The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-18
iHE EVENING STORY
When Wellington Played Fate.
(Bv Philip Kean.)

asked the lady in silver gray
at am Barnes of Bloomington u
the silver vision in the chair.
ct is a rather singular errand upon
which have come" said the lady Win
hesitation.
kindly state it, madam" said, Tor
! am no waster of words.
+ drew chair to the other side OF
my desk and sat down. AS 1 did IL,
something soft Topped down on my
foot. 1 looked and found that 1t was
bred from his head to his feet, and ne
looked up at me from under the desk
with bright eager eyes.
els that your dog?" / asked.
YES" said the LADY IN silver gray,
land it is with him that my errand Is
You see" she went on. ct am Mrs.
carter-Mrs: Dabney Carter L am
separated from from my h so n1t think KeT
need to tell you the reasons of that
separation, Mr.. Barnes. 1t is sufficient
to tell you that his offense was unfor-
givable. and my decision 10 see no
more of him irrevocable.
Her tone had gone high and ex-
cited. and 1 soothed her by complete
acquiescence. Certainly, Mrs. Carter.
He, no doubt, deserves your anger
She looked at me doubtfully. wen,
he acted dreadfully," she said, but ne
is q gentleman
"And the dog?" suggested, to get
her back to the subject.
Eyes. the dog. He is Wellington IL
son of Wellington l., the champion.
Dick-Mr. Carter gave him to me the
1rst year we were married. We are
both devoted to dogs-devoted, ana
Wellington was the dearest puppy.
''I can imagine 1t.
"WeII of course. we both petted
Wellington-awfully He walked ana
drove with US everywhere, and we nao
such !nN y times"
"Yes?"
"Then came the trouble. and after
that I took Wellington with me in the
mornings when walked. and Mr.. Car
ter took him for drives in the fafter-
noon in his trap. Then came our sep
aration, and the question was who
should take wellington. Dick wanted
him, and 1 wanted him. and Yelling
ton wanted both of us. l must say
that Dick was very nice about 1t. You
take him, jean he said, I give him
to you and he is really yours py rlsnI
Of prior possession.
THAT was very generous" admit
ted
Eyes, but you see the trouble is that
doesn't see 1t that way;
Every evening he goes down to the
club for Dick Then he comes to me
and puts his paws on my knee ana
looks SO wistful that I can't bear 1t.
Her lip trembled.
And then it is most embarrassing:
Now and then we meet Mr.. Carter, and
we could pass with a mere bow OF CIV,
;ity. but wellington rusheS back ana
forth and barks and we have to stop
for the sake of appearances.
inst what / had to do with these inti-
mate details. And you wanted me-!
[ asked
Mrs. Carter stood up and leaned over
he desk Her silver gray furs sWepr
across my papers and her big mum la, lay
Ill nv hInffPT
fragrance of violets at her belt per-
1aded the atmosphere. Her voice was
duplicating; her face pleaded.
ssPlease, dear Mr.. Barnes, everybody
Knows that you like dogs.tnats the
,eason 1 want to trust Wellington to
And so I became possessed of a
FLOODED bull pup. At first endured
Jim for Mrs. Carriers sake, but graou-
.lly he wormed himself into my aHec-
ions, and in six months we were in
But he was still true to his first
owes. When Dick Carriers red car
ounded a corner Wellington would be
Lfter it like a flash. and if we even
uttered the shopping district l would
Mss my dog, to find him comfortably
urled up on the seat of the electric
oupe of his former mistress;
Thev were not a happy-looktng pair
these young people-and 1T seemed
oity that they should not be getting
out of life all there is in it. 1 said as
much to Mrs. Carter as 1 rescued her
1ne day from Wellington's caresses.
''But.I-I couldn't forgive him." she
said.
why not?''
He said I'd have to ask his pardon
and I never begged any ones pardon
n my life"
"Hum-was it your fault?"
''Get in and I'll tell you" i
It was sad little tale of proud
voman's rebellion against mans |
nasterfulneSS.
seWhv shouldn't he concede things?"
was her demand.
1t was a crisp October evening that
he little drama was finally played ous.
Mrs. Carter called me up by telephone
;aid IT'S my second girls evening out |
ind the cooks mother is i'll, so I'll be
alone-and I thought Wellington might
Keep me from feeling afraid.
,ether by the roaring fire in the library.
Mrs. Carter was looking especially at
ractive in a clinging white gown with
bunch of violets in her belt
When I reached home again 1 was
onely. 1 missed Wellington-and
missed more than that. 1 seemed to
eel for the first time, my great need of
| home-of a wife-of a woman like
Mrs. Carter.
conceived a great affection for the
young fellow who held his head so
and hid the pain of his heart.
1 decided to go to him for the evening.
found him in mood for talking. And
when told him where had left Well
ngton, he confided to me the story of
lis disagreement with his wife.
''She was wrong" he said. "a man
ant give in always
But If he loves her." 1 said, isn't it
worth while?"
Il did make a concession" he con-
essed. 81 wrote to her a day or two ago.
inland I told her that II she would
end me any token-bunch OF violets-a
ibbon-anything- would accept 1t in lieu