The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-08-31
THE EVENING STORY
what's i'm a Name?
(By Martha Cobb sanford.)

Just ahead of her. Barbara King caught
sight of Bertram Mathews. Thanking her
lucky stars that he had not caught sight
of her first, she darted through the open
doors of the library building and rested
for a few minutes against one OF the large
marble columns in the lobby
After she had given Mathews plenty Of
time to pass she ventured to the door and
cautiously. Heavens. He
had turned around and was coming
straight toward the library. Barbara
bounded up the stairs like an antelope
and disappeared
With no appartnt signs of haste or
purpose, Bertram Mathews followed her
lead. At the top Of the broad flight OF
and leisurely scanned the long empty cor
ridor.
AS there was nothing to indicate which
way the golden-haired vision had fled.
he started on a lazy stroll through the
maze of special reading rooms, sure of
finding her somewhere.
1t was clever of him, he unused, to
have crossed Barbara's trail without her
knowing it. He smiled at the thought
Of her blushing surprise when he should
unexpectedly stumble upon her. What
would she say to him?
He was aware that he was deliberately
forcing Barbaras answer, after yielding
to her entreaty for an interregnum OF
courtship which would terminate only
by strictly accidental meeting. But it
had been two whole weeks since he last
proposed to Barbara, and human re-
straint has its limitations!
Barbara didn't blush. however, nor was
she the least surprised when Bertram at
last discovered her in the secluded nook
reserved for legal reference. So absorbed
was she in reading a popular fiction mag
azine that his presence failed to estao-
lish that telepathic communication pro-
verbally supposed to exist between lovers
Bertram. his eyes dancing mischiev-
ously, tiptoed daringly near her and then
passed out to the catalog files Lifting
down the drawer labeled ''Ba," he ran his
fingers rapidly over the cards until he
found two titles that evidently suited him.
With punctiliouS elaboration he copied
these on a little printed slip, and after
filling in the blank spaces prepared for
the readers name and seat number, hand
ed 1t in at the delivery desk and waited
developments.
Before long, a small freckled-faced page
in brass-buttoned uniform tripped by him
toward the legal reference room-one
small book under his arm. Bertram fol-
lowed at safe distance.
lone of ems out, miss" announced the
page. indicating with a grimy finger a
Cancelled title on the slip of paper which
why Men Remain Bachelors read
Barbara aloud solemnly. and beneath it,
Bachelors Guide to Matrimony" But
I didn't order either of Them, she in
formed the page indifferently. There
some mistake
Amt that your name and number,
miss?' he had the impertinence to ask
her.
Barbara examined the slip more close
ly., .'B Mathews" it read. Seat 15 lie.
suspiciously. There was only one other
occupant and that was not .B Mathews.
Well; is it, or amt IT, dema n,1 the
page, his tone. suggestive OF dangerously
overwrought forbearance:
us what?'' asked Barbara vaguely.
We'll. by thunder e5a;c1lateeF6 the oil
know yer own Manner
"Of course I do" Barbara answered him
with childlike naivete, but I shan
tell you, you little imp, so run away"
Then yer can't have the book" Brass
Buttons retaliated. as he marched OH
with the Bachelors Guide to Matri-
Barbara watched him out of sight and
then straightway forgot all about him In
the thrilling occupation Of scribbling in
various styles of chirography. Barbara
Mathews. Mrs. Bertram Mathews, Mr..
and Mrs. Bertram Mathews" etc., on the
page margins of her magazine.
whats in a name?' commented a
masculine voice suddenly over her Shout
der.
Barbara blushing pink to the tips of
her ears. closed the magazine with a
bang, tucked it under her arm, and start
ed to beat an indignant retreat; .,o
were only empty chairs for witnesses
playfully barred her exit Round the ia
bles he chased her in a scain1 S L un-
as well as ears. surely the forbiddlng
legal tones on the surrounding bleach
ers' had never before been spectators to
anything so indecorous.
Covered at length, beyond hope of es-
cape, in a decoy ending in a dormer win
dow on one side and thanked by project
inc hook shelves the other two. BAR
bara faced her pursuer with wildly
you 1 aren't playing fair" she accused
him breathiessiy. you've broken your
promise. Bertram Mathews. This ism t
accidental meeting at all; It's is anv van
can't deny it, because I saw you out in
front of the library. That's-thats why
It was with difficulty that Bertram re-
Trained from breaking into laugh-but
Barbara was too much in earnest to de-
SYou deliberately ran away from me,
Barbara-was that playing fair?" ques-
toned Bertram.
but L couldn't tell you'll mean we
couldn't talk it over out there on the
street. 1t would have been SO unronan-
tic and-and such a stupid anti-climax."
Whatever Bertram had on the tip OF
his tongue to reply was momentarily
checked by the passing in and out OF an
unsvmpathetic group OF curious sight
OF bridge over the interruption, Barba-
"a pretended to be absorbed IN watching
the glow of the sunset.
SIt Is beautiful. isn't it?' she asked
dreamily as soon as they were alone
again.
9'GIoriousv' answered Bertram fer
vently. his gaze never leaving the sun
flecked waves of her hair.
but you can't see it, silly. Turn
around"
AS he didn't turn, Barbara faced about
to learn the .eason, and catching his
IoolS of undisguised alteration. lowered her
eyes before it. her self-possession utterly
vanquished. u,
80 sweet. tantalizing Barbara King,
he pleaded, lam L never to know II you
really love me? Won't you give me
some little bit of hope to warm the cock
les of my hearth
For answer, Barbara suddenly surren-
zine. which up to this time she had guard
ed iealously from him. - -.