The Topeka state journal., 1911-09-09
THE EVENING STORY
For Charity.
(By Belle Maniates.l

I
a life of luxurious environment, but
she was watching the crowd halted at
the drawbridge with SYN pathetic in
| terest.
Like a Ioosened ant hill, the crowd
spread over the returned bridge, MAX
ing a scurrying scramble for the street
cars.
"Oh!" she exclaimed to herself
with indrawn breath. He won't make
it,
Her eyes were following the sprint
ing of a young workman. Her car.
moving with cautious slowness, passed
him. His eyes, as he watched his van
ishing car, were full of weariness and
disappointment. Then they suddenly
turned to her with an expression of
combined admiration and wonder
stop, Charles!" She spoke to the
chauffeur.
II am sorry you missed your car
she said to the workman as her car
halted. Wont there be another
soon?"
Not a cross-town car. I live miles
nooning!" he lamented.
81 should be pleased to take you
home"
'"Thank you" he replied gratefully
She had expected him to take the
seat beside the chauffeur. but he
opened the tonneau door and sat with
her.
He leaned forward and gave his
street and number to the chauffeur.
Are you married % she asked in
terestedly.
mot 1! I wouldn't have the nerve
to ask a girl to live on my wages.
She couldn't.
''She could if she cared. She would
be glad to put up with any life you
might make for her.
He laughed ironically.
What do you know about it2 The
man that works next to me has a
house full of children to feed. He
turns white every time the foreman
comes in for fear he's going to be laid
off or have his wages cut. Such as
you know nothing of the poor"
7 do krowi Long ago I was poor,
very poor. My father was a work
man like you. and there wasn't al
ways work.
He must have struck a gold mine"
He did. We went west to have
home AS you suppose, he found q
gold mine through sheer luck"
Sounds like Lucky Forbes" laughed
"That is what he is called. You
know hin?"
what poor man hasn't heard of
him and envied him.
ing keenly at her with his piercing
eyes blacker than the grease which
covered his face saw the pitying in
terest she bestowed on the thin-faced
children and men Fastening to their
monday meal
face.
Money hasn't spoiled you. You're
different from other rich people"
-'They-most Of them-don't realize
what poverty is. 1 do. and I long
to help. That r an with the children
that you spoke of want to give him
ttis,'' drawing a bill from her purse
He'd take it from YOU
''No!" he said, eyeing the bill and
the donor curiously-
HE wouldn't take help that way.
Besides. you don't know whether 1
would give it to him or not
YES, I do" she replied earnestly.
You are an honest man"
How do you know?' he demanded
by the surest way-fcr a woman.
feel it,
He was silent moment; then he
said quietly: The poor, the working
poor, are proud. Tom would not take
this. but if you really want to help
his wife is a seamstress and wants to
get work"
.'I'll give her work" she said eager
Iy. Where do they live7"
'No. 1712 Allen street. If you will
meet me here with your car at the
drawbridge Saturday at this time, I'll
go there with you.
"And you.'' she reminded
A slight flush came to his pale face
abruptly. Thank you for the lift"
Recollection of the workmen haunt
ed her all day. Though he spoke
brusouely. it was with a refinement
not usual to his class. He was dis
placed in her memory, however, by
the excitement attending the receipt
of an invitation to dine at the home
Of the exclusive Fletcher Ward.
She was slightly disheartened by
the nonchalant, though courteous,
greeting he gave her the night of his
function The man who took her out
to dinner was a we'll known philan- |
thropist, and they discussed the sub |
ject of charity work with mutual in |
terest. Her eyes sparkled and her |
cheeks flushed with excitement over
the argument, until she happened to
encounter the amused eyes of her host. |
She detected a hidden sarcasm in his
smile, and she studiously avoided |
glancing his way throughout the din |
ner.
The next day was Saturday. When |
she went to keep her engagement with |
the workman, she rode in her electric |
brougham to show him that she trust |
ed entirely in him
He was not in sight when she
reached the drawbridge. While she |
was waiting Fletcher Ward came up
to her car.
May 1 ask you to drive me uptown.
if you are going that way? Ny car
broke down in the next street"
Il am very sorry," she replied, |
flushing; ebut 1 had an appointment /
here to meet man. He hasn't come |
yet"
ing here in this part of the city |
yes" she replied gravely. "It is