The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-15
The EVENING STORY
Bad Beginnings.
(By Brian Cahill.)


train on the branch line over which
he committed to town had blocked the
tracks and he had been forced to
tramp two miles across country to
reach the trolley. Arriving after ser
les of transfers, he found Benton's
card on the floor beneath the letter
drop. with the penciIed legend that he
was going out of town.
The deal Eddowes had been working
on would not hold out until Benton's
return, and he gritted his teeth as ne
thought of all the commission on the
transaction would have meant to him.
1t would have made up the sum
needed to complete the purchase of the
little house he wanted to offer Edna
Conant as a home, and it might mean
year now before another such Drill
liant opportunity would offer.
He glanced out of the WINDOW
through the light, driving rain, at the
sodden vista of wet roof-tops ana
smoke-stained buildings. and thought
how we'll the weather matched MS own
feelings. For months he had peeh
working to close the real estate tra aasa
action. Benton was to be at the once
at ten to put the final details through,
and now he had sailed for Europe ana
would not be back for several montns.
1t was the final happening OF cndih
of accidents that had begun with ms
stubbing his toe as he got out of bed,
followed by the loss of his last coliar
button under the bureau. the burning
of half his breakfast by a green ser
want girl, and then the wreck ana It's
attendant discomforts.
He turned from the window with
SILVER.
'"This is fine beginning for the
week" he said to himself. "1f 1t keeps
up this way until saturday Shall
land in the lunatic asylum.
He took his seat before the desk and
busted himself with the papers in the
Benton matter -Four signatures and
the exchange of check would nave
made the set complete and would have
brought him a commission of $4,000.
Everything had been arranged to ex-
pedite matters. Benton had waited
half an hour in the hall until he had
just time to make the steamer upon
which he was to sail.
Eddowes carefully clipped the pa
pers to a file board and caught up his
umbrella. There was no chance of any
other caller during the lunch hour,
and the loss of his breakfast and the
tramp across country had put an edge
on his appetite.
The streets were filed with the
usual hurrying throng, and, raising
his umbrella, he fell in with the pro-
cession of moist and steaming mortals.
The wind had freshened and the rain
was driving in sheets now. At the
corner by the trust company building
the air currents were unusually strong.
and just as he passed the curb. girl
ahead made a clutch at her umbrella
as 1t turned inside out. while the torn
silk f1uttered from the bent ribs. Ed
doves covered the dainty hat with his
own umbrella and steered her to the
protection of the entrance.
LET it drop in the gutter he said.
There is no hope of saving any part
of it,
Harry" gasped the girl. where
did you come from?"
From the Office" he laughed.
What brings you downtown, Edna ?"
"I was to meet father for lunch"
she explained. He was called to an
important conference and left word
for me to go to luncn alone. was
going home. / am so perfectly miser-
a BILE. Everything has gone wrong to-
day. 1t has been chapter of acct
dents ever since I rose
Lets be miserable together" he
suggested. Come and have some
lunch and We'll tell each other our
troubles
He led the way to a little place
where the service was excellent and
the prices moderate. Here, at little
table in the corner, she detailed her
chapter of accidents, while he, in turn,
CAV a whimsical account of his own
mishaps.
1--WE are companions in misery" he
that it has done me good to pour my
tale of woe into sympathetic ears"
IT know that it has done me good
to- share my burden she said, with a
look that made Eddowes's heart beat
the faster. I'm sorry about that deal
you lost"
''It meant a great deal to me- he
said, mournfully. IT was going to pur-
chase the Gordon place"
For Investment she asked,
ey11a In
said once when she had visited his sis
ter how much she would enjoy a place
like that for her home.
"An investment in happiness" he
said meaningly. ''I suppose that the
place will be sold long before 1 am
able to get another deal like this
rs your happiness entirely depend
ent upon that one placer" she asked.
"Is happiness a matter of real estate ?"
"Real estate contributes materially
to happiness he said with an uneasy
laugh "I should not want to offer an
home to the woman 1 want
to marry"
Homo is what you make it, she re-
minded him. There is Jessie Bruce.
They only have four rooms in an
apartment house, but they are per-
fectly happy and content. George had
the courage to ask Jessie as soon as
he was certain that he could make
both ends meet in small way. He
did not wait to build a palace. If a
woman loves a man, she does not mar
~ him because he is able to offer a
pretentious home"
would you marry me with the little
I have TO offer?" he asked. "It was
you I thought of, DEAR
Her hand crept across the table and
stole into his own. "Of course, I n
you asked me-" she assented |
with a happy little laugh, "but 1 am |
afraid that you are going to let pride |
keep you from happiness"
IT was going to-" he admitted, "but |
this little visit has done SO much to |
give me fresh courage that 1 realize J
more than ever how much 1 need you.