The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-12-15
The EVENING STORY
A Woman scorned.
(Rv Leslie Davis.l

Really now, you must be serious
and help me with this affair, I'm posi-
lively worn out with it ALL" Martha
Gardeners voice carried a wistful note,
although she laughed as she spoke.
Its been going on all summer and
I'm at my wits end
Then begin at the beginning, Mar
that" suggested her cousin, Reba
King. We've had only scraps of in
formation so far to work on
Every well, but 1 warn you that it's
a tragedy. 1 met him in June at the
Smiths dinner party. He sat beside
me and we got along beautifully to-
gether. I liked him from the first and
thought he seemed to be rather
well. impressed himself
"Omit the modest depreciations,
Martha, interrupted Reba's twin sis
ter, May. You might as well say to
begin with that he was hard hit; they
all are. l never saw such a girl for
conquests.'
'Nonsensel Well, he asked to call,
and came, and then affairs went with
a rush He took me to plays and out
for lovely rides in his little car, and
| brought books and We had such nice
comfortable evenings reading them.
For miracle, Aunt Ada liked him.
I think she really missed him when
he stopped coming"
He stopped coming? Why?"
Il don't know why. Didn't I tell
you it was a tragedy"
You mean to say that he just
stopped without any reason or ex-
PLANTATION or anything? ?"
Exactly The last time I spoke to
him was at Mrs. Billiards. party. We
had several dances together, then I
saw him talking 10 Jerome Holden in
the hall, and after that he left. de-
test Jerome, but he has persisted in
hanging around for the last year in
spite of dreadful snubbings. Some
times I've thought he might have said
something to make trouble-anyhow
the doctor hasn't been near me for
ten weeks. Reba King. stop giggling!
won't stand it,
ooh. it's too funny. Reba laughed
''To think of Martha Gardner in the
role of a woman scorned. After the
dance you've always led and the dam
aged hearts lying in your wake, 1 call
it Just retribution!''
ITS mean to laugh" objected May,
soberly. Did you say that he was a
doctor. Martha? Is he a good man.
"Dr. Paul Jeffries is as good as
gold," Martha's head went up with
a proud little air. Everybody speaks
we'll of him. And he has worked hard
and has quite a practice. Oh, there
All three rushed to the window and
peeped from behind the curtain at the
automobile darling past.
TITS a dear little car" whispered
Reba.
HE has a nice face" commented
May. I'D do something, Martha. I !
wouldn't let it go on this way"
Eyes, but what?"
"A few centuries ago." declared |
Reba, you would have sent him a |
bottle of poisoned wine. taken a dose
yourself and ended the affair in that |
neat way. What a pity that common
sense has taken such hold of mod |
ern life! It drives out romance COM |
pletely."
The common sense thing to do
suggested May, sis to write note and |
ask him what the matter is
Il won't do that if I never find out!
I've a little pride left, I hope
.'Then persuade Aunt Ada to have
a neuralgia attack and send for him
protest. onally."
He knows she would never have
any one but old DR.. BENJAMIN"
.'Give the cook a deadly dose and
vow she made you call him"
He might not get here, and I'm
not used to deadly doses; she's too
good a cook to sacrifice"
IF we We're going to be in town a
while, instead of just passing through
and lunching with you, I'd plan
campaign of some Sort unused Reba.
"Oh, dear. it's time to start now. if
we are going to make that $3.50 train.
"Of course, this is in the strictest
confidence" warned Martha, as they
parted at the station Il wouldn't
breathe a word to any one else for
worlds, but you girls are more like
sisters than cousins, and 1 just had
to tell you
"Of course" agreed Reba, sympa-
-hetically "And if 1 think of anything
I'll write at once. In the meantime,
whatever you do, Martha, be practical
and daring, humorous if possible
That's the modern method of doing !
-hings. and l must say it seems to be
The twins waved last
adieu and the train bore them swiftly I
off
Martha turned away. her mind full
IF the conversation of the afternoon.
instead of going directly home, she
turned rather ainlessly into a side
street. She wanted to think it all out
gain. though there was not a single
part of the dilemma that she had not !
hated to own, even to herself, how {
much she cared, but she did care
-ery much. She admitted it with a
title catch of the heart.
And she was sure that he did, too
That was the queer part of it all The
nan loved her, she knew he did.
There were thousand little ways of 5
cling And they had been so happy
ogether, so congenial from the be- {
ginning. A sudden moisture blurred
Ter eyes.
Martha winked quickly to clear her
7ision. turned a corner, and halted
abruptly with surprise at what she .
,aw. DIR. Jeffries's little empty run
lbout stood before her at the curb
Evidently the doctor was making call $
inside the house. II
With the sight. a swift idea leaped t
nto Martha's head.
So11 0-fr7