The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-08-19
THE EVENING Story
A Modern GaIatea.
(By Crittenden Marriot.)

AS =Wykom entered the parlor, a
young man who was warming his
hands at the fire looked up.
Hello. wykoff,'' he said, languidIy
TITS you. of course"
Wykoff did not seem any better
pleased at the meeting than did the
speaker. "HumphI'' he remarked dis
gustedly. 81 might have known I'd find
you here. Meredith
It's natural. returned the other,
with a gesture of resignation. IT can't
for the life of me see how you can af-
ford to neglect business this way. old
man. Maybe, though, you have seen
Forbes this morning"
Wykoff shook his head. He did not
seem in the least interested.
He was looking for you,'' went On
Meredith. 81 don't know what he
wanted, but imagine from his manner
that it was something important. He
said he would be at his office until 5
O'Clock. It's nearly that now, and you
had better hurry if you want to see
him.
FORBES can wait Look here, Mer-
edith! I'm tired of seeing you hanging
around here all the time. 1 wish
Before Wykoff could explain what he
wished, girl swept into the room,
holding out her hands in grave well
come. How do you do, Mr.. Wykoff ~
she said quietly. How do you do. Mr..
Meredith? seem to be honored this
afternoon. Will you ring for the tea.
Mr.. Meredith? Sit down, Mr.. Wykoff.
You look troubled. I hope nothing is
wrong" Her tones were calm; any one
could see that she took little interest IN
the affairs of others.
''Wykoff isn't troubled, Miss Curtis
That's his way of expressing extrava-
CANT joy. He was just saying how
pleased he was to see me herer'
The girl glanced at Wykoff. who was
plainly seeking for some retort-and
finding none. Airy persifiage was not
in his line.
You must not tease Mr.. wykoff, :"
she said. gently. when is that sister
of yours coming to see me- Mr..
Wykoff? want"
The sentence was never finished, for
the room and flung herself on Wy
koff. ooh! Mr.. Wylxoffi" she cried
Come right out and scuIp my snow
man. You promised you would" She
caught his hand and tried to drag him
to the door.
Bessie! Let Mr.. wykoff alone" in
terposed Miss Curtis. you ought to
be ashamed of yourself
A CLEAN came into Meredith's eyes.
"Out of the mouths of babes and suck
lings," he quoted gayly. Positively
you are getting quite a reputation,
Wykoffi Keep on and maybe you'll
get real client some day-some body
who wants to be 'sculped' in marble,
to adopt Miss Bessie's charmingly ex
presSive word"
Wykoff WINGED. No one knew bet
ter than he that so far he had not
made moneyed success in his art;
SculptOrS have little honor in western
America. He had known Meredith all
his life, and, being tongue-tied him
self, had greatly admired the others
glibness until he himself had become
a target for it. He hesitated now,
angry all through, but fearing if he
spoke at all, he might say more than
he intended.
scruples. Deliberately she fixed her
eyes on Meredith. 'I don't like YOU"
she deposed positively.
"Bessie!" Miss Curtis was scandal
lied.
ct can't help it, .SisterSMary. don't
like him. So there." She turned to
Wykoff you promised" she reiter-
ated wistfully. land I've got snow
pile all built and"
Reluctantly Wykoff rose. ct really
did promise. Miss Curtis" he declar-
ed, land I suppose 1 must keep my
word.''
He spoke sorrowfuIly. for he hated
to leave the field to his rival, even
though all he could do was to stand
and take punishment and pretend he
liked it.
But if Meredith expected to profit
by the others disappearance he reck-
oned without his host-or his hostess.
Miss Curtis talked on in the grave,
quiet way that had stirred the heart
of more than one man, but she gave
him no chance to bring up the ques-
ton which lay nearest to his some
what sophisticated heart-the question
he had come resolved to ask before he
left Finally, when the conversation
began to languish, she rose, declaring
that the house was abominably hot
She insisted on going out to see what
Mr. TTxylrn of hoI
man.
Meredith had no demur Wise in
the ways of women, he knew better
than to try to force the conversation.
fear Wykoff, and welcomed rather
than otherwise the chance to break
some shafts of wit on what he deemed
that gentleman's sluggish intellect.
Wykoff, he thought, afforded an ex-
cellent foil for his own brilliancy.
When he and Miss Curtis reached
the front door neither Wykoff nor lit
tie Bessie was in sight A line of
footsteps, however, led across the snow
to where clumD of evergreens stood
in the corner of the lawn, and toward
these the girl led the way.
Her feet sank soundlessly in the deep
carpet of snow, and they rounded a
bush and came upon Wykoff before he
heard them.
Bessie had disappeared. and Wykoff
was alone for the moment. And yet
not alone. Before him rose a splendid
figure-the figure of a goddess or of
4 woman of heroic size. on whose ex-
luiSite features, smoother and fairer !
han ever sculptor cut from living !
marble, rested look that made Mary !
Curtis catch her breath-the look of |
'ne who, capable of all things, was /
ret imprisoned in an icy shell from /
which no lovers kiss had called her. !
0ne arm hung by her side; the other. |
bare to the elbow, was raised in warn |
n IN vii of T.
linn neck the Grecian drapery ran
Town in pure flowing lines to the
rampled snow which had given her
birth.