The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-12
THE EVENING STORY
Love the DinIoraat.
By Alicia Murdock. }

L -
| And then there are Trixy Morehead
| and Belle Payson''
Kent Roberts was describing the five
young ladies who were &c be members OF
his sisters house party to the five stu
dents who were to figure as his guests
at the same time.
| They're neigh5ors,' he went on,
| Trixy's eyes arc blue as yours, Apkar,
and her hair is on the corn-siIk order.
| She's especially invited for you because
well, because TO a dot you'll suit One
| mold furnishes your-ide ais, as per-
| He laughed, waving a big hand toward
numerous pink and white wall adorn-
| ments, all with the bluest of blue eyes
and yellowest of yellow hair.
| She's a very humming Bird he con-
tinued still laughing. Not serious
| thought in her pretty head, but dainty
and lovely anything human IAN lie.
| You beauty worshipers- guess tnera'H
be some interesting theses for the terms
beginning-heart breaks an fractures,
you know, with cures AMI general treat
ment.''
He chuckled softly, pushing back in his
chair and dra wing at his cigar with the
conscious comfort OF a pleasant task well
performed and quite complete. Apker
| was ramming finecut into the bowl of his
pipe, not in the least displeased.
There are Others" he laughed, lat
least one other. 1 think you mentioned a.
"oh. Belle" Kent sat up rumpling his
straight black hair. Belle is Trixy ; op-
poslte; plain and dark and wholly given
stereotyped: Hello. Belle, what's the lat
est? And she never fails to trot out a
was building a badly needed addition 10
the charity hospital. She did it, too.
9ne OF the kind that does things
| say that admire that sort Can she talk
about .anything-besides her fads, you
Kents laugh was sudden geniality it.
self. Talk? oh, yes. But don't feel that
won't expect it. She, and l are engaged"
SINCE? questioned Apker. with strong
sarcasm We six have chummed tor
from somewhere received a sudden impe-
fbnsMse zee to t. me wed naturally have
Kent was still laughing Just the con-
trary. So ancient, IN TACT. as to seem a
matter OF course. We grew up together,
and it dates back to our high scnooI days.
DON know why haven't mentioned It,
only it's just not my way-you Aaow me
| Heart! On! Perhaps, now, d thesis"
| the nrSt Few days was pleased and graft
ned with the attentions showered upon
his fiancee.
fessed to himself in high elation. And
then they're ,complimenting my taste.
But at the end of the week there were
strange little prickings and twinges Of
he didn't know what. 1t was not that he
was, distrustful or jealous Most GER
tainly not" he reiterated and affirmed.
Yet. try as he would, his eyes persistent
ly followed Belle, transformed from the
earnest faddist of his ken to the gayest
of gay of the house party; and always
very. close to her dark head was Apker' S
With himself she was, as always, quiet
and serious, full of theories and plans.
With Apksr she was ANOTHER being. I ra,
changed her; that much was certain. But
Kent caught at a straw. She was hap
Ply that he was home again, that the
long summer, their very last apart, was
before them for planning their honey
ward. How perfect it was to be! Trou-
bles? Yes, of course. roubles come to
understanding as they gave TO each other,
troubles would be easily met and borne.
mote to 1I mar o the fair 0 fabric Of their
future.
reading to him. While he listened he
pulled yellow and white honeysuckles
from an old trellis and strung them on
her hair, and in and out among the lace
Wen be very happy, Belle he smiled
} holding her off adnirfngly when he had
finished, and Belle had raised twitching
lips and full eyes to say quite steadily
Kents eyes were moist. too. from very
happiness, and after that there were nc
|
There was no time, indeed, for anything
except merriment- Ideal weather made
nicking possible. and somehow it hap
pened that with Belle and Apker's pair
ing Trixy fell to him. That was at first
Afterward he sought her, forgetting to
take stock of Bellies doings.
He was acknowledging 1t to himself
that last evening Of the house party,
of the water in a great sweep of sunset
beauty. Just such another glow, he was
= l. lii, 105 O010 al mos ~ i'm
Fibers Of his Utmost self, it seemed, had
) been touched to life by Trixy's appealing
ways and pretty helplessness-
He was conscious of a tenderness, a
warmth of protective feeling that had
never gone out to Belle, his chum, his
Nature, he argued. solved hard prob
lens. usually, too, to everybody's salts
; faction. Perhaps nature was wiser than
even the wisest of mortals. Perhaps for
the reserve and quiet. natures gifts to
him, she had foreordained as a compile
ment just such feminine lovableness as
Trixy's. Perhaps
1t was Apker's halloo that reused him.
He sat up, confused, but Apker seemed
'Kent,' he began quickly. you've given
You'll never know how like a thief I'VE
felt, enjoying your splendid hospitality
and-oh. I know you'll despise me, ! de-
your Your sweetheart
He turned his face away from Kent
tits no use to argue or call names. I've
done it myself TO a finish. II you killed
me I should still love her and she'd love
!, | me / know what you'll suffer, but ]
| can't help it. Belle and L"
"Bellew
Something intangible, that had been
disfiguring like an ugly veil, slid from
Kent's face and eyes, and the lips that
. had straightened suddenly smiled.
| s'Beller' he gasped. Il thought was
afraid 1t was-Trixy." -(Copyrighted, 1909
by Associated Literary Press)
POINTED PARAGRAPHS.
LFrom the Chicago News.1