The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-12-03
The EVENING STORY
Reversing a Decision.
(By Edith MeIino.)

paJleQ on the neaQ even II luSii AiosAA-
ers do possess foolish ideas that curis
are cute. Men on business bent always
act Importantly, and should be treated
with Difference.
The pat had the effect of stiffening
! Thomas Henderson Howie's small
! backbone to an unusual degree OF rans
rod stiffness and it was very POM
pous six-year-old who entered Dor-
rington's office.
Tim Dorrington looked up from
pile of papers with a genial smile
Henderson ersoe HOWE o. he cried. And
what good fortune brings you to the
office? Surely you are not about TO pc
sued for breach of promise? l am
afraid of that little Houston girl: or
serves again %
| cts a letter." explained Tommy
stiffly, as he delivered the square
white envelope into Tins trembling
hands ST will be going now, he add
ed as he turned away. Tim raised MS
hand.
''wait moment, please he asked.
"There may be an answer.
Tommy climbed into the biggest
chair and settled himself with quaint,
| old-fashioned gravity. While Dorrlns-
| ton opened and read the note. Twice
| the man read it. though the first time
| the words had scared themselves into
| his brain.
| 1t was cold, almost curt note, In
winch jessie f1OWIc dChIO
the honor he had done her in offering
| to make her his wife, an honor she de-
clined, regretting that there had peen
anything in their friendship to lead
him to believe that the friendship
might grow to greater intimacy.
Darlington smiled bitterly as he
read the last few lines. Surely he had
had every reason to hope for favor,
able answer to his letter. Jessie had
been tenderness itself. With a sigh
| he thrust the letter into his pocket
and turned to his small visitor.
ST regret. Thomas Henderson
Howie," he said in the playful banter
that had been suggested by the child's
| quaint dignity Il regret that my
pIeasurabIe anticipations of a wild
dissipation in soda water ana canay t
have been dashed to earth. But man
| turns to drink both to express his joys
and drown his sorrows. Therefore.
pray you to descend with me to the
drug store on the ground floor and as
| sist me in the latter ceremony They
have hot chocolate with whipped
cream"
| liteIy st don't want any soda"
Perhaps you prefer the stronger
tipple of beef tea?" suggested Dor
without inebrity and can be rendered
quite palatable if you use enough
celery salt to disguise the flavor OF
the beef extract. Shall we go?''
Tommy stolidly. 'I don't like you any
more. You make Jessie cry
THAT" said Tim, sis what they call
an inversion of facts. Your sister has
s'I'm glad of it," said Tommy cruel
ly. you made her cry lots"
You are sure?" asked Darlington
quickly. 'She was crying over my
"Lot." declared Tommy with
sweeping gesture that suggested a
room to get her to sew the tail on
my dog again. She was crying awful
ly and she was kissing your letter and
saying things
bennington moved closer to the boy.
"You don't remember what she said.
do you?" he pleaded gently. See If
you can think, Tommy-boy. Try
hard, laddie.'
Thomas Henderson HOWE knitted |
his brows thoughtfully, and assisted |
the mental process by solemnly wrig- |
Cling his right foot.
"It was something about q mean |
sacrifice" he said at last. Sacrifices.
he added. informatively. sis where the |
Indians kill people and burn 'em up"
fires are internal nowadays" said |
Dorrington softly. What else did |
"She said: How can 1 do it?' and |
then she cried some more" continued |
Tommy. Then there was something |
about for fathers sake and mother
came in and said something about duty |
and then something about Mr.. Bowen
and Jessie cried lots more and then she
wrote the letter and she gave mo |
penny for myself and kissed me-
For a moment Darlington sat
stunned He had invested heavily in
suburban real estate and much of his
capital was tied up in land, but Dor
rington had not guessed that Mr.. How
les need was so great that he had been
compelled to go to Bowen.
For nearly a wear CYRUS Bowen had
sought to make Jessie the fourth Mrs.
Bowen. Mrs. HOWE had favored his
suit, for the matron was ambitious for
her daughter but it must have been dire
need that caused blunt Henry HOWE to
add his influence. Darlington turned to
Tommy.
"Thomas Henderson Howie," he said
quietly. 81 pledge you the word Of one
Jessie cry. VIII you mind the Office
He swung the youngster into the big
chair before the roll top desk, sup
piled him with a pencil and pad and
slipped from the room. 1t was less than
a block to the Office building in which
Henry HOWE had his suite and shortly
Darlington entered the private Office Of
the operator.
you will pardon my abruptness," be-
gan Tom, but have just had a letter
from Jessie refusing an offer of mar
riage, From what Tommy says I imag-
inc that her refusal is Influenced by the
fact that you need Bowen's assistance.
and she is the bonus for the loan. Am
L right"
clenched and unclenched themselves
nervously. The blunt statement of
facts reused him to anger but the
white, tense face of the man before him
restrained him from pitching Tim out I.
of the Office as he longed to do. He
liked Tim and it hurt him to give pain
to the young fellow