The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-05-28
THE EVENING STORY
When Ben Sailed In.

(By Harris Ingalls.)
"Come on out" pleaded Drakin. |
There is only myself and the missus |
out there. I'll guarantee that you viii
not have to speak to any one 2else."
Ben Hubbard paused irresolutely.
then he turned and suited his pace
to the shorter steps OF his friend. |
Drakin beamed.
There's the sensible boy" he said
approvingly. Ell bet that you ask
me to have your things sent out IN
the morning SO you can stay week
or two-the longer the better"
Hubbard shook his head and as.
sured himself that single night
would probably be enough. It was
only year since Tom Drakin had
married, and probably he would be
bored by their absurd billing and
cooling.
It was only for Toms sake that he
was coming out for the night. and
only the fact that there would be no
other woman there was his reason for
going at all. Probably Mrs. Drakfn
would insist that he come again and
would promise him an Introduction to
some friends OF hers who would be
just the one he should marry.
Hubbard was used to that.
Bessie Grandin's enthusiastic ef-
forts to marry him to q cousin OF
South America. He had announced
that he would write a book on the
flora Of the Argentine republic. but his
real reason for fight was the fear that
Mrs. Grandin would make good her
threat to marry him to Helen Wilson
in spite Of himself.
For years Hubbard had lived in
fear of marriage. He was not exactly
q woman hater, but an excess OF
timidity left him stammering and
afraid in feminine presence. and he
had come to have mortal dread OF
matrtmony; so great dread that
more than once he had fed from some
enthusiastic matchmaker lest he be
led, protesting but helpless. to the
altar.
But he was Just back from the
South American trip and hungry for
the companionship Of his fellows. In
that frame Of mind he had run across
Drakin, who had once been the
geologist Of an expedition of which
he himself had been botanist.
They had had lunch together, and
Drakin had urged him to spend the
night with him that their talk might
be continued.
Drakin lived in small suburban
ing1y the neat little cottage they APP
preached, even though a woman in
something f1eecy and white stood on
the porch to welcome them. Drakin
had gone to the telephone booth at
the station to announce their COM
ing and had emerged from the booth
very red and confused.
Hubbard hoped that his coming
had not been the cause OF the con-
fusion. He knew that there were
times when things in the kitchen went
wrong and when visitors were not
welcome. He had suggested as much
to Tom, but the offer to return to
town had been hooted at and Tom
had laughed immoderately to cover
his confusion at the discovery OF his
embarrassment
But there was no embarrassment
in Mrs. Drakin's face as she made
him welcome. There was only IN
terest and cordial friendship and Ben
was surprised to find himself rather
envying his chum.
OF course Tom had been exception
ally fortunate in finding such a wo-
man, but as Ben tumbled into bed
some hours later he told himself that
were there two such women he
should like to marry the other.
They had sat talking until late in
the evening. and when Ben finally
woke he discovered a note on his
dresser, in which Tom explained that
| it was necessary for him to go to the
| city on business, but that he would
return in the afternoon and bring him
| the trunk Ben had sent to the hotel.
Ben wavered-and was lost. He
| slowly dressed and went downstairs to
| find Mrs. Drakin sitting in the dining
room waiting for her guest to come
| downstairs.
| planned as she poured him his coffee.
HE had to rise at such an unearthly
hour to make the train that we de-
cided to let you sleep. He will be out
on the 4:10, and in the meantime I
am solemnly bound to hold you here
lot oil ho0 ri nm N
| forgive me If you should be gone be-
| fore he came back"
"You couldn't drive me away" de-
c1ared Ben, gayly. "I'll be well con-
tent to sit out on the porch and just
| think how lucky was to run into
Tom yesterday afternoon
| ''I'll take my sewing out and we can
chat as I work. suggested Mrs.
Drakin. and presently they were estab-
lished on the broad piazza. To his sur
prise Ben found himself chatting with
| his hostess as freely as though she
| were a man and not one of the dread
women.
Tom came out as he had promised
| and Ben frowned as he caught sight of
| his friend perched on the seat OF an
express wagon in which was his trunk.
Nov you've got to stay" announced
Tom. 1--WE shall hold your trunk like
they do in the hotels If you try to
escape u.s."
L luluk tAls1t you Woulu oc WISE ~
ship me and the trunk back to town."
said Ben seriously. but Dralkin hooted
down the suggestion, and when Mrs.
Drakin added her intreaties to Toms
| he gave in and the trunk was taken up
to his room.
That night when Ben put out the
light he did not jump into bed, but
long after the rest Of the house was
quiet he sat by the open window. look
ing across the moonlit fields and won
derfng what he should do. :. fs.,i
OF one thing he was certain He was
| in love and in love with his friends
wife at that. What was more, it had
seemed to him that as she had bade
him goodnight and had told him that
she was glad that he had decided to