The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-05-12
THE EVENING STORY
His Woman-Proof Heart.
-Somerville Journal.
By Joanna Single.)

innings began TO happen IN JOnn
DORIS hitherto quiet life. He had been
one June morning, Foster, the senior
partner, called him to the inner office
Taunton, the other firm member, was
grinning in his happy fashion.
You're junior partner, Dorr, from
this time forth! How do you like it?"
Both older men rose and shook hands
with him. Their friendliness was per-
sonal as well as in business.
DORIS steady dark eyes lighted hap
PLY. He was probably thirty-three or
four, of the slow-going but absolutely
sure sort. He said nothing could be
better And then they discussed the
financial side. An hour later he was
leaving them, when Taunton stopped
him jocularly.
We've only one fault to find with
you, John. You're not quite human
with that woman-proof heart of yours!
You seem never to even see a girl-and
they all see you'll Marry and be one Of
us, and have some real life in that lit
tie cottage of yours. Eh?''
Dorr laughed, but his reserve was not
broken. Some marry, like you; some
like me-do not. 1 consider myself a
successful bachelor He left them, not
saying that love had seemed to pass
him by. He would marry, if ever, be-
cause love came and found him, not be-
cause other men married.
The next astounding thine hammered
the next morning. Miss Gray, always
at her desk early, was waiting for him
NO one else was down yet, and she fol-
lowed him to the inner room and closed
the door. In the year she had been in
The office she had spoken to nobody
there save on business. and almost
never to Dorr. Now she laid a shining
handful of jewelry on the desk before
him, and stood, tall and slender her
race grave, her gray eyes serious. She
SPOKE as II comforting rather than
asking a favor
Gould I get-s20o on these? 7
know nothing about pawning things"
through his amazement he noted
the depth of her clear eyes, the way
her fine, smooth brown hair framed
her face, the little lines at her tenn
pies. She could not havesbeen imuch
under thirty. He examined the heavy
OLD watch of fine gold, two diamond
rings, one very good; a little sapphire,
like a blue eyes, and other trinkets.
should think SO. Why not let
us-the firm--advance the money!"
She shook her head firmly. serhat
would not-do. And need the money
this afternoon, too. I thought you
could tell me the best place to 60"
They are all-horrible places. Pro-
perry managed some of them might
lend 1t. Tll-go for you. You couldn't
go to place like that"
She turned as if the matter were
settled. Thank you very much" she
said pleasantly and went back to her
desk.
He liked it that she did not ex-
pain, that If she had troubles she
did not mention them, and that, what
ever 1t was, she came to her own firm.
But 1t set his thoughts upon her. How
came she to have such expensive
things? Why did she need money?
She had a good salary, lived very qui-
iY1nx cir-
she boarded, and had vague idea that
all her people were dead. He thought
he Would-Why, he would quietly keep
her jewels and give her the money
himself! Then he knew she would not
accept it. He was driven to deceit He
pawned the watch only, as less per
sonal, and when he gave her the en-
velope of bills, merely showed her the
ticket. explaining that he would keep
it and get the things when the 90 days
were I'D.
But the matter disturbed him, and
he wished it had not occurred, He
furtively studied her. She was a lady.
The Quietness of her dress and man
ner, the perfection of her toilet. above
all, her reserve, showed that. Her voice
was cultivated, and her work showed
the grasp and accuracy Of a trained
mind.
AS the hot June days passed he saw
change in her Miss Taylor, the
bookkeeper, had gone on her vacation,
and as business was light, Miss Gray
did her work in her absence. Was it
too much for her? Dorr noted that for
the first time since he had known her,
she seemed worried. Her eyes were
Swallowed. her face pale. He spoke to
her about it one Saturday noon after
the others had left and were not to
return. She was bending over a ledger
Miss Gray it's pretty hot here
You'd better not stay-let it go until
Monday. Shall I work at it for an
hour? I can
She seemed to shrink from him, and
protested.
mo-" she said, "let me do it. I'm
learning-you know I'm not an expert
eneed bookkeeper-TI get along all
right -
He left her. but he thought her
manner strange. Was anything wrong !?
Surely not. But when Monday morn
ing came, she was there at the office
when he entered, bending over the
ledger with a little frown on her brow.
He walked straight up to her.
Has anything gone wrong?" he
asked in his steady, elder-brother
manner.
Her eyes met his almost gratefully,
in a sort of resolve or relief. She asked
a strange thing of him.
could you stay and-help me a
moment tonight-when the others are
gomez"
If it had. been any one else, any one
less perfectly dignif1ed and imper-
sonal, he would not have liked the re-
quest. Just then Foster entered, and
Dorr knew something lad happened
to him-he had a hot desire to shield
her from Fosters look-from even the
thought of any one else. It was pro-
tective impulse that sprang up to de-
fend her, and set seal upon him. He
never forgot how she looked at that
moment. Her eyes were like flowers.
That evening she went straight to