The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-22
THE EVENING STORY
Falling Out and In.
(By Louise Olney.)

Falling Out and In.
(By Louise Olney.)
The couples failed to fall into line
in the order Mrs. Townsend had plan
ned when she asked the dozen young
people to her southern country home
for prolonged house party.
Among other girls came Sallie, out
of the West, demure, brown and
sweet. And Stanton Selby came, saw,
and was a victim, the girl seeming to
flash immediate answer to his quick
love. But Smith came also, out of
Sallie's own country, but a stranger to
her; blithe young man of confident
ways and many millions.
Selby, quiet gentleman of the South,
fair and fine, felt a great joy rising in
his heart when the girls eyes met his,
as they SO often did, in quick under
standing, though no word Of love had
passed between them. And then
eclipse came: foolish, over-worked'
theatrical thing occurred as one fore
noon they all stood near the little lake
at the end of the great Townsend
grounds Sallie, Smith beside her,
leaned over to look into the clear
water. Her foot slipped. and with
little cry she fell in, head foremost, as
| if she had dived. Without a word,
Smith slipped in after her, hat, white
lflannels, shoes and all.
1t seemed ages to the others be-
fore the mans head again appeared,
and his strong arms pushed the girl
before him and up into the arms of
Shelby, who had run up from a little
distance, and had stripped off coat and
shoes, making ready to follow Smith.
The whole thing had not taken four
minutes and Sallie, whose beauty
| even a ducking could not spoil, stood
up in moment shook the water from
her hair, exclaimed over her careless
ness, and was swathed in coats and led
| to the house.
At dinner she was her sparkling self
but Harold Smith was beside her.
1t was deemed fitting to give the res
cuer opportunity to receive her natur-
al gratitude. The house was agog
with sentim entail excitement. hand
some, rich young man had saved the
| life of a lovely young girl of undoubt-
eddy good family, but poor. 1t would
be a beautiful match. Mrs. Townsend
fairly purred and thereafter gave
Smith every chance to be the girls
partner in all the free and easy out
door amusements that followed, at the
little dances, on rides and drives and
walks.
Selby's star was dimmed. At first
he made a desperate effort not to be
banished from the center of the stage,
but Sallie herself seemed to give him
no support. He could not understand
| it, and gradually he quietly withdrew,
politely devoting himself to any girl
who seemed unattended at the time.
| Harold Smith took advantage of
every moment, every opportunity. He
knew the girl was difficult. and did not
make the mistake of speaking too
soon.
The days passed, and Shelby grew
| thin and anxious; the other men told
him he was smoking himself to death,
and walking enough to kill race
horse. He was always on the go.
CovertIy he watched Sallie Horton all
he could, and seemed to discover her
growing interest in the man Smith.
Selby's heart contracted. He had never
before known how love denied can
hurti A few times he got walk or
drive with Sallie, but she was sweet
and distant-or was the distance in
him? He seemed to have to begin
over again in their acquaintance, and
she would give him no help. 1t was
always in his mind to get her away
from the others and suddenly pour his
whole heart out to her, and then each
time he would remember that he had
not wooed-had had no chance to
WOO, had been seemingly unable to
make his chance. He was a failure.
He hated himself for what he
thought lack of courage. He was dull
and stupid before her. where the ubi-
quitous Smith was confident, glib, III
teresting with his breezy westernisms.
Another thing made it hard for Selby
love was in the airi Two couples
had been engaged before coming
There. Others should have been en-
gagged if they were not Some were
| flirting with refined zest.
One fine evening, incoming about by
i himself beneath the trees of a little
wood, he came suddenly upon Jack,
the son of his hostess and little Flor
ence Barclay; the mans arms were
about the girl, her floss-like hair, sill
lvered by the moon, bright against his
shoulder. He tried to get away I'M
lseen, but they started apart Young
Townsend went after him, taking him
into their confidence, asking him not
to mention a suspicion of what he had
lseen, as his mother had other plans
for him, and would make things
troublesome.
Then, since life had become I'M
lbearable to him, a matter of dying of
thirst with the water of love all about
him, he decided to leave. It was We'd
nesday, and at breakfast the next
morning he told her he must get back
Ito look after things on his estate, and
would be obliged to leave the next
lday. At luncheon she spoke of his
going, and every one regretfully beg
iged him to stay on. He was seated
opposite Sallie, who said nothing, but
her brown eyes met his blue ones in a
Hong gaze, and sudden burning blush
Iswept over her face and neck. She
lseemed unable for a moment to take
ther gaze from him; then she began
lchatting and flirting outrageously with
lSmith, who had, as usual. managed to
iget place beside her. But Selby'
y e. -