The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-11-07
The EVENING STORY
On Time.
CBy Jane Lee.)

paced the broad veranda of Greymere
inn.
Grace .O'Rourke was lovely at all
| times, but tonight her Irish-blue eyes
made her positively irresistible
Better join u.s." called Elizabeth
Dryer, as the latter left the porch es-
corted by a 1.-the youth.
1t was the night of the annual mid
summer ball given to the summer
| guests of Pine Grove Grace hesitated
for a moment.
oh, Julian will be along soon, Eliza
beth" she cried. Hes late as usual,
but Wen meet you at the dance later"
| Other couples followed the first but
still Grace O'Rourke, the belle of Grey
mere inn, paced the veranda- Finally a
mans voice greeted her.
| Il say, Miss O'Rourke," he suggested,
let me cut out that tardy Hawthorne,
| won't you? Come along to the dance
| with me-"
Again Grace hesitated Down in the
farthest corner of her heart she really
and truly cared for Julian Hawthorne,
| but he was never on time for any ap-
| pointment, and here was a choice op-
portunity to teach him a bitter lesson.
| Then, too Charlie Rice was a splendid
| dancer. 1mpulsively she accepted his
| offer, and half an hour later found
them in the midst of the summer crowd
dancing and apparently oblivious of all
else on earth.
The ball was at its height when
Julian Hawthorne entered the room. In
the doorway he leaned against the sill
as if physically tired and the lids hung
heavily over his black eyes.
| AS Rice and Grace passed him, lost
in the esctacy of a dreamy waltz, his
gaze followed the two closely and a
satirical smile spread over his face.
When the dance was over Hawthorne
| slowly crossed the room.
/ May 1 have the next dance, Grace?"
he asked without seeming to notice
Rice. who stood by her side.
! do you think you could be on time
to claim 2" parted Grace with sting
| ing sarcasm.
IT am here now, waiting" Hawthorne
answered as he extended his left arm.
If men but knew the power they
have over women who truly love
themi There was something within
! Grace O'Rourke that night which told
her to reject the arm he extended, but
that greater something, Love, made
her accept it. In another moment
they were whirling round and round
the room.
The night was warm, and when the
dance was half over they walked out
into the spacious grounds surround
| ing the big hotel.
| 81 want to tell you why l was late
tonight Grace" Hawthorne began.
but 1 don't want to hear" inter-
rupted Grace. tits always some ex-
cuse, Julian, and I'm tired of it all. If
Its not the office it's the train, and
it's not the train it's something else"
well. then, will you let me tell
you something else-something that
/ you've never heard before-at least
not from me?" he added.
"Oh, all right" agreed Grace; "only
make it a short story. for I've prom
ised the next two-step to Charlie
Rice"
1T won't take long to tell you.
dear" Hawthorne's voice seemed very
near. and he spoke slowly and with
great earnestness. 81 just want to try
and tell you how much I love you,
| Grace-how long l have loved you,
and that at last am in position to
ask you to be my wife
'1As usual, my dear Julian, you are
too late" announced Grace with as
lsumed nonchalance "I've just prom
ised to marry some one else"
| Hawthorne lighted cigarette and
said nothing If Grace expected a til
she was disappointed Hawthorne
was the type of man to take defeat
gracefully, but he did not fail to note
the unsteadinesS of Graces step as
they returned to the house. nor the
trembling notes in her voice when she
spoke.
He loved her well enough to know
her through and through. He was a
man who took few chances II life, put
he would have wagered thai Grace
O'Rourke loved him at that moment
despite her cool rejection of his suit
Hawthorne led her to Rice, who
was waiting to claim his dance. and
then went up to the smoking-room.
Long he sat and smoked in silence,
when suddenly he realized that the
dressing rooms were filed up with
guests preparing to go nome. me
dance was over A man suggested
that he smelled smoke, but the ldea
was laughed down.
81 guess it's Hawthorne's bitter
root cigar that smells ike hre, sang
out Charlie Rice, and the listeners All
laughed in reply.
Hawthorne slipped on his light over
coat and sauntered toward the closed
! door that led into the hall: He open
ed it upon curling cloud OF smoke.
At the same instant screams came
from all directions Men and women
were in pandemonium. Rice was the
first man downstairs-his one idea
being self preservation-but above the
roar of screams Julian hawthorne
voice rong out clear and loud.
siPlease keep back. Calm your
selves and no one will be hurt"
They gave him no heed Madly they
tore ahead, fighting like maniacs. All
made for the main stairway. Gowns
we're torn, arms were broken and
ankles sprained in the effort to get out
| If the burning building. Once more
Hawthorne raised his voice above the
| hum.
st beg of you'll" His voice stop
ned short, for clinging to his arm was
Grace.
'.Save me, Julian, dear" she
pleaded.
Silently he dragged her into one of
the dressing rooms, and opend large
door leading to back staircase.
i've tried to head them all off this
way. but they would not listen, But II
| / can save you. darling, I will have
been on time just once.
Grace gave his arm loving little
hug which meant more to the man
than all the words she could have ut
tered Close to each other they de-
scended the dark stairs which led
through the servants quarters. The