The Topeka state journal., 1908-03-16
THE EVENING STORY
The Week of Probation.
(By Martha c. Sanford.)

(By Martha c. Sanford.)
Dorothy's love affairs had come to a
crisis Three proposals In as many
weeks put. literally, a full stop to her
coquetry. A decision had to be made.
80 she composed form letter, brief
ana noncommlttal, and mailed a copy
70 each of the three anxious aspirants.
1t read as follows:
My Dear Mr..
Piease do not come to see me again
for a week or until I give you permis-
slon am thinking things over.
Very cordially yours,
DOROTHY BRETT
Not that Dorothy seriously meant to
do any tall amount of thinking The
week of probation would save her all
that trouble. The test would be sim
pie enough. OF the one whose alb
sence should make her heart grow
fonder-of that one. Dorothy would
| feel sure. She wondered dreamily
| ton SO commercially automatic. It
was SO silly to allow ones self to be
consumed for a prolonged period with
nerve-racking doubts and feverish
assume a passive frame of mind and
wait.
When Reginald Warren received
Dorothys laconic instructions. he
laughed long and confidently.
| SO Dorothy actually believes it's
mented. BLESS her heart, she shah
be allowed that privilege, il she wants
it. As If there could be the least
Right here Reginald broke off his
soliloquy and whistled, for in sorting
| over his mail he had come upon an
other envelope in Dorothy's handwrit-
| ing. It bore the name of Mr. Robert
Butler. but was addressed by accident
1 to Regina1d's street and number.
Reginald balanced the lette~ tenta-
1 lively in his hand. How many more.
| wonder?" he asked himself. "Shall
/ I forward it to Butler or return it to
| Dorothy?" In a misguided moment he
decided upon the latter alternative
| Dorothy was furious when the letter
came back to her: She recognized
ately consigned him to the oblivion he
deserved How did he dare treat her
| slip Of the pen humorously-for that
was what he had done, Of course. She
Of the penmanship. Had he been q
| gentleman, he would have forwarded
/ it to Robert and spared her the hu-
initiation of knowing what a telltale
| blunder she had made
| Robert Butler Of course profited by
his rivals hasty faux-pas-
| ", that is. For. receiving no warning
| to the contrary. he continued to call
| upon Dorothy and found her SO en-
| gaging1y gracious that his emotions
| SCARED once more to the point Of pro-
/ posal. simultaneously Dorothy's hos
pitality fell to the freezing point. ana
| the following morning she mailed
Robert his delayed ultimatum-
The week of probation went by with
| no word or sign from the third handle
| of Dorothy's overfull loving cup. This
"unpardonable negligence" piQued her
not little.
trouble to find out If really meant
it." she argued with proverbially femi-
nine logic. TITS positive proof that
he's Indifferent. Well. he'll find out
that I can be Indifferent, too. I'll
write to-I'll write to Reginald War
rem this very night and tell him
She took up her pen with an air of
4 determination. One beginning after
another was dashed boldly on. read
over with misgivings and finally dis
| carded.
Reginald himself interrupted these
spasm odic outbursts.
"Oh, I was just writing to you, Mr..
Warren was Dorothy's more or less
"Dorothy-my own" Reginald ex-
claimed jubilantly-
She saw the CLEAN of happiness that
lighted his eyes, and quickly drew her
| hand away from his ardent clasp.
sHow did you dare to come before ]
had written to tell you?" she asked de-
fensive1y.
Reginald laughed easily
I Il
write. dearest, and the week of my en-
forced absence is UP tonight. you
/ know"
The amazing assurance of this lover
I struck Dorothy dumb for the moment.
1t was as though the mans real char
| acter had revealed itself in flash. He
| had taken her answer for granted.
Dorothy's vaciI1at1ng little heart grew
| hot with rebellion and prompted her to
| take recourse in very daring strategy.
| 70 fa1 hot T
engaged to some one else," she an
nounced bravely.
| Reginald stared at her. Slowly the
situation dawned upon him.
| $50 Mr.. Butler is the lucky man,
! then." he answered sneeringly. ri did
| not realize that he was a rival until I
1 got his letter by mistake Doubtless
| that was your acceptance of him, Miss
Brett, that l remailed to you. I shall
! certainly take pleasure in congratulate
| ing him at my first opportunity. Good
night"
"No. no, wait!'' called Dorothy, as
soon as she could recover from the
shock of this mans anger. But it was
| too late.
| "Heavensl' she gasped. Suppose he
announces my engagement to Robert
| Butleri''
She rushed to the telephone and wait
as this Mr.. Butler? This is Dorothy
Brett What You recognized my
voice the very first word You were
expecting me to call up7' Dorothy
made very little face. well, just
| wanted to tell you that I am engaged
| to Ned Hamilton. What? You say he
denied 1t this very afternoon? Well.
you see I wanted to tell you about 1t
| myself Why. thank you. Mr.. Butler.
I'm sure we shall be. Come to see me.
Goodnight"
| Again Dorothy waited with the re-
u 1FAAa - ~
| time with almost dancing anticipation.
"Oh Ned, Is this really you? Where
| have you been all this week? 1t seems
a month. It's my own fault? Well,
Ned. could you possibly come over this
| to the theater? Oh, your sister! Good