The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-07-26
THE EVENING STORY
On the wings of the Storm.
CBy Philip KeauO


| the window of his bungalow. 1t was
a typical western hurricane, comins
after dry spell, with pink lightning
| tlnuous roll of thunder.
| To the unaccustomed eye it was ter
| rIylng' put Alexander gazed undis-
turbed He was young and strong.
But something very like fear grip
PED MIN now as he saw between the
| swaying trees a wraithlike figure run
| ming toward the house.
He went to the door and opened it.
ne agra dragged her over the threshold
m so afraid" was all she could
say at first.
How does it happen that you are
out ?" He put her in a big chair by
the side of the fireplace. Its so
late, and such an awful night"
She looked UP at him with startled
eyes, as she tried to pin up the thick
brown locks that had fallen about her
shoulders.
fessed.
"oh," Alexander said. as he sat
down opposite her. You look bit
cided to take to cave dwelling and
a man Friday"
A dimple showed in the corner of
her mouth. "But-but I wasn't run
ming away to live in a cave was
running away to get married.
But" Alexander said, presently,
you-you don't look quite old enough
for that
Il am eighteen" was the explain
alton, and he is twenty-one."
He 2" murmured Alexander, where
Her lip quivered. st think the
wouldn't think a storm would mat
ter to man, would you?"
mot to a man who was going to
marry you" Alexander found him
"Oh." the warmth in his tone
brought rosy flush to her face, "of
course, something may have kept
Where was he to meet you?" Alex
ander asked.
"Over there by the church. We are
stopping; at one of the cottages Just
And when you didn't find him
there, you ran to the nearest house %
81 saw your light and ran toward
"And now" he told her, "ff you are
rested bit, I'll take you home"
But I can't go back she cried.
''The door, locks with spring, and 1
haven't a key"
Eye gods!" Alexander's brows were
And then, because he could think
of nothing else to say. he asked, Are
you hungry"
Starved" she said.
He brought out crackers and cheese,
and sardines and olives and MARINA
lade, and all the dainties that a bach
elor manager who elects to eat at
meals the coarse food that is given
his men keeps for private consump-
ton.
Tiff I only knew where Bobbie
was" she said. 81 should be almost
$50 his name is Bobbie?" Alexan-
She nodded. eve went to school
together, and he is at college now. and
he hasn't anything to marry on, and
why we ran away"
"Do you love him?" Alexander
asked, slowly.
I'm not so sure right now-it seems
as if he couldn't have let me come
out in the storm alone-if he had
"He couldn't" said Alexander.
And then. after moment, he said.
slowly, ct wonder if you know what
love is really like-Iove for which one
suffers, for which one dies, if need
She caught her breath. ''1Io one ever
said such things to me of love be- |
FORE she said. "Bobbie and I just |
thought of fun-and-of having our
own way
She was such a little innocent thing, !
but with such purity in her eyes such |
a foreshadowing in her face of the |
woman that she might be. that Alex |
ander said, impulsively. Dear little |
girl, wait until love-real love-comes |
to you, before you marry
She held out her hand to him. 81 |
WILL she whispered. "I will wait"
And even as she promised there came |
knock al the door.
Alexander opened it. and Bobbie
stumbled over the threshold.
''Why didn't you waltz" he COM
planned at once. "Why didn't you
wait, Mollie?"
"It was such an awful storm, and
you weren't there, Bobbie.''
"You might have known I'd come,
ne fumed 81 don't see why you came
mere, Mollie. I looked everywhere for
you, and then I saw this light, and I
came over and looked through the
window"
Alexander interrupted. "She could
lot stay out in the night and storm
rou were late"
The boy turned on him. well. what
f I WASP" he demanded. "Is it any
If your business? %
"Yes''-the older mans tone was
Iuiet-"it is always a mans business
o see that a young and helpless girl
s protected
"But T.
IT think you should take her home
It once" Alexander advised, land
wait until you and she are old enough
o know your own minds"
"Oh, don't preach" the boy flung
,ut.
But AIexander's eyes were on the
-irl. "When a woman loves q man it
s such a wonderful thing that we
,ught to give her all our chivalry. |
Wait until you are older, Bobbie, and
QUILL know"
"Oh, come on, Mollie," the boy in
errupted rudely, 1--WE got the horses
utside, and we can get away in a min
Ite.''
But she stood very still in the mid
lie of the room. mo" she said.
"Why not ?"
Because I know now that II
ont love you as I ought to marry