The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-06-05
THE EVENING STORY

(By NJ. J. Phillirs.)

(By NJ. J. Phillirs.)
Now, 1 wonder said Ellery Todd,
to himself.
The friendly Miss Middleton was
playing tennis. She was graceful
about it, as were nearly all the your 8
ladies at Dunwoody Downs.
But the friendly Miss Middleton was
something besides gaceful; she was
effective. When the little white ball
came skimming over the net, she was
there fraction of second before it.
"A bundle of steel springs unused
Ellery Todd. She never acquired
that speed and stamina on a ball
room floor. Is it possible? But no;
her sister. the stiff one, is a regular
'loller,' like most of these festive re-
sorters. It's too good to be true
| 'Loller," a word Ellery had coined,
meant person who could inhabit a
veranda chair, or the seat of a boat.
or bit of beach with repose that
elsewhere would have meant sheer
laziness. He was learning to be a
"loller" and hating himself for his
success.
Todd was interested in the friendly
Miss Middleton before that tennis
game, and he was more interested AT
terward. Because, first, she was good
to look upon. When her shining
hair was dampened it curled in tight
little circles on her forehead and on
the nape of her neck.
He liked her because they got along
SO comfortably together. Most peo-
pie found Todd too quiet and reserved
for summer resort. The friendly
Miss Middleton got into the habit of
| dropping into the chair alongside
him, and talking about a variety of
| things.
Then he liked her because of the
mystery which surrounded her. That
cool day, when the young people or
ganized notwithstanding party TO
explore 3: Big Bald Knob. her sister. the
stiff Miss Middleton, had said in a
| significant aside, "Of course, you're
not to CO." And Ellery and Beryl.
which was her name, he had discov-
cred, watched them depart, a trifle
wiStfully.
Another morning, when the ocean
was t'anketed with a mist as thick as
| cotton wool, he had encountered her
| On the lonely beach, a long way from
the hotel. His heart had beat warm
| Iy, as it had that day when he first
saw her playing tennis. But just
tLen young Fosters motor horn had
honked out on the road and she had
some in answer to the signal.
He thought about her a good deal,
which took his mind off the fact that
re had been sick a matter of three
| months, and it helped his recovery.
They got better acquainted as e.
| ers'' to the class of Give ones" Her
other admirers began to resent the
long legged Todd guy" Likewise
they resented the comradely smile of
perfect understanding that passed be-
tween Todd and Beryl when they met.
Miss Beryl.' said Ellery, IT am
about to tell you the secret which has
burdened my fair young life
They were sitting on the thick turf
| IF the headland which overlooked the
| covered ocean and beach.
Beryl Middleton shot her companion
glance. 1t was a momentary, fleet
Ing look, yelled by very long Iashes,
know. A woman has sixth sense
! which sleeps until the man in whom
she is interested arouses it. Now her
sixth sense told Beryl that the secret
Of Eilery Todd was neither disgraceful
nor fraught with serious consequences.
They say" continued Ellery, that
we get half our personality from our
! parents, and half from our other an
cestors. If that's the case. my two
| most influential forebearS were a cave
| man and a sun-worshipper. For
love to walk and I love the sun.
Walking has always been my fa-
vorite pastime. 1t isn't that I get into
Lew places and SEQ new faces.
could do that with an automobile, or
| even a bicycle. But 1 want to get out
and tramp the woods, with the wind
or the snow or the rain in my face.
| And if the sun will only shine-that's
harpiness! My cave-man ancestor
who had just come down from the
| trees and discovered he would rather
walk than swing from branch to
! branch has sent all his thrill down to
me. The sun-But perhaps I bore
ycu?"
60 on-do go on!' replied Mss
| Middleton, earnestly.
II know my sun-worshiping ances-
tor has something to say. When the
day is clear, and I stand in an open
place, the universe is at my feeti With
the sun in my eyes, could go to the
ends of the world! The vision that I
see and dreams that I dreami"
He dropped back on his elbow
again, a little ashamed of his eio-
quence. Il hope you won't think me
quite crazy he continued, half laugh
ing. But 1 know what's good for
me. Our affairs in the Office tangled
straight had to stay in. working hard.
That brought on a fever and they had
a tough time pulling me through. A
few jaunts into the country, a few
score miles on the road. would have
kept me we'll: but I didn't have the
time.
81 came up here to convalesce, and
1 don't dare tax myself too much-yet.
That's why I loll about the veranda
like tabby-cat in warm corner. But
Inn better now. Pretty sool I'm 60
ing to hike! There's my dark secret;
what do you think of it ?" He turned
to the girl with more trepidation than
he dared admit. even to himself.
| Her low, clear laughter rippled out,
but there was wonder in her eyes as
she spoke.
/ IT knew there was some one in the
world like me-but it's almost too
strange to be all true. For, Mr.. Ell
llery Todd, you're not the only person
who likes to walki"
do you? Do your" he queried,
eagerly.
do I. indeed! Back home. they
Lcau me the walking girl, I'm ALWAYS