The Topeka state journal., 1911-08-11
THE EVENING STORY
A Change of Heart.
(By Estelle Iacy.)

with froWning impatence at the 1alr
girl who sat idly tracing fantastic pat
terms in the white sand at her feet
She waited to give final embellish-
ment before raising dark eyes that
held a look of quiet amusement in
their depths.
"Oh, / don't know, Barry" she re-
piled. tfIt really isn't my fault that
you insist on repeating that tiresome
question at regular in. ervals never
more than six weeks apart, nor am l
to blame that I can't give you the an
SWer you desire me to give SO just
where break any of the rules of the
game as you choose to call this sum
mer friendship of ours, I am at a loss
to understand" With a light shrug
of her shoulders, Catherine Hollister
rose to her feet and opened the gay
little parasol.
Granting that" returned her COM
panion quietly, still you might at
least give reason for your continual
refusals. Why won't you marry me,
Catherine ?'' he insisted as he took the
parasol from her hands.
The girls face flushed deeply at his
touch, but her voice was even as she
replied. 'I have given vet my wom-
ans reasons before and to all intents
and purposes it proved wholly made
quate. so why bother to repeat it?
might add, though, what I have re-
Trained from saying heretofore out of
S~NAOAA NCO~
ings-''
s'And that is?" the man inquired
''That you aren't at all the sort of
man would care to marry" she con-
tinued.
The man gave laugh that was in
tended to be careless. but his face
whitened at her words. ''If your dis
taste is engendered by any one partic-
lar shortconing that l might change"
he began, some what sarcastically.
"It isn't" the girl brcke in abrupt
ly. You are you and am t. she
said, "and any attempt to weld two
such natures into one harmonious
whole would result in inevitable dis
aster, SO why talk about it further ?''
And she dismissed the matter with a
little impatient gesture CT her hands
that was meant to express f1nality.
Together they walked along the beach
in silence, the man with grave face and
set lips, the girl carelessly swinging
along beside him. She had removed
her wide brimmed hat and the cool ev-
ening wind blew the soft hair around
her face. The man felt a Tightening
sensation in his throat as he looked at
her and every line and curve of face
and figure was stamped indelibIy on
his remembrance.
With all her winsomeness there was
yet an unapproachableness about Cath
crime Hollistcr that kept most men at
a distance, and it was a hint of mock
eyes that bad kept Barry Churchill from
revealing the whole strength and ten
derneSs of a passion that had touched
the very depths of his contained
nature. Like a wall his cold restraint
and pride rose between himself and
the girl until her very soul cried out
against it.
That night she sat by her open win
dow looking out over the storm-swept
expanse of ocean that had been so
MIA Fa1u
were wide ana her heart was filled with
a tumultuous pain that all her calm
reasoning could not STILL
why can't he be more warmly hu-
she rose and began to take down
heavy braids of gold that were coiled
around her head.
You're a perfect goose she said to
the girlish reflection in the glass ITO
think of you, Catherine Hollister, ac-
customed all your spoiled life to
perfect excess of love and tenderness,
dreaming of marrying Barry Churchill!
Why his proud Indifference and self
centered affection would break your
hungry little heart into a thousand
fragments in less than a month and
he would never dream that he had
been the cause of iti'' With laugh
that was half a sob she turned down
the light and slipped downstairs to her
sisters room.
Opening the door softly, she peeped
in. Hello Cathie.' exclaimed her sis
ter's husband. .'Come in and join our
happy circle
"Can't," returned Catherine. "I
thought Madge said you were going 70
be away tonight or wouldn't have
ventured down. I'm lonesome and
want to borrow the baby If she isn't
asleep"
turned the fond parent as he turned |
fo a siIk-Ifned crib that held the Jewel |
of the household.
Here Dolly Dimple,'' he said as he
lifted a growing bundle of soft muslin |
and lace from its depths. GO COM
aunt of yours while I enjoy my book
and pipe in peace for half an hour" /
AS he laid the baby in the girls out |
stretched arms, he gave one of her
long braids gentle tweak, Why
don't you marry Barry and settle down
to a happy home life of your own?'' he
asked, teasingly.
why should I. when I can borrow
all its Joys and save myself its sor-
rows?" she retorted IaughingIy.
AS she stepped out into the hall. the
entrance door was hurriedly opened
and the tall, coated figure of Barry
confronted her.
where's Jack. Mrs. Weston % he
began breathlessly, his eyes blinded
for the moment by the bright light of
the room.
''Oh. I beg your pardon" he ex-
claimed quickly, as he discovered the
identity of the slender figure. Ma
DONNA" he breathed, as he looked
down at the lovely vision, and
warmth and tenderness such as
Catherine had not dreamed his nature
capable of, came into his face.
When he spoke again. after A long.
tense moment, his voice was quiet and
unmoved as ever. s.I want to see Jack
a moment" he explained. There's 8