The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-02-14
THE EVENING STORY
When a Saint INTERVIEWED.
IBy Susanna Glenn.l

Miss Janet has been down to get
her Valentines giggled Flossie Brown.
peeplng out at the trim figure hurry
ing past.
'F1ossie Brown will be making fun
because went to the postohice to-
day.. mur1nured Miss Janet to herself,
seeing the saucy. peeping face, but
don't carei I just had to goi Now
T l can get home without seeing him!"
But behind her sharp steps crushed
the snow and rang clearly on the
crisp air. and a moment later James
Wybrant hurried past her with avert
ed lace. Had he, too been looking for
valentine?
MIN In the duh February twilight like
a. guilty thing Yet she had not the
faintest idea what had clanred the
mans loverlike attentions to an en-
NIFTY or ten weary years duration
And it happened on Saint Valentines
day.
81 was quite young and pretty,
then" she r-urunured a little patheti-
caIly, land now I'm Just Aunt Janet
an undesirable but rather convenient
member of some one else's family"
Tears sprang to her eyes. and her
lips Quiyered.
Il don't care If I do cry. I should
think might have that privilege once
in a wEile. and there is never time
at home"
Miss Jaret found no privacy in. her
brothers family. All day there were
never-ending duties for her willing
hands, and at night there was always
the Oldest niece, whom she had pity
irgly taken in when the second baby
came. and who now began to look upon
Aunt Jaret as an unnecessary adj
junct to their room.
tsrday. SO close had she held the mem
Dry. Her heart hurried little and
her thin cheeks flushed as she saw
again the happy girl in her pink, frilly
frock VINO waited in the little parlor
for the man who had even now passed
her with such sighting coldness.
How carefully he once had wrapped
her In the warm robes. How he had
cared Tor her with the tender atten-
lions dear to wo1ual's heart before
rustic party. How his voice had thrill
ed as he bade her good night under
the blinking stars.
Tomorrow is Saint Valentines
day." he had reminded her "You
needn't send me q valentine, dear; I'll
come after it myselfl'
"And he never came. He never
came" Miss Janet now sobbed out
right
IT will not think of it, she cried
with sudden vehemence, land I'll
never be such a poor, weak goose as
to go for the mail on Valentine day
again! I'll just hurry home and go to
work. No one seems to want me. But
I will not be silly, self pitying crea-
ture another day of my life!"
James Wybrant threw his mail upon
the living room table with a defiant
fng. The daily paper, a farm jour
nal and an advertisement for station
airy gasoline engines. 49,
well. what did you expect?" he de-
manded harshly.
Drawing a chair before the fire. he
sat down moodily to await his house
keepers call to supper.
you have been insuffera.bly rude"
urged the gentle spirit of the man in
sistently, "and she looks thin and
. but she prefers thiselife to to me-"
whispered Pride. "Sheg did her own
choosing p a.-s..s.ssss ssi.s-sss
.'Still, she was only a girl-she may
have changed her mind
"She shall live by her own deci-
sion,' fared Pride. "and-s7 shall Il"
But will not live happily-there al
ways will be the regret, and her I'M
happiness before you'll
Then" cried James Wybrant aloud,
"I'u go where can live in peacei"
All through his silent meal his mind
was at work.
He would go to his brother. who
was always nagging him to come
south. A neighboring farmer would
gladly rent his land, and the old house
keeper could live on in the house as
long as she desired.
I'll see Fred Hall tomorrow morn
ing about the place." he thought, once
more back in the lonely living room.
s'I'll get away as soon as can't will
be better for both of usi''
He opened the big old fashioned
secretary. Every compartment was
crowded with the accumulation of
years. From an upper and seldom
used pigeonhole he drew a bundle of
letters and spread them out before him
on the lid.
His heart gave quick throb as he
noticed a letter in Janet's delicate
writing; he reached for it eagerly,
and then dropped it into the waste
basket with a shrug at his own weak
ness. There were also letters from
his brother and long envelope, into
which had been carelessly thrust
some printed papers. AS he drew out
these a letter fell from among the
sheets, face downward on the table.
It was sealed and he turned 1t over
wonderingly.
On the face, in his own strong let
tiers, stood the name of Janet Bates!
Gazing at it, his eyes grew dark with
apprehension and a hot wave seemed
to stop his heartbeats. His fingers
trembled as he tore open the envelope
and unfo1ded the sheet. Facing him
were the words:
"My darling girl tried to find
valentine good enough for you. but it
can not be done. Gilt hearts and
cupids seem but poor things when I
think of you.
will you let me tell you what 1
really want to give you, dear? I want
to tell you all by ourselves, and I want
to tell you today-Saint Valentines
day!
There is always a confusion at
Y, ur brothers, and 1 want you all to
myself. tonight. Will you let me take
you out this evening as we go last?
When you are ready, put the lamp in
the window and I will come.
"Janet-Janet, want to give you
real heart instead of a gilded one!
I want to give you
With a groan the man dropped the
letter and covered his face with his