The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-17
THE EVENING STORY
How to Tell Her.
(By Louise Olney.l

to fall in love. He was not ready to
fall in love-thoughtful observation
state usually progressed into matri-
| mony. And he was not ready finan-
cially or sentimentally, for marriage.
| 1t had always been his idea that a,
| man should be at least thirty before
taking such step, and that he should
not ask girl to share his early bust
ness struggles. And he was only
twenty-five and just beginning to make
good with the run down factory his
father had left him. John Stoner be-
| the subject-which never yet in the
worlds history has helped a man in
his love troubles.
The first self suggestion was to flee,
to refuse on plea of extra busy times
all the summer gayeties planned dur
ing her stay at the home Of his friends,
the Etons. The next one, the fatal
one, was that perhaps that one little
dance had cast a glamour over charms
which would vanish by day. He would
go to the all day picnic planned for
Sunday, find freckles on her nose or
a flaw in her temper, and be cured.
This was a beautiful plan, but it did
not work out. He went to the picnic.
the freckles, which, however, only
added piquancy to her fair beauty.
Also when she fell into a passion be-
cause another man shot a bird-John
When he reached home that night
he worried more than ever-because
he was mortally afraid that he could
never in the world get her to love him.
Jim Elton told him tales of her con-
quests in the West, and of how she
had refused a score or so of good men
and true, not caring enough even to
wear their scalps at her belt. Jim said
she was the most Indifferent little
mink in creation and superfiuously adj
Wis friend IN chase about with
her and be amused and amusing, but
to leave his nice, solid, marriageable
heart locked up in his top bureau
drawer. This was fine advice, ana sur
fered the common fate of advice-it
was not taken. John assented readily
and went on to his fate, not blind
ly, but with his eyes wide open.
With possible marriage staring him
in the face, he redoubled his business
efforts-there was a certain little
house he wanted to buy and furnish
in case-anything should happen.
And he intended to make things
happen. Alice Thorne's career was fol-
lowed by happenings. He began to
devote himself wildly to her, though
saying no word of his feelings. Then
in the watches of the night he would
review his actions of the day, cursing
himself for a stupid idiot that knew
fore he would have called himself a
wise man for knowing nothing about
them.
one miserable night after he had
been especially entertaining to her all
the evening, he recalled a story he
had read somewhere in which man
had won a skittish and elusive maid
by using the weapon of Indifference.
Should he try Indifference? Could he
trv It without her seeing the ruse?
The next evening he let himself,
with apparent reluctance, be absorbed
bv the willful destinations of Edith
Shore. Edith, had he known 1t, was
more than ready for sentimental en-
counter with this handsome young
man whose lack of interest in her sex
had piqued all the girls in the set
that was logically his. But she was
too willy to be openly gratided-she
hedged and fenced, and was, more
over, so really charming, so genuine,
that he found it very pleasant, even
though Alice Thorne was showing
the most subtle hattering willingness
to be adored by man ten years her
senior.
less tangle. When he went back to
Alice she was too occupied to notice
him, and he was finally, at all the
small picnics and dances and motoring
trips thrown into the society Of Edith
Shore.
One worry changed itself into an
other. Edith acted as if she owned
him, and he was afraid Alice was not
in the least troubled. Then a COM
forting light came to him via Mrs.
Jim's careless conversation.
81 can't see,' said that small lady, |
''why Alice detests Edith Shore as she
does-she will hardly treat her we'll
enough so I dare ask her to the
and won't say why. I can't see that
the girl has been anything but lovely
to Alice. And I've been watching like
hawk to discover any reason for it
he al h. ryuL-
the talk flowed into other channels
But John went home that night with
a new hope in his heart. Did she hate
Edith because of his absorption in
He would have liked to ask her flat
ly-it was his method of doing things |
The next afternoon he went out to |
Eton's, asked for Miss Thorne, and |
She assented little languidly but |
pleasantly, and suggested taking lunch |
so they would not have to get back to |
dinner unless they liked-and unless |
you have some evening engagement"
she added. He declared himself un- |
expected and unattached for as long
as she would have him about.
BY the time the cook had prepared |
the lunch, and Alice had rid herself |
of several callers, it was well toward |
launched his pretty canoe, helped the |
girl in, and padded close in to shore |
under the cool shadow of the over |
hanging trees.
1t was very quiet and restful, and |
something like peace stole into the |
mans heart as he studied the sweet |
face opposite him and marked its ex- |
preston of content. 1t seemed so |
natural for them to be together that |
he could have sworn that she was |
thinking the same thought at the |
same moment. He once half opened |
his lips to tell her how close she came |
- ~ - l. 41<><zt
70 MS neart' ana tnen ne was assaheo /
He kept on paddling-at least he |
could do that we'll. He did it Indian |
fashion. kneeling. using a single |
blade. The wind stirred his heavy 1
dark hair about his head, and the /
WisffuIness In his ewes as ha looked