The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-04-02
THE EVENING STORY
In a Proper Place.
(By Joanna Single. }

Rushing lunchward with the healthy
ardor of youth, Stephen Carr turned
corner and ran, head on, into the
girl. She nearly lost her balance, and
her packages and purse few from her
hands. With a grasp of her arm he
restored her equilibrium. Then, in
wardly cursing his headlong awkward
ness, he restored the belongings and
apologized profusely. AS he did so
he noticed that she hardly heard, that
her deep gray eyes were wide with q
sort of fear, that she was refined, but
shabbily dressed, and extremely young.
She was the sort of girl that brings
to men the instantaneous thought
that this is, a hard world for women.
AS she took her purse she assured
him that she was quite unhurt. Her
voice was most satisfactory. Then
there was ncthing for him to do but
to lift his hat and take himself off.
Her manner Io1d him the episode was
closed. Five minutes later he drank
of excellent coffee-and forgot her.
The next morning, going to his office
earlier than usual to do some reading
on a troublesome case, he suddenly
stood facing him. Their eyes met, and
at the recognition in her own, slight
though it was, he lifted his hat grave
ly. She got off at the fifth fioor-he
continued to the seventh. Again, for
all her gallant bearing Of high head
and well held shoulders, he was i'm
pressed with the strange look of fear
in the depth of her straightforward
eyes. He had this morning noted the
extreme beauty of her fine brown hair,
Who could she be?
1t was several days after this that
the elevator refused to work, and re-
turning from lunch, young Carr, I'M
willing to wait, climbed the stairs. AS
he turned the corner of the dark hall
on the fifth floor, he came suddenly
upon her. She did not see him, but
stood near a window overlooking the
dingy court Her small hands were
crushing and tearing at bunch of
fresh, perfect violets. With a shudder
she flung them out. Then she turned
and saw Carr. At his intense gaze.
but she only turned a shade
paler, and with perfect composure
gave him grave and very small bow
of recognition. She passed him, and
just then he saw Simeon Herbert look
ing out Of his Office door.
ooh, there you are, Miss Everett
Read for some dictation? Eth, Carr"
he said in his oily, joking manner,
''are you responsible for keeping my
pretty stenographer out in the hall ?
[ won't have a handsome young chap
like you about her-take that from
mel" He chuckled at his own wit.
The girl could not pass her employer,
who filled the door. She waited
quietly.
ct went to the window for a breath
7 was choking with the smoke in
here" she said steadfastly, in that low
voice, and not looking at Carr. Then
Herbert stepped aside, let her pass,
and followed her.
Carr gasped a little. This mans of
dce was not the proper place for any
young girl. And this one, this Miss
look after herself. He had an i'm
patient wonder that she would stay
there. She should leave-immediatel
and find a safer berth if she must
earn her living. He wondered what
cursed combination of circumstances
should have sent girl like this out
into the wage earning world. And on
the spot he resolved to keep his eyes
open for her. Chivalry, despite public
opinion, is far from being dead. The
protector of women is still at work.
But he is no longer spectacular
spectacular rescue, in this age, lands
the rescued lady in the front pages
Of yellow journals.
That night Stephen Carr went home
to the spinster sister who gave him a
share in her comfortable home, a home |
her about the girl. Unworldly, and yet |
worldly wise. she shared his interest |
and intention, and still gave him some |
wise advice.
ways meeting, and she progressed to !
giving him faint smile with her nod /
IF recognition. The look of him would |
nave told any discerning girl that he
would not trespass on mere acquaint-
ance. Several times he held back the
leavy swinging doors of the building |
Is she entered or went out, and al
ways she thanked him. Once she
aid it was beautiful morning, but
t was absently, and as If beautiful
mornings had sadly little to do with
Ter life. The perplexed, fearing ex-
preston persisted IN the deep, long
ashed eyes.
The young man began to long to
mile touched the edges of her lips
md stirred a dimple in her white
cheek. He thought that at eighteen
she could not be more than that-a
roung girl should be rosy, confident.
live. And IN May she should be ra-
liant, wearing violets-not throwing
hem into dark corners with a shiver.
What could be done about it? Thus
Ter first name-that name of names,
Nary. 1t was on the fly leaf of a book
lie had picked up for her in the ele-
-ator. And the book was a little MAR
us Aure1ius' in brown leather. Sure
y not the book for the average stenog-
apher.
That evening, thinking of her,
stephen Carr grew restless. and took
himself off for a long walk. Sunset
vas brilliant IN the sky as he started,
nd led him toward the river. AS
lie reached the North bridge, and be-
an crossing it absently, he saw be-
ore him a girl, leaning over the
'arapet, gazing into the water. And,
s he watched, a rough fellow, pass
ng stopped and spoke to her. She
rev back. but the man persisted.
his was Cars moment. He stepped
% quickly.
"Get out of here!"
The girl shrank toward him CRATE
u1ly, as the fellow, with an impudent
Vord or two, betook himself off. Then
e turned to her.
you must let me take you home.
Where do YOU live p But she shook
er head, and stood stubbornly by the