The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-09-24
The EVENING STORY
one Touch of Nature.

to a full stop. for the second time In
Tour minutes. with a jerk that threw
that young gentleman with some vio-
lence against the padded seat, an an
cry dent showed between his eyes.
Its the sp--" began the chauf-
feur, speedily and alphabetically get
ting out of the car.
Il don't care what it is" growled
Loring- He was already on the side
walk. Take the blamed thing back
to the house--if you know how, and
don't call for me tonight, unless you
can guarantee to run it. Under
"Yessir." mumbled the chauffeur.
Loring turned on his heel. Before
ne had gone block he was whistllng
bnthely. 1t was impossible to be an
CRY on morning when the alr was
like amber, and the streets glinteu
with that downpouring of sunshine,
mat wealth of spring glory TOT Wnicn
san francisco has long been Famous
us buildings. as yet unto ucneo Dy US
. vas were sharply outl wega
hurrying schoolward, and Lorlng
threaded his way between their groups.
Look out, sonny" he laugheo; as
a small boy bumped into MIN. Dlo
you spill your flowers!
STOPPING, he gathered up the sea-
tered marigolds and replaced them IN
the child's chubby hand. 1t was then
that he caught sight OF a tai girl com.
ing down the street with a string OF
children following Something about
the way she walked and held her head
awoke remembrance in him.
"Why. Eileen" he cried.
For a moment the girl looked puz-
zled. Then she smiled. Mr. carter!
cratic country a girl does not call
young milIionaires by their first names
because she happens to have gone to
grammar school with them
Eight years ago you used to call me
Lorry." he reminded her.
Did II" Her gray eyes overlooked
with nirth 81 remembered that you
used to dub me Freckles! She tilted
up a chin as delicately white as porce-
what are you doing now, Eileen p"
isn't it rather obvious" she asked.
with a glance at her following, that
am teaching kindergarten"
"Clay pigeons, paper mats and all
Eileen nodded. Then they both
laughed.
If I come over tonight will you
show me how it's done?" he queried.
81 believe I've almost forgotten"
AS Eileen assented, she gave him
long look, with the inward comment
that he hadn't changed particle
since the day he used to steal her hair
A
wonder at the alchemy of the years
that had changed gawky. brown
pig-tai1ed school girl into this slen-
der, deep-eyed beauty. After this. at
least three evening a week found him
in the little apartment that Eileen
kept for her widowed mother and her
self The street was questionable
and noisy; but despite of it's crowded
shrillness Loring liked it, as he liked
the dusty eucalyptus tree that stood
l.
BILE things had come to stand to him
for signs and symbols.
One night as he fingered over his
after-dinner coffee on the broad
porch of his home overlooking the
lawn, his mother glanced at him with
sudden quizzical sharpness.
"Lorry.'' she burst out, docs 1t ever
occur to you that you're a great disap- |
pointment?"
She was pretty little woman, with |
4 peevish mouth, and nervous much |
beringed hands. Her voice held note |
Of accumulated wrongs.
"a great disappointment" she re-
terated
"You know quite WE'LL" she flashed.
I've spoken of it often enough, good
hess knows!'
you mean Grace Remston?" said
Loring.
II as IL she WASH an aCIraC-
i've girl" pursued his mother irrele-
yantly. "She's of good family, too.
And ten millions. And every one
1nows she's interested in you. I can't
tee why you don't marry her"
Loring set down his cup: 1t was
condolences, but apparently the time
lad come.
Because I have already made I'D
ny mind to marry some one else
His mother gasped.
"Lorry! My dear boy! oh. I hone
hes suitable. You're so prone to
overlook the really necessary qualif-
''she has beauty and grace and kind
less of heart" said Loring.
And her peopie?''
Her mother is a very estimable wo-
nan. Her father was the janitor of
he Myrtle street school,"
Then followed the scene which I-or-
ng had anticipated and dreaded. Re
'roaches, upbratdings and beseechines
n his mothers part; steel-like deter
nination on his own. Finally Lorine
ose.
II am going to Portland tomorrow
n a business trip" he said. land in
he meantime perhaps {
There is no perhaps about it." cried
Irs. Carter on the verge of tears. err
our father had lived he might have
cen able to manage you. But If you I
o against me in this everything is
yer between us-forever."
And next night. standing before her l
Mirror while her maid unfastened her !
inner gown, Mrs. Carter strove to re-
all the connection between a serpent's
both and an ungrateful child. The q
lst thing she remembered as she q
ropped off to sleep was determine
on to speak to the girl herself the
ext-she was standing dazed and ter r
or stricken in the middle of the street 8
ithout any definite knowledge of how .
ne came there. She was in male
Iue kimona, her feet in bedroom sin h
ers. Past her thronged white-lipped. ?
lsheveled men and women. The |
round was swaying beneath her feet