The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-09-17
The EVENING Story
An Hypothetical Rival.
(BY HenrY WaIker

and discussed the situation calmly II
was altogether too torrid for heated
argument; if they felt any inward
tumuIt they vented it through their
ringers, rather than their tongues
she by pulling her palm leaf fan idly
TO pieces and he by ruthlessly strip-
ping the honeysuckle vine.
WHAT'S your objection to next fall,
Jean? I'm not quizzing you, you
know, but I do feel a sort of inner
sonal curiosity?''
Next fall! Why. it's August now.
and fall begins with September. and
then it's no time before it's winter,
and can't possibly fancy myself a
Sober, indeed! Matrimony doesn't
make people settled nowadays You
know you'll be on the go when you're
ninety-a little thing like being mar
REQ won't interfere with your tastes
You think so? I believe you're
quite sincere"
Thank your
But I'd feel bound to respect your
tastes and Observation-Disclosures.
AND, gradually you know, I'd fall into
the way of asking your opinion of
things and people, and adapting my
own to it; and then before I realized
it, I'd lose my individuality, and
And then what? I'm interested"
"Oh, of course when we began to
think the same about things, why,
naturally, you'd begin to bore me.
And you know when married people
begin to bore each other they're in
a very bad way-with so MANY en-
tertaining persons loose in the world"
He looked at her thoughtfully for
moment.
'I say, JEAN" slowly. st never
thought of that phase before There's
a great deal in that. 1t is a terrible
thing to be bored, even when the boree
isn't bound hand and foot. / suppose
one ought to weigh these considera-
tons carefully, and take no chances.
Talk about being bored! 1 am re-
minded. Suppose you were a young
fellow of some twenty-six years, the
average allotment of good looks and
talents, and a broken collar bone;
suppose you were shut UP to recuper-
ate in Vermont farmhouse without
relative or friend within eighty
miles-you must suppose glorious
weather outside of that farmhouse, as
you go. Well, suppose that young
lady Of unusual beauty. and charm;
and intelligence-golf intelligence and
fish intelligence, and canoe intelli-
gence-should suddenly drop fr@In
the sky-or rather from Burlington,
what would you do-even if you were
engaged? Come now, be honest!
wouldn't you fall in love with herr"
jeans fan lay quietly in her lap;
the little upward curves of her mouth
lent her smile a slightly strained look.
She gave an unconcerned shrug at his
question.
Burlington! I never heard Of that
corner of the world. And what was
this remarkable young persons name?
You never mentioned her before"
"Oh, surely you don't want particu-
lars. in this weather.! Your gloomy
are too adaptable. suppose that's
why we've liked each other so well.
Isn't it awful to think the qualities
that attract people before marriage
may be the verv ones to eStrange them
?"
lawful! Did Miss Burlington have
indelible opinions? Persons strongly
addicted to golf usually have"
you're not going back on golf. II
hope! Consider the Carwin cup! But
as I was saying, If an engaged man,
bored to a certain point, is so sus-
ceptible, why not duly welded in
dividual? It's only difference of de-
gree, you know"
UNFORTUNATELY I can't duplicate my
experience. I've never broken my col
lar bone, for one thing, and for an
other thing, the moment girl is en-
gagged all her masculine acquaintance
feel bound to make themselves so alb
surdly dull that she couldn't care Tor
them If she wanted to-"
"Do you suppose the poor fellows
try to be oafs?'' He spoke protesting
y, but his face wore the ghost OF
smile.
to do over again, I wouldn't let peo-
nIe know so soon. There's no reason
why a girl shouldn't enjoy herself"
'fWhy, Jean, 1 thought you were an
ticipating a hilariously happy winter
rye been mentally kicking myself for
to drag you away 10 oull olo
The smile was quite gone from
jeans face. There was suspicious
brightness in the dark gray eyes;
Eyes" he continued, leaning laz1ly |
back in his chair, 1--WE been playing
donkey I'd forgotten what 1t means
% be bored. 1 was even silly enough |
% think we'd enjoy long tramps in
ate october. and lonesome oreaA
owe March And-oh, dozens OF dull,
orosaic things. But, goodness we,o
lie of ennui before year was out!
She flung down the fan and rose
angry and hurt. the tears . Smeanih in-
human, I came out here to-to-ar-
.ange things-and-and you th-tnroW
hat Vermont girl in my face ana tnen
ell me I'm a borei YOU, she con-
inued her voice with an effort, go
1ack to Vermont! But she'll never
He could endure it no longer.
sForgive me, Jeani You know I've
lever seen another girl since you saio
might look at you! But I've set my
leart on this fall, and you're SO STUB
,orn."
she straightened and looked at MIN
ternly. He tried not to smlIe os,s
"Charles," she asked severely did
you lie? ?"
'aTo you'll" -,
.eWas there such a person? o.
ct never said there was-1 JUST sup,
posed a case. But, ! say, Jean' VIII
-ou make it October ?"
"Noi" She had reached the door
way September!
He heard her running lightly up
tairs. STOPPING. he picked up the
.a.-4i1o 4od ralnn fan and folded It's re-