The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-10-28
THE EVENING STORY
Eavesdroppers.
(By Susanna Glenn.)

(By Susanna Glenn.)
Lucy Desmore settled herself com
fortably in the hammock back OF the
arbor. She had many pleasant things
to think about in case she cared 10
stay awake But the breathing OF
summer winds in the maple boughs
and the Sing-sOng of the bees among
the flowers soon soothed her to I'M
consciousness. She awoke with
start to hear voices in the summer
house.
"Win you be seated here for a few
minutes, Miss Tracy?" Aaron stan
ley's unmistakable voice was saying.
Il have something very special to
say to you"
ITO me. Mr.. Stanley?"
do not think me too abrupt, dear
Miss Florence, if 1 beg you to become
my wife," he continued without
further preamble. Every young
man should marry when he can main
tain a home. And 1 have long felt the
STRINGS of Iove-Florence!" He
paused eloquently.
s'Win you" he said, as the girl re-
manned silent, "be my wife %
"Oh, Mr.. Stanley, you can have no
idea how surprised I am never had
such a thought 1 esteem you very
highly and appreciate the honor you
confer, but-truly, this is impossiblei'
Lucy Desnore crouched among the
cushions her hands crushed against
her throat, too stunned to think or
stirring.
Then both occupants of the arbor rose
to their feet.
You have dealt most kindly with
my presumption" said Stanley gently.
''Will this make any difference with
our friendship, Miss Florence ??
'I trust we may always be friends
said the girl
Lucy heard them walk away. as if
in a dream.
How could he do it? How could
he do it?" she thought over and over.
Il can never believe a man againi"
Through her stunned mind passed
rem EN- brance of the hours spent
with him, of his devotion to her, OF
his fine strong face that she had
learned to trust, of the strange hap
piness his presence brought her.
She pressed her fingers over her dry
eyes to shut out the hooking beauty of
the afternoon.
Presently she heard some one again
approaching the summer house. Lucy
crouched miserably in the hammock,
too shattered to attempt flight or to
chance encountering any one
''Will you be seated here for few
minutes Miss MacWayne? have
something very special to say to you"
Lucy sat up suddenly rigidly. at the
sound. Aaron and Mary MacWayne!
ITO me-Aaron - faltered the as
tOniShed young lady.
ITO you, my dear Mary! Do not
think me too abrupt if I beg you to
become my wife. Every young man
should marry when he can afford to
maintain home. and I have long felt
tho STRINGS of lovei" He paused elo-
quently.
"wiiI you he finished impressively,
''be my wife ?"
'Oh. Aaron" walled poor Mary hys-
terically. ARE you crazy? never
dreamed of such a thing. I thought
you cared for
''Then you refuse me?" he interrupt
ed gently but firmly.
ooh, yes, yes!" she said, land I'm
so sorry. Aaron. if you are really sin
cerei"
you have dealt most kindly with
my presumption, Mary" he said quiet
| ~ ''Will this make any difference
with our friendship"
'I shall always want you for
friend" answered the girl regaining
her composure.
Then we Will forget all about it.
dear girl" he concluded with unmis
taxable relief in his voice.
Lucy sat motionless long after they
| had left the summer house.
"Can he possibly have gone crazy %
she thought.
When Lucy encountered Aaron STAN
! ley on the hotel veranda after dinner
that evening she studied him critically.
rene and healthy. His steady, sane
eyes looked into hers with a tender
ness that made her dizzy in spite of
her Overpowering fear and indignation.
/ Lucy" he said in his brief. COM
polling way, come with me for
walk
The girl rose reluctantly.
mot far she stipulated.
! "Only to the arbor.'' he said.
A sudden daring entered her heart.
Would he ask her. too? Is is rather
an unusual experience to be proposed
to in words familiar as those in
which this proposal would undoubtedly
| be versed:
81 may as well see it through" she
thought bitterly
In the fragrant twilight of the arbor
he made her comfortable in silence.
There Is to be a little variety this
/ time" she thought with strange hu-
NOR 81 am not asked to be seated
that l may have something very spe-
| ciaI said to me. Perhaps he laws his
failures to fault in his system and is
going to vary the program with this
victimI''
Lucy" he said huskiIy. taking her
cold little hands in his big comfort
able ones, 81 love you-I love you, II
seems almost absurd to tell you so. be-
cause I have loved you so long, and It
seems as if you must have known it.
ST could not ask you to marry me
before, dear. when I had nothing to
offer you. have just got the new po-
sition that I've been working for-I've
ONLY been reasonably sure of it for two
hours, and now can take care Of you
II,ucy as I would wish. Will you marry
| me- darling2 ] offer you clean re-
cord and as great a love as a man can
give a woman
"A clean record" cried Lucy Des-
trr1r