angel
Child.
ct don't think it is your affair."" An
nette told him with dangerous sweet
ness. land If you don't mind ]. will
break that engagement to walk with
you on Saturday. I don't like to be
lectured."
He was perfectly right" Annette's
best friend scolded that night as An
nette sat on the foot of the bed in a
Gistracting red kimono and recounted
the. conquests of the day. ''You haven't
any right to walk with married
man."
ct don't want to take the walk"
Annette conf1ded, "but I won't be lee
tured-not by the Angel Child"
II don't see why you take such an
THAT baby stare OF his is perfectly
idiotic."
THAT'S why I call him the Angel
Child" Annette said. Hes positively
seraphic at times"
But he wears such clothes"
'He is studying forestry" Annette
reminded her. HE can't robe himself
in white flannel"
The best friend sat up in bed and
eyed her severely.
you know you will lead him on and
he'll fall in love with you. and then
you'll break his heart"
'Who knows?" said Annette, but
her eyes laughed and her best friend
said: You haven't any heart. Oh,
you haven't any heart, Annettel"
On Friday Annette took her walk
with the lecturer on pedagogy. Half
Rock they met the Angel Child. Os-
tensibly he was studying trees, but he
Joined them and walked with them to
the top of the hill. and when they came
down he walked with them to the
school.
IT won't have you chaperoning me-"
Annette told him that night, furiously.
He blushed deeply.
'I won't have you talked about. I
love you too WELL
- ID
'You know do" said the Angel
Child. "And I know it is hopeless.
But that doesn't make any difference.
1 shall love you just the same"
Now see what you have DONE" said
best friend. when the little
lady told her.
Annette braiding her long. brown
locks for the night, looked through her
lashes.,
Hes big and strong" she said.
dwarfs beside him"
Hes like a baby in your hands,"
said the best friend; you've broken
his heart"
ut won't hurt him." Annette at
frmed. Every man has to fall in
love, and why not with me?"
But it did hurt him, and he left the
boarding house where Annette took
her meals, and when she met him go
ing to and fro from the classrooms
he looked pale and weary.
Annette, however, continued to f1irt
with the lecturer on pedagogy.
You are getting yourself talked
about" said the best friend. you are
seen with him so often"
He's the only interesting man
professor of English and the professor
OF chemistry are sticks, and the other
professors are old, and the Angel
Child has forgotten me-"
what ?" exclaimed the best friend.
Yes Annette said, che doesn't
love me any more. He thinks OF moth
ing but trees. I haven't seen him for
two weeks. He doesn't love me any
more"
She curled herself up on the couch,
so that her face was away from her
friend, but her voice quivered-
'I believe you are crying" said the
best friend.
ct am not" sobbed Annette, and her
best friend flew to her, and put her
arms about her, and they turned off
the lights and talked about it in the
dark, and Annette confessed that she
loved the Angel Child.
but he has heard the things about
me and the lecturer on pedagogy, and
he doesn't care any more. And when
he didn't care, began to care" said
little Annette
"Of course" said the best friend.
After that Annette fiirted more reck-
lessly than ever, and on the last Satur-
day of the term she went for a ride
with the lecturer on pedagogy.
On the way the lecturer quoted
Its our last ride together" he
Quavered sentimcnta1ly.
The road led them in and out, and
In and out, between lines of tall
bushes, and there was a stretch of
woodland where the trees met over
head, and where It was so quiet that
all the forest seemed to listen, as the
lecturer on pedagogy leaned over and
kissed Annettei"
"Oh," cried Annette, with her eyes
blazing. "how dare you'll"
You might have expected it." said
the lecturer on pedagogy. calmly; you
have fiirted with me for five weeks.