The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-07-15
THE EVENING STORY
Arnx,s Answer.
(By Edna Herron.)

! low IOCker sat the yOuHB man VINO
had recently returned from the East.
Amy never tired of listening to the
stories of the wonders he had seen.
She wondered now why he was
silent
Gerald" she said confidently.
| There was no answer and this was
something serious for was she not his
hancee and entitled to attention?
Slowly she turned her head. Gerald's
up the road.
by jovel" he said, ''it is
Amy was staring her best at the
dainty approaching vision in rose
hued gown and white hat with roses
lnodding above the brim.
"It is what?" said Amy.
ITS Annabel Leighton
ct heard she was coming today; her
people have moved back here, you
know" said Amy But what's she
coming here for?''
Visiting, I suppose said Gerald.
1--WE used to fight when we were
| little tots, Gerald, and / haven't seen
her since and She was going to
add, st don't want to-" but Gerald was
out of hearing. He had run down the
steps and to the outer gate to open it.
| Amy watched them frcm her ham
mock. She sat very stiff now and her
eyes never left that rose-colored
dream who had held Ge-ald's hand so
long in greeting.
She watched them pause Sefore they
reached the house. They spoke in
confidential tones.
Amy" said Gerald, when at last
they reached her side, you remember
Annabel Leighton %
But Annabel broke III effusively,
1--WE were great friends, Amy dear,
when we wore our hair in p,s tails and
sat in the front seat in school"
''It was long ago. said Amy, but
she added Hospitality if weakly, won't
you come in %
THANK you. no. said Annabel,
''let's sit here"
She locked at Gerald and Amy sank
back in her hammock. She knew she
was staring rudely at the visitor but
she could not figure it all out. Why
did Annabel, whose parents had
moved away when she was little girl,
come to see her on her first return
She had heard that AnnaDel was living
i in Boston. A vague rumor had said
that she was on the stage That very
morning she had heard that Annabel
was expected today at he parents
home The more she thought of it the
more bewildering it all was. Annabel
herself was bewildering to look at, and
her clothes were wonderful. The con-
versation went on without her and
Amy presently realized that she was
unnoticed in the presence of so much
splendor.
4 must go and help mother" she
said. rising.
you are a busy Amy" said Annabel
without protest.
Amy hesitated a moment, but Ger
aid was deep in conversation and did
not notice when she left the porch.
With flushed cheeks and quivering.lips
she went to her own room and locked
the door.
.scbo ala not Gonna - rae me Ga al
Amy to herself. TITS Gerald. and he
never noticed when 1 left" The tears
would come and she lay down on her
bed and had a. good cry. Then her
head began to ache and she got up
and sat down in a chair. 1t had grown
dark but she would not make light.
Presently through the open window
she heard their voices. hot distinctly,
for they were talking again in conf
Dental tones. Amy felt her cheeks
burn like fire.
ST think it will come out all right"
Gerald's voice came clearly to her
ears. What were they plotting there
before her very eyes?
Eyes, you predicted that in Boston"
said Annabel, and Amy almost
screamed.
They had met then in Boston. This
solved part of the mystery. This was
the reason she had come and through
felt a burning contempt for the girl
One more sentence burned itself
into her heart as she sat at the win
dow, her fearful eyes staring out into
the night. AnnabeTs soft voice reach
ed her on the evening air. Love is the
only thing in the world that matters,
Gerald" Annabel was saying.
After that their voices grew lower
still and later her mothers voice
called her from her room. Amy would
not answer and after a while she saw
them both go slowly down the path,
AnnabeFs roses nodding In the breeze.
The rext afternoon Farmer Crosby
himself saw Gerald leaving the Leigh
ton home That night lie called on
Amy and she refused to see him. After
that on several occasions Gossip told
the same story. He had been seen with
Annabei but the worst was that Anna
bel would see no one else. There was
mystery in her visit to her childhood's
home, said Gossip. but &c Amy it was
all as clear as day
She returned to Gerald the engage
ment rings she sent back his letters
unopened and steadfasfly refused to
see him. 1t was a month of torture
but she tried to face her duty bravely.
Today she brought her book out to the
back orchard, sat down under tree
and tried to read. The sun was going
down and the words were jumping
about in unwarrantable fashion when
she looked up and saw him coming.
In another moment she would have
been safe beyond his reach but he
caught her just in time.
This won't do, Amy" GeraId's
words were brave, but he nearly quail
ed before the look of scorn in her
eyes
why do you come here % the an
CRY voice was cutting and she held her
head high.
what is the matter, dear?"
tStop, I won't be second fiddle, Ger