The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-06-12
Tm EVENING STORY
Seeking . Sign.
(By Mildred Coleman.)

SooRlng . Sign.
(By Mildred Coleman.)
Look Quit" warned Lefty. Its the
worst sort OF luck to spin a chair
around like thatr'
travis, who had been twirling a light
chair. hastily set ii down on all four
legs. This was not that he feared the
noodoo, but the CONSERVATION on
Lettys face Indicated her discomfort.
And to make Lefty unhappy was far
| tnest from his thoughts.
Don't set 1t down. shrieked Lefty.
You must turn the chair the other
way until you wind the bad luck
again."
Dutifully Travis wound up his evil
| fortune and turned to the girl.
Look here, Lefty" he pleaded, Tets
forget signs for minute and get down
to something more interesting than SUI
perstitions You told me last Friday
that might have my answer today"
Letty's face colored softly.
It's such bad luck to propose on FRI
| day.! she asserted solemnly.
80 1t seems" agreed Travis, "as 1t
has kept me In suspense since then.
| You know that I love you. dear, and
that it has always been my great wish
to win you for my wife. Is the an
| swer yes Letty?"
Travis, looking into the half-veiled
eyes, could read therein the struggle
the girl was having with her own heart
and then the gradual submission Of her
shyness to her love. He could almost
see the formation Of the word that
would bring to him the happiness he
sought, when with a little cry of terror
Lefty sprang to her feet, her eyes dt-
| lated with tears and her hand pressed
against the heart that beat so rapidly.
| Cant you hear it. Jim?' she cried.
| Hear what?" Travis strained his
ears for some time. yet nothing save
the faint flare Of brass instruments
could he hear.
TITS a funeral" exclaimed Lefty, "a
military funeral. and they are playing
a dead march,"
you would scarcely expect them to
play a waltz" reminded Travis. Dead
marches are written for funerals. you
| now -
| But think of the omen.'' persisted
Lefty. Tim. If I should say yes one
of us would die before the wedding"
TITS awfully kind OF you to save my
| life," said Travis with a smile that
found no reflection in his heart. Its
really good of you. Lefty, but I'm per-
/ fectly willing to take chances"
IT am not" was the answer in dead :
ened tones. Don't you realize what a
bad omen it is. Jim?"
1T certainly is bad omen If it
| means that you will not marry me just
because funeral procession happens
to be passing down the next street,
agreed Travis.
He did not argue. Lefty was adorable
but she was welded to a belief in signs
and 1t now looked as IL his avOwal OF
love had been rendered fruitless by the
funeral procession at the very instant
when he had read his triumph in heI
Ieyes Lefty loved him-that he knew
but it was useless to argue when she
was so obsessed by the fear of the
| omen.
1t was two weeks before Travis re.
newed his suit. In the interval he had
come and gone as usual. He and Lefty
had been to the theater and driving
but not a word had Travis breathed Of
the subject that was nearest to his
heart.
/ He found the girl that Friday after.
noon, sitting pensively in the window
seat.
II The soft breeze from the south blew
into the room the fragrance Of the
blossoms and the mellow sunlight
glinted on the yelvety green of the
growing verdure. 1t was an ideal day
and Lefty responded sensitively to the
promise of new life.
Almost before she knew that he had
entered. Travis had reached her side
and had taken her hand in his strong
grasp.
"rm going to make one last effort te
win my happiness. Lefty" he said soft
; ly. 'T have tried to accept your dictun
but I cannot see the value of your
superstitions. Won't you reconsider
dear?"
Letty's face matched the tints of the
pink and white apple blossoms she had
pinned in her blouse. as with hall
averted head she sought to combat heI
; superstitious fears.
From the next room came the rasp-
ing sounds of a photograph, and the
record was When We Are Married. "
1t had been Letty's favorite il the old
DAYS. and her eyes frightened as the
| efr inc horne
consciousness.
When to this was added a second
! sign as an itinerant band struck up
the wedding march from "Lohengrin.'
her doubts were fully dispelled. With a
little cry Of gladness she held out her
hands to Travis, who caught them in
his own.
A few minutes later a determined
tapping at the door reused them from
their dream of bliss. Letty's brother
Bob stuck his tousled head inside the
door.
IT say. Mr.. Travis" he began diff
IDENTIFY. you couldn't let me have that
quarter now, could you? The boys are
going down to the store to get the
baseball uniforms. and II I had that
quarter 1 could go with them"
Mr.. Travis does not owe you quar-
ter" said Lefty sharply. IF you want
money ask mother for 1t.
Sure he owes me quarter" main
tanned Bob stout1y. "I was comm
down the street an he told me If I'd
nut that old record in the photograph
and start it up pretty soon after he
came in he'd give me a quarter. He
was talking to the bandman on the
corner
"The bandman? And he told you to
, do that" asked Lefty with interest.
Bob nodded as he received a coin
, from Travis and then he vanished from
: the room.
| "Since you must have sign 1 made
!, INV own explained Travis, anxiously
searching her face.
/ "And I'm glad you did" said Lefty
: Simply her face still aglow with happi-