The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-09
The EVENING STORY.
When March Winds Blew.
(By Virginia Blair.)

whirling the dust and debris in the
middle OF the street into a mad dance.
Down the block from opposite direc-
lions came girl and man. The girl
was all in brown trim walking skirt,
sable furs, tan shoes, a smart toQue,
and a chiffon veil, the ends Of which
were whipped this way and that as she
made her way against the wind.
The man. with his back to the cutting
blasts, walked rapidly, and just as the
girl was within few steps of him, the
mad March wind blew SO hard and so
strong that she stopped and turned her
back to it.
And SO sudden was her action that
the young man did not have time to
get out Of the way.
The girl gave little shrek in the
moment of collision He put out his
hand to steady her.
oh, you needn't mind" he told her,
tits only me-
She was pink with bushes, but she
said, haughtily, IT do mind
"Of course he agreed, gloomily. I'D
like to wipe myself off the face Of the
earth If it would do you any good"
You might at least avoid this block"
she told him.
He looked about him.
II beg your pardon he said: ''I sup
pose it is the effect of long habit that
makes me drift this way"
Not the habit of love-" he said, al
most f1ercely. Then his voice took on
tender note Catherine" he said, can't
you change your mind-and marry me9'
Il think" she said, very clearly, that
you are mad-as a March hare"
And why?" he asked, because love
you-?"
Because you propose to me at such
strange times and Places she cried;
the last time was in a department
store. just before Christmas, when I
was buying needles and pins"
And you made a pincushion of my
heart" he reminded her. land stuck 1t
full of sharp points,"
NO woman can respect man." she
flashed, who makes himself ridiculous"
He drew himself up, sharply.
80 that Is It." he said, slowly. 'We1l.
perhaps deserve it. But you must re-
member that when I first told you that
cared for you, 1 told you in your own
home and asked if I might speak to
your father. You didn't say no. and
you wouldn't say yes And when I
asked you again at the bachelors cotil-
lon, you still let me hope, and then you
wrote the next day that I was not to
visit you again. couldn't believe that
you meant i'll can't believe it now
He laughed, bitterly, and went on.
But if have lost your respect. it Is
hopeless. I shall never again ask you
to marry me- Catherine
Never" she faltered.
Never" he repeated, and for mo-
| ment he stood looking down at her,
then, with a gesture of despair, he went
on his way.
She stared after him, and started to
call, hesitated, and went slowly up the
steps of the great house before which
they had stopped.
"Of course 1 am glad to be rid of
him." she said, a half hour later, when
in pink dressing gown and slippers she
talked with Aunt Kitty. who always
understood. as J., a4 la
| Aunt Kitty was a woman of the world
Brilliant and glowing, she had stopped
in on her way to some afternoon func-
ton.
why are you glad?" Aunt Kitty de-
manded. He's fine fellow"
GATHERINGS lips were trembling
"Oh, Aunt Kitty she said, IT thought
he was but have found MIN OUT"
Goodness" asked Aunt Kitty, what
has he done?"
There is another girl Catherine
said slowly.
Hum said Aunt Kitty how did
you find it out?''
1T was the day after the cotillon,"
Catherine explained. He had told me
how he cared for me, and I-Iwas really
beginning to care too, and I thought
1t would be nice to surprise him. And
-and-and I thought I'd go down and
have lunch with him-and tell him"
well, of all things. CALCULATED
Aunt Kitty, 'fn these days of chaper-
ons!"
80 I went Catherine proceeded,
land all the way down town I thought
how glad he would be, and how II
would pour his coffee, and let him
order the things he liked, and how, in
after years, we would go there and eat
Inn ho nnfx
"Of course Aunt Kitty sympathiz-
ed.
"And as went up in the elevator,
was so happy that people stared,
but 1 didn't care. And when 1
reached the sixth floor I got off and
went into the grill room and started
for the table by the window, where I
knew he always sat-and then
"Was he there?" was Aunt Kitty's
eager question.
another girl with him. And he was
all devotion, and she was all bushes |
and smiles. And while they were wait |
ing for their order he went out ano |
came back with a bunch of vfolets |
and lilies of the valley and he pressed |
her hand when he gave them to her.
"Oh, my goodness said Aunt Kitty |
land how did you manage to see all |
that, child?"
There was little table by the |
fountain" Catherine explained. land |
1 could see him through the screen OF
palms, but he couldn't see me" and |
then she broke down and sobbed wild |
ly, with her head in Aunt Kftty's lap. /
Poor little grille" said Aunt Kitty, |
softly. There was silence for mo- /
ment, and then, all at once, Aunt Kit |
ty laughed in a perfect ripple Of gay
ETY..
Catherine looked up at her in
amazement. why, what" she
stammered.
"Oh, grille said Aunt Kitty, "dfo
YOU say it was the day after the CO.
tillon?"
"Yes" said Catherine.
what kind of hair did the girl
have?"
"Wavy yellow, with little curls