The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-10-03
THE EVENING STORY
A Coffee House Courtship.
(By Philip Kean. ]

elevated station into the street that led
to the settlement. Fresh from her sum-
mer outing, her whole being rebelled
| against the squalor of the city street,
the clamor of shrill voices, the wailing
of babies in the fetid tenements.
| Life was too short, she reflected,
| passionately, to spend ones days try
ing to uplift ones fellow men. She
| decided that she would give 1t up, go
back to the fields and to the woods
4 all aflame with red and gold, and
| breathe Gods sunshine in freedom
| and content
/ And just then she met Roger Roove.
MY, but it's good to see you back
again." he said, ARE you on your way
to the settlement?"
Eyes" Ruth stated, "for the last
Time
He looked at her in surprise. For
| the last time, why?"
"Oh. it's such an eternal grind. try
ing to drag people up who want to
stay down, and trying to keep children
clean who want to be dirty. trying to
push back waves of the sea with a
| broom"
"Why, Ruth" (his tone showed his
intense astonishment) when you left
| us in the spring you were an optimist
and now you have come back a pessi-
mist-I believe you are joking"
mo I'm not" Ruth declared. I'm
! in dead earnest. This summer I've
been living up among the hills and 1
want to go back and forget the city
and these. hideous streets. After all,
why am I responsible? Why should
not 1 live a life of ease as we'll as
other people?''
He shook his head.
Don't expect me to answer" he
said, but something has changed you
awfully. And you might we'll tell
me what it is. because I'm going to
find out If you don't"
well, If you must know" said
Ruth, slowly. I've had a proposal"
| He glanced at her quickly, and his
| face took on graver lines.
Then you are in love?" he asked,
quietly.
I'm not sure" Ruth reflected,
whether I'm in love. but-oh. we
can't talk about it here. Roger"
mo, it is pretty public" he admit
ted, ''but / haven't any classes for an
| hour or two, so why can't we have
lunch together in the settlement coffee
| house?"
The coffee house, quaint and COM
Portable with it's Russian coppers
glowing red against the dark wood. its
smooth brick tiles, its somber tables
and chairs, brought forth an exclama-
ton from Ruth.
she said, as Roger drew out a chair
for her by the window and took a
80 you think of it as home ?" he
| asked, MS QdTk eyes iSA
sparkling face.
"Oh," her eyes grew startled. 81 be-
lieve do. minute ago 1 was so de-
pressed, and now-I think, 1t is the
spirit of the place that rests one,
Roger-to feel that these poor for
eigners can come here and find some
thing familiar in strange land of
strange customs.
Roger smiled thoughtfully as he
consulted the menu. But about that
| - L. It'd l =
"Oh, yes" Ruth slipped off her
gloves and folded her hands before
her on the bare table. ''The-the
man is rich. Roger. He has two
automobiles and a country place and
a house in town-and-and he sent
me a box of candy nearly every day
and flowers and books-and drove me
! through the country in his big car
and oh. had the time of my life
Roger"
I'm glad you had such good time
he said, OUTPUT we shall hate &c
lose you from here"
But you can't blame me-" she said
feverishly, surely you cant blame
me, Roger. I'm young, and I've giver
the five years since 1 left college to
work among the poor people of this
neighbQrhood, and my heart has beer
in it. and I've been glad to do 1t. But
! | now-oh, 1 want something of ease
:, L
He tried to speak lightly.
"You have earned it," he said, "anC
of course he man is-Prince Charm
ing
Ruth shook her head. mo. that:
. the trouble" she faltered. Hes no
II very young and not very handsome
; and he's very dictatorial, Roger
But you love him.
"Oh!' Ruth hesitated as the
waitress brought them their omele
h,1tter Then whoI
| they were along again, she said, L
don't believe love him, but love the
J things he can give me"
Roger flung back his head, hi
And you think you can be happ!
with a motor car and a house in towr
l and a complacent husband? Oh, Ruth
I Ruth where are your dreams?"
81 She stared at him with a pale face
: my dreams" she faltered.
i Eyes. The things that we planned
3 at college. We were to give our live,
: to others-separately at first, because
each of us must be very sure that we
wanted to live for humanity, and
l. married, and have our home in al
e | apartment near the settlement, and
carry on our work together
s They were alone in the dim cor
$ ner, and suddenly Ruth reached on
e her hand across the table.
"oh, Roger. Roger. she cried
4 why didn't you say that before
5 went away? Why didn't you. Roger
II thought you knew it," he said
a with his big hand over hers. "Hav,
Z you ever doubted 1t, Ruth ?"
I'll YES she confessed. "In thu
f spring when 1 went away I was 81
r tired-so tired Of bearing the burdens
4 of the unhappy with no happiness fo
i myself-and it seemed that-that i
= you had cared, Roger. you would hav,
e said, Let's bear 1t together, Ruth!''
8 And t. his voice was deep witt
emotion, 81 was 30 afraid that vol