The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-10
THE EVENING STORY

(By Harriet Lummis smith,

Inc maze was located a few rods
from the hotel. its compact walls of
evergreen rising ten feet high The
little opening which revealed mar
row curving path possessed the I'M
uenlaoIe charm of mystery. But Let
uce, recalling tales she had heard of
tourists wandering for hours in those
intricate windings unable to find their
way out. was inclined to be skeptical.
us SO nttle," she criticised. II
imagined that a maze would cover
acres" SoNel
inwardly she felt convinced of her
ap1iity TO walk triumphantly TO the
center and out again. She looked at
the clock 1t was three-quarters of
an nour oeIore the coaching party was
10 start. Bigger things than the con-
quest OF a maze had been accom-
pllshed in that time
Lettlce stepped through the OMEN
ing into the narrow path with its high.
green walls, promising herself that
sne, would turn back before there was
any hkeIlhood of losing her way. And
almost on the moment she forgot that
possibility. The path was so mar
row tnat the most amicable pair
could not have walked abreast. The
oense foliage of the evergreen was
Iraple as granite. Overhead was the
blue California sky, and the breeze
was weighted with the odors of nm
counted millions of blossoms.
What delicious place!" thought
Lettuce. The big outside world was
no longer in evidence. She seemed to
herself a solitary pilgrim, following
IlIe's winding paths, not knowing
where they led. satisfied with
glimpse of the Sky overhead and the
doors of unseen flowers.
IN this peaceful, almost
re Il T
turned corner and came face to face
with young man. And the en-
counter was sufficient to work an i'm
mediate change in the current of her
thoughts. She swayed against the
wall of evergreen as if about to fall.
Jack" she murmured family.
"Lettice!" cried the young man.
and his tones were rapturous.
AS he advanced with outstretched
hands Lettice drew herself up. A sud
den amazing dignity radiated from her
slight figure. An expression of ex-
treme hauteur replaced her previous
look of agitation.
Il beg your PARDON said Lettuce
gazing at some indefinite object over
the young mans head. II am afraid
you misunderstood me-
The young man might have replied
that the break in her voice and her
sudden pallor were sufficient excuses
for the indiscretion into which he had
been betrayed. He did nothing of the
kind, however. He only stood and
looked at her as if, even at her haugh-
test, the sight of her rejoiced his eyes.
IF you will kindly let me pass"
continued Lettuce, and the young man
obligingly f1attened himself against the
wall of foliage. But owing to the mar
rowness of the path her arm brushed
his sleeve as she swept by, and some
thing in the contact weakened her
resolution. She felt the tears rushing
to her eyes and her knees were I'M
steady.
Suddenly she decided that she hated
mazes and all that pertained to them.
She would hurry back to the hotel and
lie down for a few moments before
the coaching party. She was absurdly
nervous and unstrung. Still, she ex-
cused her weakness on the ground that
there is something disconcerting in the
sudden apparition Of a person whom
you have every reason to believe thou
sands of miles away. If by any chance
you have ever been engaged to the
person in question, that, of course,
adds to the complications.
Lettuce quickened her pace. She
walked with a rapidity that brought
the color to her cheeks and rendered
her GREATNESS She was rejecting that
she did not realize she had followed
the winding path so far, when she
again found herself face to face with
the young man whom she had met ten
minutes before. On this occasion,
however, she did not cry "Jack!" nor
give similar indications of weakness.
She drew back, and looked him over
with an air divided between surprise
and contempt.
"If you will allow me to say So"
Lettuce began, At should hardly expect
you to take advantage of the situation
to dog my footsteps in this way"
And If you will allow me to say So
returned Jack. with more spirit than he
had evidenced on the previous occasion,
'it Is like your customary injustice TO
accuse me of such a thing. So far from
logging you, am only interested IN
getting out of this wretched place..
".Perhaps you will allow me to pass,
then" said Lettice with great dignity.
Certainly" Jack replied. Again he
Aattened himself against the evergreen
and again Lettice swept past him.
Your customary injustice!" What
.disagreeable phrase it was. and yet
nerhans not undeserved! She had con-
de-,ned him unheard. Possibly if she
had given him a chance to explain, the
mast two years would not have been so
diffcult and sad. To smile when your
heart is heavy. to laugh when signs are
crowding to your lips, to hide pltter
regret under the pretense OF gayety Is
NOT an easy programmes " ~oAAJ 49,
Iettice gave way suddenly to the lux
urv of self-pity. and the binding tears
ran down her cheeks.
Half an hour later young man.
flushed and frowning, came face TO
face with a young woman who held her
bandlrerchief to her eyes. Both stood
still. The only break in the silence
was a little muffied sob. and at the
sound the young mans face contracted,
as if he were in pain.
"Letticer' he exclaimed. % Lettuce!
Why are you crying?'
II was a moment before a stihed
voice replied: Because 1 can't find my
rs that alp" This time the silence
was longer than before. rs that all!
lack hesitated. Tell me, dear.
50 faint that Jack bent his head to be