The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-09-24
The EVENING STORY
The. Panama Hat.
(By Harriet .Lummis Smith

young man in the panama hat glanced
over his shoulder in her direction.
Fhen, with surprising alacrity- he
Mnirleo ABOUT and the rapid removal
OF the papama revealed a well-shaped
mead and close-cropped dark hair
Wnicn chung, through many vicissi-
tuoes, to an unmistakable tendency
to curl.
AS the morning dew vanishes under
the fierce rays sof the midsunrner
sun. so the young mans expression of
JoyIul animation disappeared when
met by Genevieve's chilly stare. His
lower Jaw dropped. The color mount
ed from the top of his rather high
we've went on her way well satisfied
with herself
Il imagine he thinks me not quite
as unsophistfcated as he supposed
PROBABLY his intention was to sur
prise me into a bow and then to pre-
sumo on that to join me. And by the
Tune that had explained that 1 really
didn't know him we should be begin
ming to feel quite well acquainted. /"
She smiled again, with superior tri-
umpn' as she reflected on the over
throw of the plot. She wished that
Aunt Myra might have been an on
!ooker-Aunt Myra, who had ques-
toned the propriety of her taking the
short voyage unchaperoned
On the opposite side of the steamer
the Wearer of the panama hat leaned
upon the rail and darkly regarded
the blue water. The attitude, sug-
gestive of detection, gave Genevieve
the opportunity to steal furtive
chances at the motionless offender.
His clothes fitted well. AS far as that
was concerned, any tailor would be
inspired to do his best by such a fig
ure. Adorable shoulders" said
Genevieve so nearly aloud that it was
just as we'll that Aunt Myra was not
present.
At the expiration Of an hour Gene
We've had come to the conclusion that
the guilty young man who had ad-
dressed. her when she came on deck
was not an old offender. He had TAX
en- her rebuff too deeply to heart for
that. His interest in the chesapeake
bay seemed to undergo no dininution
after sixty minutes of incessant star
ing. Genevieve began to feel that pos
sibly she had been too severe. A look
of dignified perplexity might have
been enough without any OF the ruth
less, annihilating scorn before which
his self-confidence had shriveled.
Genevieve surprised herself in pity
ing sigh.
It was now time for the panama
to take hand. AS Genevieve's COM
miserating glance stole in the direc-
ton of the crushed and diSheartened
youth staring over the rail her chal-
1enge was accepted. With bird-like
owners head, evaded his clutch with
a dexterity that argued deliberate in
tention. 1t sailed across the steam
er's bow, lodging various agile per-
sons who attempted to intercept it and
continued in Genevieve's direction. On
reaching her it surrendered at dis
erection. Tame and obedient as g. pet
dog, it dropped into her lap, and
though Genevieve clutched it by the
brim. that was merely matter of
11a q a NJ m q
hat had no intention of going fur
Their.
The hats owner was not far be-
hind his property. There was a red
ness about him that was not due to
sunburn, but was not unbecoming. He
bowed, Genevieve reflected, with
feeling of Reorganization, like a
gentleman.
ST am very much in your debt"
said the owner of the panama.
mot at all, I'm sure" responded
Genevieve. Her tone was calculated to
a nicely; not friendly enough to en-
courage liberties in the presump-
tious, not chilling enough to disheart-
en- the timid and retiring.
Perhaps" the young man hesi-
tated, taking his property from her
extended hand. "I might improve this
opportunity to apologize for what
must have seemed a piece of rudeness
on my part"
sion as nicely calculated as her tone
had been. There was nothing about it
on which one could presume. yet 1t
was far from being frosty.
''As you came up the stairs, the
young man continued, twirling the
panama, 81 glanced over my shout
der and for some reason your face
looked extraordinary familiar. When
1 bowed I was under the impression
that 1 knew you
Genevieve's lips curled a little in
spite of herself. He would have done
better, she reflected, to stop with the
apology, the explanation was so poin-
fully weak. Trite to start with, and
m oreover-well, without vanity, Gene
We've knew that her type was not COM
mon
Certainly never was six-foot-one of
manhood so easily disconnected.
THANK you again." said the own
er of the panama in low voice, and
he turned on his heel.
But as he set his recovered hat
upon his head Genevieve caught sight
of something that made her start.
Three shining gilt letters fixed into
the inner leather band. "Oh. beg
YOUR pardon" she cried impulsively.
The young man did not hear her
and a fellow passenger checked him
in his return to his seat, Selling his
coat-tails. Lady amt dine with you
yet,' said the owner of the panama
looked back and saw tnaI IL was true.
He returned with an apparent re-
Iuctance Genevieve thought best not
to notice. Excuse me- she said
"but those letters inside
your hat are they your initials"
The young man stared and colored.
''Why-yes."
Like an algebra problem, aren't
they?" Genevieve persisted.
Apparently the young man wished
to show her that she was not the only
cCyFY
hauteur. 1.-THE popularity of my
name" said the owner of the pana-
ma, looking over Genevieve's head. ~is
4 misfortune in which the general
public
"The reason I asked" interrupted