The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-06-04

The Jap told him Mr.. John had come
home at noon and that he and the
young person next door had gone
somewhere. They had taken a bas-
ket of lunch, he submitted soberly.
And what would Mr.. Henry have for
dinner?
John came dazedly and happily
home about midnight, and his brother
feigned sleep. At breakfast they were
polite-and cool-to each other. AT
the end of the week they hardly spoke.
Then one morning John woke to just
what was going on. His heart went
out to his brother, and though he
knew he was desperately in love with
the small, soft woman thing next
door, he determined that neither she
nor any other being, on the earth or
under it, should cause trouble be-
tween himself and his mate. He de-
cided to have it out at once. and
rising he took his plunge and then in
bathrobe and slippers went into his
eyes and frowned, but John sat down
on the edge of the bed, determined
to have it OUT He did.
He told John he was dead in love
confess to the same thing. They
talked it over, fair and square, each
bound not to do the other wrong,
each secretly sure that he was the
one she cared for-for she certainly
must care for one of the two.
They went over things briefly, man
to man. 1t was decided that that
evening they would together go to
see her, face her together, and to-
them. Neither would see or commu-
nicate with her before that time.
They would be fair, and the beaten
man would accept his fate-and not
let it interfere with his old feeling
breakfast in amity, to the delight of
| the Jap, and went to their work. And
at night they came home together in
| the old way and ate dinner together.
| randa and watched the Farley place,
but they did not see her, so presently
| t-iey sauntered over in a casual way.
| They asked Mrs. Farley where she,
| Tessfe, was. And the astute lady,
who knew what she knew. and whose
| eyes had that day been amazingly
| opened, sent them out to the below
cred little summer house. She was
glad they both had come, for she
| thought a common blow would be bet
ter than stroke separately for each.
| The two talked deceivingly to her a
moment and went down the winding
| little trail. The f1reflies were thick
| in the grass, and the dew began to
fall. And after a moments walk they
| could see girls white dress against
| the dark of the vines. They went
straight up to the dress in the dusk
saw them first and rose.
1--WE have come together began
John Martin, to
Something warned the girl. who
| knew when a game was ended, with
out actually playing the last card.
You came together to meet-Mr
Jackson from - home y my fiance,
| who
tall and very good looking young
| fellow rose and took each of them
| by the hand. They were both glad
| it was dusk. One can force ones voice
and ones hand to be steady-but the
| face tells the stories. They were very
nice and polite and congratulatory.
But they did not stay long-not very
| long.
| Presently they vent away across the
garden. their arms interlocked in the
/ old fashion, and Mrs. Farley, watch
ing them, considered the beauty of
pure, brotherly love. 1t is presume BILE
that Tessie forgot all about them. To
| do her justice, her engagement was
! but dav old. Young Marsh sud
| denly appeared and she ran into his
arms, for absence often shows a wom-
and where her heart really is.-(Copy-
righted 1910 by Associated Literary
| PreSS,1