The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-09-06
THE EVENING STORY
Through the Little Blue Door.
(By Virginia Blair.)

across the way. and entrance wa.
made through blue door with g
brass knocker. We had lived in oul
own little cottage for three weeks
and had seen no one go out or in.
There must be some other en-
trance" Julia said.
But there isn't 1 declared, pos
itively.
And they can't be away" said
Julia, because we can see lights in
the tower windows"
Yes I said. land the rural deliv-
cry carrier unlocks the box and takes
out the mail every morning, so there
must be come one who writes the
letters
''wen, I'll ask him." said Julia,
promptly.
But the mail man knew nothing.
IT just take out the letters" he said,
land puts the mail in. but I never see
a SOUL
How are the letters addressed ?
Surely you must know whether a man
or woman is shut up there"
Nom, the man protested, stolidly,
'the letters just say Marion Fuller.
neither Miss or Madam or Mr."
''Of course it's a woman" 1 said,
when the carrier had gone.
''Why?" Julia asked
Because a man would have to
cook for himself and all that"
And no man who could help it
would want that name. Think of a
man named Marion"
I'm thinking of one named Jack. ="
I said, regretfully. eff he were only
here, Julia"
Then Julia turned on me, wrath
fully. That's always the way" she
said, mo matter what try to say you
always come back to Jack. You en-
gagged people always harp on one
string
Silence reigned for moment, and
then to break the ice 1 began. I'm
NV
dark"
How can you watch anything af-
ter dark"
Its moonlight" I reminded her,
land I could certainly see the out
line of any one who came out"
That night. as 1 sat on the porch, 1
shifted. Julia 1 said solemnly, do
smell onions?"
Julia's aristocratic nose was ele-
waited. "Onions it is" she said
''They are a delicious combination
with something" I said. ut is the
nearest thing to a fish chowder that
have known since the days of shore
dinners
where would they get their fish ?"
Catch 'em," 1 said briefly, any
one who would drop line from that
stone wall on the other side could fish
in the river"
ST think that If it is the fragrance
of fish chowder that is being waited
toward US on the evening air, that
the tenant behind the blue door is
man"
And even as I spoke, the blue door
opened, and a young man came forth
carrying a steaming dish.
"Well, of all things" said Julia
under her breath.
The young man came UP the steps.
nRiQhhOT.P
land I thought that this
,howder might be my introduction.
It is most exclusive recipe. which l
have shared with only one friend,
Jack Carson"
I sat up straight. "Jack Carson" I
exclaimed, "why he is-he is"
1.-The man you are engaged to, ex-
actly,'' said the young man with the
,howder. This morning 1 had let
.er from him, saying that you were
in the neighborhood. I
Knew from the description that you
we're the young ladies next door, and
felt that his letter and this chow
Ter would constitute sufficient in
myself" and he handed me Jacks
etter with a bow.
And while 1 read it, 1 heard Julia |
ay, $50 you are Marion Fuller?"
II am" he said. WHY
dimpling and sparkling.
The name is $3.50 feminine"
"But now that you have seen me ?"
le questioned.
'T shall not think of you-at ALL
he said
sstay me with chowder," he plead
d, comfort me with he held the
ish out toward me. you'll accept
7, won't your"
Indeed l Will, l SAID, promptly,
and you shall tell me how you came
D make a Robinson Crusoe of your
elf behind the blue DOOR"
I led the way to our little dining
DOM.
air hands"
The chowder was delicious. and the I
ig man at the head of the. table
arved it with a lavish hand. G
That was the beginning of our good
ellowship, but it was three weeks
efore Marion confessed why he had {
nut himself behind the blue door,
nd in those weeks he had fallen
opelessly in love with Julia.
"But why" she insisted. one night, '
9 we all sat in the moonlight. did
on shut yourself up behind the blue G
oor?" I
1T was writing book and 1 want
to be absolutely alone. The pub +
sher had insisted that finish it by t
ctober."
land this" said Julia. "is the last /
E August" he
She stood up and leaned against the I
orch rail. "And a man who can write
ooks spends his time making clam
howder and frivoling with your
Ldies."
but" he excused. eagerly, IT T
ouldn't write after you came.
ouId see you from the tower, and you
istra cted my thoughts so that 1
ouldn't put down a line. At last in 1
I moved down stairs and
-ent to work But I couldn't write
lere II kept wondering what you 7
ere doing And then I began to
Ian wavs and means of getting ac-