The Topeka state journal., 1911-08-12
THE EVENING STORY
A Heart in Cold Storage.

1t was hot August afternoon, and |
Sylvia Morrison, with a wan listless |
face, lifted her arms to remove her
white hat. Her eyes avoided the eager
face of the man who had come into
the cool drawing-room with her
after their walk in the garden. Her
slim young figure and dark, sad eyes
had something tragic about them
Finally the man spoke.
'Sylvia-you don't treat me fairly.
1t isn't as if I hadn't been patient"
Not isn't fair. IlI-tell you in
the morning. Won't you leave me
now? 1 won't keep you waiting
longer than that
He turned and left her, and looking
after him she wished she loved him,
wished she could love him really. She
stood moment and then went slowly
up to her own room. On the landing,
resting moment, she heard her elder
sisters voice, and for sheer fascinated
misery forgot she was eaves-dropping.
jamie was speaking to Nellie.
sylvia treats Lee Stevens vilely; she
should marry or dismiss him. What
do you suppose ails her? Could it be
John Morrison? You know he sud-
denly stopped coming herein March,
I think it was. They came in from
walk one highland he never came
again, Somehow I have never dared
ask her what happened"
| Nellie answered in her prim way.
/
can't understand it And he looks
miserable though he is always with
| Joanna Selby. Do you suppose Sylvia
was-just flirting with him? 1t isn't
\ like her to fiirt. I believe she really
cared. If she refuses Lee 1 shall know
she cared"
| Suddenly Sylvia put her hands to
| her ears, fed noislessIy to her room,
locked the door, and flung herself
upon the bed.
So they all knew! All knew she
loved Johni She did, she did! She
said it over softly to herself. Well,
now she would cry till morning, and
then she would tell Lee she would
was fond of him, and would make him
a good wife. But he would never
know just what had happened be-
tween her and John.
AS she lay miserabIy thinking of the
past, she recalled that March walk.
She was so sure he loved her-she was
sure he was going to say so, but at a
lcorner Tessie Clarke, always where she
wasn't wanted, Joined them and stay
ed with them until John, with final
the door. She had ever since been
unable to bear the sight of the fur
coat she had worn. Then she recalled
the next day.
Lee Stevens whom she had known
before John, had come to call on her;
then they had gone out into the bright
winter and down town for some tea
she was always kind to Lee; he did
nicely for company when John was
too busy to be with her. When they
reached the tea-room and were seated
she rem embered having a queer, sink
ing feeling. She looked up and saw
2 who but John Morrison at little
table, alone. He looked at her and
: she smiled brightly. Then he rose
r and walked over to her. She would
n FORGOT his words
j. "Just why did you come here?"
4 ''Why-because Lee asked me to!'
she had said.
e Then John had laughed a strang,
little laugh, and bowed to Lee.
S "You are sure you didn't come be
t cause 1 asked. you?'' She thought i
e must be one of his jokes, and tried tt
n laugh.
!: John bowed again. and wakes
Il away. It was queer, but after that h
e had never come near her. She re
: called the awful sinking of the heart
o the wretched days and nights that fol
lowed.
It Later, Nellie came to the door an
T called her to dinner, but she said sh
: had a headache and would not g
u down. The good little sister wante,
Z to come in, but was not admitted
She chatted a moment, then calle
n "sylvia-I got your coat out of col
! storage with mine today-thought yo
: might like to have it made over. tt
on your couch-look it over, and
you don't want it fixed will have
sent back. Now go to sleep for you
= poor head
e But Sylvia sprang up, turned on tn
I lights, and dragged the fur coat from
e its box It smeIIed horribly of moth
IS balls. And she both loved and hate
a the sight of it-poor old coat! Sh
: picked it up, put her cheek to it, an
y began to handle it.
q Half mechanically her hand slid int
n an outside pocket-and touched some
g thing stiff. wondering, she drew ou
e an envelope. It was still white an
fresh, and-her heart stopped. 1t wa
Le addressed to her, and-in Johns Dol
d handwriting Still as in dream, sh
Ut tore it open and stood reading, while
=? hood of warm joy came over her. Oh
3e he had=he had loved her-eve
n though it was too late now! She say
q why he had never come TO her agar
4. why he had acted so queerly at the te
n room. She saw it all. She could no
rs cease reading the letter:
t. Dearest Sylvia
l. you're always so surrounded tha
S. I can't get a word with you, so ar
writing how I love you. L have love
you from the first minute. believe
It takes few words to tell the res
ID thing. But love you. 1 am rushe
t. to death at the office, but II you ca
a care, if you do care, come to the tea
al room and meet me tomorrow after
/ noon at three, and I shall at least sc
l. you. and know, and be able to wal
t. until I can get to you in the blesse
evening. Somehow 1 do feel that
n am to be-how happy! VIII you come
IN write me a note and say you will, bu
~ come anyway. John"
r That was all. He had slipped it int
L her pocket, sure that she would fin
s. lit-and she never had.
lie After standing for long while, i
y. the glaring light, a sort of cold whit
10 decision came over the girl. 1t wa
O. too late now, but anyhow John MOI