The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-05-08
THE EVENING STORY
Angels Fad.
Py Anna Munson.)

name, ana the d1mlnutive of angel"
bestowed upon him by doting mother,
was Wei applied. At least this was the
opinion OF other tenants In the big
burungton apartment house.
Angel was eight years old, but he
scarcely looked six with his long gold
en- curas and ethereal beauty. In his
velvet suits he suggested some child OF
the Little Lord Fauntleroy period held
over Into an age OF Buster Browns.
MIS- Moutrie was possessed OF q
theory that as the child is named so
the tastes incline, and she had set her
heart upon his being painter
Angels splotchy water colors were
carefully preserved In a huge portfolio
against the day they should become
the priceless menaentoes Of q world
famous painters youth.
The only child Of widowed mother.
Angel was about as badly spoiled as
boy could be and yet escape the reform
school; but his seraphic couutenance
and his big innocent eyes had enabled
him to successfully lie out of compile
ity In many Juvenile crimes. Though
the small boys Of the block Invariably
explained that Angel was the instigatOr
of all the mischief, even their own fond
mothers believed them to be in con-
fspiracy to destroy the fair fame Of the
model child.
Angel, was quick to perceive his pop
ularfty, and with unerring instinct he
found his way to those apartments
where candy and cake were to be had.
He seemed to know when callers with
offerings of candy had visited the diff
ferent young women, and his own calls
| were scheduled for the following day.
| His one exception was Mamie Dim
mick. Mamie seldom entertained call
| ers of the sort Angel most approved.
No f1ve-pound boxes of sweets lay upon
| her table, and no great masses Of flow
ers scented the room, yet Angel liked
| best Of all to visit at the Dimmick
| apartment for there was a certain ten
] derness in Mamie Dimmick's manner
of which Angel approved most highly.
"She always looks like she's going to
cry" he had told his mother in an en-
deavor to discuss the girls peculiar
! charm. "She looks like she's going to
cry-but she doesn't; she Just holds you
tight in her arms and you feel glad
and sorry all at once"
| Clearly this blending of emotions APP
pealed to Angel, for he was regular
visitor to the Dimmick apartment and
the girl found odd comfort in his pratt
| tie.
| Mamie sorely needed comfort, for the
| look Of sadness in her eyes deepened
as the weeks sped by with no word
from Arthur Ryder. When he had
come to her with his face af1ame with
happiness to tell her that he had found
his chance at last; that the firm had
| decided to send him on a tour of the
/ African and Asiatic countries to intro
duce their wares. 1t had seemed that
fate with kindly hands, had swept
barriers from their path.
'It will be the making of me-" Ar
thur had explained. ct start at Cape
Town and work up the east coast of
| Africa, then cross to Asia and SO up
to China. 1t will take about eighteen
months, but, If I make a success shall
be taken into the firm and we can be
| married. dear"
| Mrs. Dimmick had refused to listen
to an engagement. Time enough for
that when Arthur came back she had
! told them. An engagement of a year
and a half would be worse than. USE
| less. ' g. - --'''- -'ss'A
It would deprive Mamie OF many
pleasures, and no formal engagement
was really necessary. If they both were
Of the same mind when Arthur should
| return there would be no opposition to
a short engagement and an early mar
| riage.
And so Arthur had gone on his long
Journey with gladness in his heart. for
Mamie had assured him that it did not
need the formality Of ring and an
nouncement to ratify the promptings
of her heart.
First had come glowing letters from
London and from Cape Town. letters
that breathed Of hope and love. Then
blank silence. For more than q year
not a letter in the familiar handwrit-
ing had been received, though an In
curry at the office of the firm ELECTED
the information that Mr. Ryder was
not only alive, but exceedingly well,
according to his reports to the home
) office.
;: Mrs Dimmick had stormed at what
she had termed his discourtesy, but
Mamie would not listen to her mothers
urgings that she go more into society
and forget the affront.
In spite of everything she still loved
| Ryder. though pride forbade her to
confess the fact even to herself, and
stir of social events. She preferred to
slap at home and tell Angel the fairy
stories in which he delighted.
She was telling for the hundredth
time one Of his favorite tales when
Mrs. Dimmick came into the room with
an envelope.
"A cablegram for you" she an
nounced coldly.
with trembling hands Mamie opened
the blue and white envelope and drew
out the slip. Her expression changed
as she read.
!. .It is from Arthur she said quietly.
"He is sailing from Japan"
Much good may it do him." was the
unsympathetic reply. This Is nice
time to hear from him. It's more than
a year since he stopped writing. ]
suppose that you will let him give you
some f1imsy excuse and be as crazy
about him as ever
lit will take very excellent excuse
to explain his long silence" said Nan
ME DULY. Unless he has some legiti-
mate reason to offer I shall refuse to
see him.
Gently she put Angel from her LAP
J and slipped off to her room. Angel
! munched the last of the little cakes
brought in for his refreshment and took
his departure.
Some weeks later Angel. playing
| about the lobby, observed q stranger
!. enter and drew near to the telephone
, desk to learn his destination. Angel
{ was interested in young and good
looking strangers as possible increase
| in the number Of purveyors Of candy.
His face took on an expression OF