The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-25
THE EVENING STORY
office A, smith Block.
(By Lucy Poole.l

al meeting place, Hinkham's grocery
all the men would shift their wads
erence as he seated himself on the
best cracker barrel by the stove and
planted his feet on the warmest SPOT
But the swift, horrible, accident
nad silenced the jovial Croesus, and
his estate had been revealed to the
public's Mortified gaze as absolutely
worthless. i
Mrs. Taylor had been Frustrated
completely. Janet had struggled as
she could. but after all the funeral
store of bank notes had dwindled
away to pathetic few.
NOW, Burt" she exclaimed eagerly
10 her masculine friend, lawyer and
devoted lover. cit is a case of sheer
necessity, you see We will only have
won't even pay mothers doctor bills"
Janet" began the young man. his
voice husky with the emotion he tried
to suppress; Janet, I'm In good bust
ness now, and your father had CIV
en- me his consent, so why won't you
let me help you in this time of trou-
BILE? You know l.
Eyes, I know, Burt" answered the
girl gently, but it is impossible. Now
my plan is this: At college I took
ali the four prizes for the best es-
says and had good success with the
college weekly and annual
Burt could hardly hide a smile.
This young slip of womanhood talk
ing of $50 month paid for her liter
airy work! Poor child, she did not
realize that college weeklies and city
daily papers differ strikingly in their
demands.
But one simply could not argue
with Janet; her radiant beauty was
her strongest weapon, and Burt left
her in high spirits.
Burt, shall depend on you for
the addresses of all the best papers
and magazines in the city, she called
to him as he strobe down the walk.
"And don't forget to read every line
I publish" came indistinctly to his
ears as he turned the corner to the
station.
Burton Harold was tied to his Of
flee day and night for the next three
a bit to eat or an hours rest; yet
the dainty, dark beauty of Janet's
charming face f1oated tantalizingly
before the dusty law books or the
tiresome documents.
He had not heard "a word from her
since he had mailed the addresses and
he wondered whether he could have
been mistaken and Janet's work was
actually making good. On the Sat
urday of third week he locked the
door of Office A. Smith block and
took the train down to the village to
gladden. his mothers heart by sight
of himself and his eyes by a sight of
Janet
He found the girl pale and quiet,
with very little to say. 1t was not
until the end of the call that he had
the courage to ask about her literary
work At his first word the unnatur-
al calm gave way and she cried like
a child.
cts no use, Burt she sobbed.
"I've tried and tried, but everything
with q nOlitP of use,
and know it is Just because. they
don't read my work"
Burt was sorely tempted. Had he
followed his own inclination he would
have gathered the girl into his strong
arms and bade the senseless editors
go wherever they pleased; but this
was out of the question. "Pn tell
YOU, Janet" he. said soothingly. "give
me your work and I'll take 1t back
with me tomorrow and see what 1
can do
And SO the matter rested. and
Burton returned to his office with
roll of classical raptures. such as THE
lushy marsh where the cows stood
knees deep in cowslips" and other
totally unstable works of his am
bilious sweetheart. He pondered
over and through one long long out
burst of "a fu1l-blown apple orchard.
where the busy bee doth ply his
trade" awful, awful" he said to
n1nS611, DuL WHdI Cetil YOU SAPCSS
from a college girl? Why. I can't
even doctor these lists of adjectives
up. They are only fit for the waste
basket
The next day brought a brief let
ter to Janet.
"Dear Janney: Enclosed will find
a check for $40. / sold your Apple
orchard in full bloom Address your
work now to Office A, Smith block
It's an agency for short stories and
articles, and they will take anything
YOU will send them. Don't know.
what magazines they use, but their
work goes all over the country. Con-
CALCULATIONS on your great luck: AS
ever, BURI.
The next time Burton visited his
mother in the village it was several
months after the above letter.
Janet was radiant, glowing and,
above all, tender. She confided to
him that she received from SO TO $lo
for every article and often $40 1or
a story. and that she made as high as
$40 a month. Burt only smiled and
listened.
Everything was rose-colored now,
and burned to deeper hue when
Janet whispered at the gate, you
Burt. dear And he rode back to
the city, his cheek tingling under the
ROSY seal she had set there as safe
guard against all danger
1t was near spring Wnen MIS- mar
old was suddenly taken i'll. In her
condition she needed loving care. so
Janet went down to stay with the
gentle old lady. who she thought
would not live to see the little we'd
ding planned for June
Burton came home on SATURDAY
and the feeble old lady watched the
couple with tear-dimmed eyes and
many softly breathed prayers. To-
ward night her breathing grew more
and more ,labored and the end was
not far away.
fully. "Janet. promise me now, dear,
that you will never let anything sep
arate you and Burt"
: The girl kissed her wonderingiy,
and promised softly.
"Doctor" went on the trembling,
much Inn ger haze |