The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-06-11
THE EVENING STORY
By the Strategy of Seizer.
(By Louise jackson Stnne. !

| AsholSu Aef existence with frig1d dig
nifty. He kept that side of his dwell
ing closed and abandoned his fayorite
seat under the catalpa, smoking his
evening pipe behind the clematis.
Nevertheless, his unwelcome neigh
| DOT obfruded on him continually. for
the woman had a child and cat, and
what with her own eternal singing,
the chatter of the child and the
proving OF the cat the quiet and
peace of his life was DESTROYED
And his dog Seizer was being
| spoiled, his disposition rasped by UNI
! ending conflicts with the cat, He
would scarcely settle himself, pant
/ ing from a rush after her when she
would be back, calmly promenading
| tneir walk or shifting lnsolently at
| their kitchen screen.
| Some day you'll catch and throt-
| tie her, old fellow Mr.. Brownlow
premises. mind that,
ana Selzer promptly halted at the
| boundary fence until one day his ar
dor carried him through the broken
paling IN the wake of the streak of
| 1ur and up to the steps where the
| child sat, laughing at the race. And
that was his undoing; for the
child patted his head, put her little
| arms about his neck and loved him:
ana the woman rubbed his silky ears
4 II.
And when he returned to his lonely
| home he left half his heart behind,
and could not look his master in the
| eyes that night.
Thereafter the cat prowled unmol-
ested. and Seller often slipped
through the paling for a. surreptitious
visit, which things Mr.. Brownlow soon
discovered, and boiled with indigna-
| ton
| Hal" he cried, '.That's her trick,
| STE in hi
| lions, meaning, of course, to gain the
masters, finallyi Go to her, If you
choose" he roared to Seller. .'But you
can't belong to both of usi''
| Seizer did not believe that He loved
| both, and felt that they had only to
meet and understand each other to
make it possible for him to belong to
both. He would manage it!
Therefore, one evening as Mr.
Brownlow moodily smoked behind his
vines, glowering through them at the
other house. Seller trotted up and de-
posted something beside his chair,
| wagging expectantly.
What it is old fellow % Mr..
| Brownlow asked genially, having for
| given Seizer's detection. 1t was the
| woman's fault, anyway-she was a.
| beguiling creature, even he felt thati
What is it, old fellow q" he repeat
| ed.
Seller picked up the object, and Of
fered it as if bestowing a fortune.
Mr.. Brownlow's feet came down off
the cistern pump with bang! What
| the--all creation does this mean ?"
he dashed the object from him as if
stung. A woman's shoe,
Patient Seller brought it back. look
ing eagerly down the walk. She would
be here presently for her property
| they would meet!
| "Take it back Instantly" Brown
low ordered. But Seller stood his
ground, his ears cooked for Her COM
ing.
master stormed, cutting him severely,
but for the first time in his life Seller
refused to obey; and, when She did
not come, lay down with his nose on
his paws, gazing appealingly at his
! master.
ga pretty scheme; pretty scheme,
ind eedi" Mr.. Brownlow exploded Put
it into his mouth and send him here
| with it. I'm to return it, of course,
and she'll have her chance Oh, 1 see
through you, madam"
/ He'd return it at once, too. He
snatched the shoe, which was nearly
new, intending to fling it to her back
door, but he found it was badly CASH
ed with Sellers teeth.
| That would not have mattered could
he be sure the dog had not stolen it
| But the doubt made him pause, and
he decided he could not pitch it back
in that condition.
Seller into prison next morning and
| worried all day, went home the long
! way to avoid passing the widow s
house and found the child at the fence
comforting Seller, who had parked
himself hoarse.
/ The child fled at his approach,
which so offended him that he threat
ened the dog as he let him out with
/ terrible things if he did not stay at
/ home and mind his business.
l 6o fa eft q dn0rC
| drew close the blinds, lighted up and
contemplated the shoe standing i'm
pudently upon his desk. She had
neat foot, not too small for a wo-
| man of her size; he set it beside his
own, then blushed hotly, and backed
/ away, studying it from a fresh view
1 point. She had a very neat foot, and
/ she was a very gOod-looking woman,
too. with a bright smile and a CHEEKY
voice. The place had seemed unbear-
| ably dull when she and the child had
| been away once for a few days.
He blushed again at discovering
these reflections, cuffed Seller for his
/ too interested espionage, slammed the
| shoe in a closet and retired.
| Next morning he decided that he
must get new pair to replace the
ruined shoe, and send in such man
/ ner that she could take no advantage,
| even if she had planned the sltua-
| ton.
| Then arose another worry. Every
body in his town knew that he had
no womenkind for whom he. could be
! buying shoes; he would never hear
| the last of the sly banteriDg. Mutter-
| ing maIedictions. he journeyed to the
CITY with the shoe, duplicated 1t in
| a pair of the best and mailed them to
/ her.
/ For DAYS after he made furtive at
4 tempts to ascertain if she wore them,
and the impression that she was a very
good-looking woman deepened, and
/ with it great depression of spirits and
/ dissatisfaction with his life. The torn
i shoe was locked in his drawer.
/ Mrs. Smithfield, peacefully enjoying
/ her tea one day, was amazed at Sellers
walking in and presenting her with
i one of Mr.. Brownlow's large, shining
i III Iii he