The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-02-10
TIE EVENING STORY
In Spite OF Aunt Merrivale.

IBy Ethel Douglas.1
Nancy started angrily as the porter
dropped a suitcase into the front seat
of her section, and Philip Graham fol-
| lowed him to the seat.
This is ungenerous," she said tensely
when the porter had taken himself on.
How did you discover that was COM
ing?" .-..,.
my protestations," said Graham SOBER
~. but I assure you that my surprise
equals your own. I was telesrapheo
for not two hours ago. I had just time
to throw q few things into the suitcase
and run for the train. was under the
impression that you were to remain
| with your aunt a week and that-last
night would make no difference in your
Last night had nothing to do with
It," disclaimed Nancy. Father wired
for me. I am afraid that it Is serious.
me with your arguments"
IT have already assured you OF my
entire ignorance OF your presence on
| the flyer" said Philip stiff1y. In proof
myself to the smoker until I am able
| to arrange an exchange Of seats with
the conductor"
He raised his hat and stalked forward
In the direction Of the cafe car. leaving
Nancy with her feelings sadly ruffied
Only the night before Graham had pro-
posed to her, and had been refused. She
| was certain that her aunt, Mrs. Merri-
vale, had managed to get word to Philip
that Nancy had been telegraphed for.
| His presence here was q part OF MIS-
| Merrivale's matchmaking plans.
Had she been left to herself, Nancy
would have accepted Graham, but being
a young person of spirit she declined to
forced upon her. From the beginning,
| Aunt Merrivale's plans had been too
| obvious.
They were flying through the yard
| now. She could not leave the train.
| OF course, Philip would be back later
to explain that he was unable to effect
| an exchange into another car. Proba-
| bly, he would spend the evening across
the section from her, and, unlike the
men. there was no place to which Nam
| cy could retreat.
| She was genuinely surprised when
presently strange porter came for the
suitcase, placing another in the seat in
its place. She smiled to herself with
| satisfaction. It was plain to be seen
| that she had shown Graham how she
1 had penetrated his plan, and he had ac-
knowledge his defeat. Idly she won
dered If he would leave the train at
Philadelphia, then mentally she scolded
herself for taking any interest in Philip
| Graham's movements.
They were well past Philadelphia
| when Graham passed her on his way
| to the dining car and Nancy rather adj
| n1ired him for his persistence in re-
naming away from her. At least he
was too clever to betray his disappoint-
ment that his ruse had failed.
The night had settled down, lights
were dull and reading was impossible
Nancy had answered the first call for
| dinner, and she resigned herself to
| idling the long hour until the berths
| were made up. The message calling her
home had been vague in the extreme.
more alarming. Her father might be
| dying for all she knew, and the thought
| bore down upon her.
She was peculiarly sensitive to moods
| and the atmosphere of the half deserted
| car was depressing. Through the closed
| door OF the stateroom at her back came
| the wailing cry of a baby, 70 which was
| occasionally added the more lusty note
Of growing child. Across the aisle a
| man played innumerable games OF soil
traie. the sharp whirr of the shuttle
| punctuating his granting, half audible
| comments at the run Of bad luck. Just
| ahead two women were discussing
| dressmaking in Shrill tones which rose
| above the steady rattle Of the train,
| and here and there some man leaned
idly back in his seat and turned his
newspaper with rustic that Jared on
nerves already on tension.
Nancy felt that she must scream
She had slept little the night before
after her interview with Philip, and
when at last she had been able to
doze off. she had reused to read
then until train time it had been q
steady confusion. and the meeting
with Philip in the car had added the
final touch to her nervous condition
AS he returned from the diner to
seek the car ahead. she half started
from her seat, but sank back in con-
fusion. It would never do to tell
Philip that she needed him. He
would think that she was seeking to
reopen the question Of last night, and
he would suggest that the need was
permanent.
But as the minutes dragged past,
Nancy's discomfort increased and at
last she signaled the porter and d.
rected him to go after Graham. The
porter grinned understandingly as he
went forward to the cafe car. and
presently returned with Graham,
whom he presented with the proud
air of accomplishment worn by the
magician who extracts a rabbit from
a hat.
"You are ill?" Philip asked with
grave concern, as he noticed the
drawn lips and the feverish sparkle
Of her eyes.
mot ILL" she explained. but I
shall be presently. If I have to sit
here and listen to the wailing of those
4 children, with no one to talk to.
thought - perhaps you wouldn't
mind doing a charitable act and talk
ing to me for little WHILE
philanthropy becomes a pleasure
when it assumes SO inviting a FORM
he declared with a smile as he sank
into the seat beside her.
| Graham was capital converse
tionalist, and almost before she real
lied 1t the porter had begun to make
down the berths, and Graham glanced
| at this watch. Don't go yet" plead
ed Nancy, and Graham smiled
at was going to ask permission to
wait until after the next STOP" he
said. I'VE can take a little walk on
the station platform and get a breath
of fresh air before we face the smoth-
er Of the berths."
ssThere's the whistle now" said