The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-09-23
THE EVENING STORY
Dollars and Sense.
(By Joanna SINGLE \

LOOT ana relieved that perspirine
parIner OF his heavy suit cases.
Poor Porty,' he soothed wbim-
slcaIly. II marked you from the win
ooW and saw that the usual thing all
eo you. send you to work on case
ana you return with Girl writ large
on your plump, fair countenance.
was 1t so bad as all that? Lnou,
what she did to you. for vou,ra A eaov
poor BOY, but who was she this time 80
he pushed forward the biggest chair
and thrust cigar between Porter;s
"it1ng teeth. The two men smoked.
never mind, son, you always re-
cover. Some worthy tobacco. little
time and another girl, and-historv
case ?" 0u' lne
Dispositions all straight and fine:
good stuff" Porter answered brieflv
as he wistfully scrutinized his mari.
ner's fine, high-bred face. "Confound
you and your commiseration, KinRI I
neeo the commiseration. however.
lnat sure. But I must live to see
meet your Waterloo. You're vuIner-
aoIe somewhere. And you have not
met Rose Law yet. Fate is bringing
her here tomorrow to spend the sim.
mer with her aunt, Mrs. Morton. I
observe your finish. It's been due you
these three years"
NO; not till have something bet
ter than a pumpkin shell to keep the
lady In, Porty. Dismiss me. But tell
me what she's like. I'll have to hear
your rawlings sooner or later 1 see
Proceed"
Porter nodded affirmation. He
launched into his subject with a whole
neart. The lady's list of charms. and
their ERECT, was long. King was pa
tient. Finally, as all things have an
END, Porter paused for breath. which
he needed, being short and fat.
is that all? Finish at this sitting
m not always complacent with the
maunderings of a lunatic What else?
can't think of another single charm
myself"
1.-TWO more; she's rolling in dollars
her grandmother's And-rm no
dog in the manger-any one could see
she is Just the girl for you. Little and
fair and"
inelegantly. ST hate that sort of
thing, even from you. I'm not in the
market. And, you know, I'd hang my
self before I'd destroy my self-respect
by marrying rich girl. The dollars
That's all"
But it was not all, for Rose Law
came, was seen, and conquered. Porty
had not exaggerated. And Frederic
King, with the quick knowledge of
the man who has not desensitized his
heart by constant exposure, knew his
queen at sight. The Waterloo had
come.
That summer a silent battle was
fought Choosing the discretionary
part of valor, King carefully treated
Rose Law, accustomed to alteration,
as he did every other woman-with
gay, perfect, impersonal courtesy. It
was hard especially as society, like
knows a pair when she sees
1t. She was always his partner at din
ners and dances. at picnics and frolics
in InPA |,
devote himself to little Sallie Grey,
who had always openly flouted him
Then this refuge was taken from him
"a flash, too warm, in the child's
eyes bade him protect her from her
self
Rising to his lead, Rose played a
perfect support. Then she became
eading lady in his own play of friend
y Indifference. They were friends,
while the world wondered For, to wo-
men like Rose, men are lovers first.
Afterward they choose between friend
ship and the outer darkness. The
girls vanity was hurt, her pride
wounded. She was first amazed, then
angry. Then her heart was touched;
the began to suffer. Real love never
serted her. She became a silent, SEN
'itive thing, registering each day
some new impression of Frederic |
Kings fine face and voice, his little |
L 4ChS OIL II11IQ anu DOQY, MS strength
ind ability, his lovableness.
She became very miserable waking
1t night to see no good, no charm, in |
to suffer what she had made |
'thers suffer. She had not known |
hat love awakened and denied really |
hurts. She regretted her cruelties and |
'ecame so unwontedly gentle that be-
ore she knew it she had three more |
hearts laid at her feet She wonder
"a what others saw in her when she
vas powerless to draw the one
AS for King, the thought of the girl |
ave him no peace. He tried vainly to |
light her out Of his consciousness He
i'd not know that she cared for him,
tut he had an overwhelming impulse
o ask her If she could, and would,
are every time he came before her:
lie would hate her "wretched money"
nd devise wild plans by which she
night lose every cent so that he
night storm her heart. toll for her.
nd finally win for her her every
wish. His common sense fled. The
ortune became a nightmare and life
n emptiness.
One night he went early from the
1ortons', knowing that when the
arty should go out on the moonlit
awns he should seek ner and say that
Which he intended never to say. He
% longer trusted himself. He sat in
he dark consuming cigarettes and
ating himself for doing it. 1t was not
is way to ruin his health Intention
lily. Then Porter came putting in and
lung himself into chair. He knew he
vas not wanted and did not care. He
cyan to talk.
king, you precious donkey, I've
ooked your goose"
"And mixed your metaphors shame
essly Get out and let me alone
"You precious idiot" persisted
'orter, don't stick your stubborn
cad into the sand and imagine the
Torld is blind. You're selfish past
-ords. You think only of yourself and
ont mind whom you hurt. OF course
obody cares If you want to suffer,
ut how about-her? You chase af-
sr her, your eyes, like the moon fol-
wing the sun, in this fool friendship
anne which deceives no one. What