The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-13
THE EVENING STORY
On the Florida speclal.
(By Philip Kean.)

/
next to her. Seemingly unconscious
of the glances that had followed her as
she came in, she nevertheless seated
herself in her chair with the feeling
that she was a person of Importance,
and one whose popularity was evil
denced by the number and value OF
| her going-away gifts.
| AS if the gods had not been good
| enough, however Just as the train
pulled out, and Richard Marston held
her hand in last farewell. the porter
staggered, in bearing a hugh hamper,
| fruit-filled and f1ower-decorated, such
| a hamper as one sees only in the trop-
| ical paradise of millionaires.
Marston eyed it jealousy.
Such a display of money" he criti-
cised.
.sIt's beautiful" Miss Carstairs as
ooh, well, my violets won't have a
chance now,'' but it was a question
rather than an assertion, and Miss
Carstairs said, "How do you know"
and that was encouragement, or would
have been from anybody but Miss Car
stairs
1--WE half a mind to go on with you
to Daytona," Marston hesitated, and
Miss Carstairs said: "oh, dor and that
settled it. Marston went to find the
conductor and get a chair, and as
there wasn't any but the one next to
Helen the porter lifted the two
of candy and the hamper of fruit and
the bundle of magazines and carried
them to the end of the car and piled
them where the passengers eyed them
and screwed their necks to get better
view of Miss Carstairs, all of which
that young lady enjoyed as much as
she enjoyed the distinction of having
Richard Marston for a travelling COM
panion.
Think of my hobnobbing with ce-
lebrity,' she said.
"Of the making of books there is
no end" Marston quoted sententiously.
beauty
And both of US as poor as poor"
Helen sighed.
Marston looked at her. "I wonder
why you say that?" he asked what
difference does it make
Helen stared at him. 81 thought
she gasped-
THAT I wanted to marry you!" he
finished for her. But I don't!'' and
he settled back in his chair and looked
out toward the line of the tropical
shore, where a few cocoanut palms
were silhouetted against purple sea.
had departed. Suddenly she felt i'm
measurably insignificant, but this
feeling was succeeded by one of in
tense indignation.
"Of all thingsi'' she CALCULATED.
well. know it's unusual for man
to withdraw a proposition of that kind
in ten minutes. an know I said
some pretty insistent things just before
the train left, but I've changed my
mind. It's usually wOman's prero-
gative," was his easy way OF getting
out of it, ''but this time it's a mans
and I've changed my mind
For the first time in her life, Miss
Carstairsl could not meet the situation!
She simply sat there with her cheeks
burning and hated him. -~.t.
Curiosity getting the better of her.
however, she asked:
"'But why?"
THAT thing" Marston said succinct-
Iy, and nodded towards the hamper,
ito think you could take a thing like
that from-Deering."
Miss Carstairs felt better. She could
meet jealousy.
But couldn't help it, could II"
was her innocent query. 81 couldn't
tell the porter to drop the basket on
the platform"
him down. Marston complained.
Positively you know-over at the
Breakers last night. after the dance"
Il tried To-
''And couldn't?"
"Too many Inducements? Country
house, town house, trips to Europe,
diamonds-oh. Lord ?" Marston groan-
ed as he finished the catalogue.
mo- she turned from him to a
contemplation of the scenery, and for
time they rode in silence; passing
beyond the long line of palms to the
orange groves-brilliant stretches of
yellow and green that filled the car
with the fragrance of wedding bou-
Quets.
Suddenly Marston flung out, What
was it that kept you from turning him |
down positively, Helen ?''
She leaned forward and spoke with |
conviction.
81 might do worse than marry Deer |
ing"
IA pork packer?"
TITS better to marry a pork pack |
er than to have nothing to pack she |
informed him.
81 tell you right now. Helen" he |
said. that 1 won't run this race in |
competition with Deering. 1 don't |
trot in the same class. You can give |
him up or give me up
Helen reached over and touched the |
electric bell. will you bring me some |
telegraph blanks?" she said to the |
porter when he came.
And now will you lend me a PEN
cil," she asked Marston as she f1utter-
ed the leaves of the yellow pad.
What are you going to do?, Mar
ston questioned as he handed 1t to
her.
st am going to telegraph to Deer
ing" she said. ST told him that I /
would say yes or mo- by telegraph"
Marston went white.
Don 90 anything rash, Helen, he
warned.
81 shall do as I please" said Miss
Carstairs. and he leaned back and
snapped out, "Oh. of course"
She sat with the pencil poised at
wish you'd toss a penny for me- she
said at last Heads do ft-taiIs 1
don't"
ST will do nothing of the kind"
"Oh, well, don't" She scrubbed a
hasty word and reached for the bell.
But Marston stopped her. What have /
you written 20 he demanded sternly.
The other passengers were growing +
speculative as to the actions Of the
= Tell