The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-06-03
THE EVENING STORY
With the Very Latest improvements,

the village. She had watched the road
great deal during the last few DAYS.
at first with happy anticipation. but
now with helpless longing.
IL was bad enough in the davtin,a q.
put II was worse when it grew too
dark TO see who was coming alono
the road; for then footsteps grew
!ouder and louder until she was GER
ward ii r.. eney We're going to turn to-
MaIo the wfite-pillared porch, only
70 dae away again. leaving her sick
with fresh disappointment
On the previous Sunday evening the
vague beautiful something which had
it different from any other s11mmer
OF Dorothy's life, had suddenly taken
derlnlte form. A look, a touch. a word
or two and she had found herself
Witnout a doubt that John Porter low
ed her and that she loved him: but
ne had gone away without any open
declaration, and though Dorothy had
watched the road till her eyes ached
he had not returned
might have known it," she said
70 herself, disconso lately. HE is too
proud and independent to ask the
daughter of rich man to marry him
NOW that his work on the new cleo
trio road is finished he will go away
ana l snan never see him again.
Dorothy's neighbor, twelve-year-o old
GLADYS, came skipping across the lawn
very perky, pink bow topping her
yellow tresses. She perched herself on
the nroad arm of Dorothy's chair.
neen reading such a lovely
story" she exclaimed
What was 1t about 2" oueried Dor
othy, with languid interest
oh, 1t was about a brave knight,
in shining armor," said Gladys, land
ne loved a fair and noble lady who
loved him in return. But she had gold
and jewels and all that sort of thing,
you know. and he hadn't thing but
his charger and his good sword and
SO he could never. never ask her to
marry him.
We'll" asked Dorothy. as GLADYS
them"
"Oh." replied Gladys, there was
nothing for the knight to do but to
cess just sat in her tower and pinned
and pinned till at last she died. Oh,
1t was perfectly lovely-so sad and
sweeti'
1T seems to me-" said Dorothy, al
much more sensible for the knight to
stay and marry the lady, instead of
leaving her to pine and dfe.''
why" cried Gladys in disgust,
that would have spoiled the whole
story"
She jumped from her perch and
was dancing down the steps, but turn
ed to call back:
ooh, say. that Mr.. Porter has gone
away, hasn't he? I saw him at the
station Monday, with a suit case in
his hand. Aren't his eyes just too
handsome for anything? I'm sorry he
has left, aren't you?'
Then, having unwitting1y destroyed
Dorothy's last vestige of hope. Gladys
cheerfully departed.
A gray-haired man with a keen
but kindly face came and stood in
the doorway behind Dorothy, noting,
with an anxious look, her dropping
twice, and then came out to where
she was sitting.
You ought to. be playing golf this
fine weather" he suggested.
I'm rather tired of golf, father"
replied Dorothy.
Mr.. Allen took a turn up and down
the porch.
HAS that young Porter left? I
haven't seen him here for several
days" he asked. with a carefully care
less air.
81 really don't know; probably he
has" replied the girl sitting very
straight and assuming an air even
more carefully careless than that of
her father.
Mr. Allen, after few more turns
and anxious sidelong chances, betook
himself again to the house. Since the
death of Dorothy's mother, ten years
before. the bond of sympathy and I'M
| Outstanding between him and his only
I-child had grown unusually strong;
but here was situation which he
felt in no wist competent to handle
Left to herself. Dorothy's sprightly
indifference suddenly vanished. Her
hands fell hstlessly into her lap and
she leaned her head YEARLY against
the back of her chair. So he had
gone without even coming to say good
bye! Well, there was no use watch
ing the road any longer!
TITS just like Gladys story" she
sighed. 1.-THE knight has gone to fight
his battles. leaving the poor princess
in the castle to pine alone; only being
a twentieth century princess instead
of a medieval one. I'm afraid / can't
die of love; girls never do nowadays.
I suppose that's one of the modern
improvements" she continued, whim-
sically.
An endless procession of dreary
years seemed to stretch out before
her She shut her eyes and two large
tears glistened on the long dark
lashes.
Some one was coming across the
lawn but the footsteps made no sound
on the thick turf. When they began
to ascend the steps Dorothy opened
her eyes with a start and John Por-
ter stood before her.
There was a wonderfully tender
light in his eyes and determined
expression about his mouth How
handsome he looked How tall and
strong he was! Dorothy caught her
breath.
at thought you had gone away"
she managed to say.
"On1y down to the junction to meet
the chief engineer. He wanted TO talk
over my next job with me. It's a lit
tie bigger than anything I've ever un-
dertaken before. But you didn't think
I'd go without seeing you again, did
you, Dorothy after Sunday night?"
"I didn't know" murmured Dor
othy, her eyes on the big buckles of
her colonial slippers
John Porter seated himself on the
porch rail and looked straight at
Dorothy's face.
Dorothy" he said. "I know it's the
general opinion that a man has no
right to ask girl with a rich faith