The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-11-09

pink as a rose, in a pinker dress-a
most silly dress for a mountain walk.
Her eyes were blue and angry, for she
saw his joy.
I'll excuse him from the walk" she
said, not dreaming that he would let
her excuse him. II am sorry he must
CO." she smiled conventionally at
him.
You are very good" he said. 1--WE
would have had to hurry. 1t is quite
three, and shall need time to pack
VIII you forgive me if 1 get at it, Mrs.
Broussard ?''
Murmuring sympathy, fear that he
was not yet strong enough for work,
she followed him into the hall, but he
finally got safely to his room.
Both the women gave him chance
TO say goodby to Angelica alone, but
ne neither saw the chance nor took it.
He would not have dreamed that she
might care, and he had not observed
the subtle widows tactics. He had
before him Peters & Peters, the city
of Des Moines-and Mary.
To the slight CONSERVATION of
everybody but his unconscious self,
Philip Bowen actually made that 6
self in his section, had his berth made
up early, and slept away all of the
journey that he could-it would be
altogether too long for him, at best
Colorado was behind him-2 mere
episode.
The next day he played cards with
a travelling man from Milwaukee,
youth from Kansas City and an old
farmer, and time passed. 1t was
Saturday; he would strike home Sun
day morning. And Monday-he was
impatient for the business atmosphere.
Also he was very acutely concerned
about Mary.
Straight from the train he went
through the hot July morning to his
hotel, ate, bathed, and went to bed. He
was tired, and not yet overstrong. But
early Monday morning he was up, and
at breeZed into Peters & Peters like
long lost son returned. His world
was glad to see him, and made much
Of him. He got himself in harness
before noon, keener than ever with
business. 1t suited him. But Mary
did not appear. So he asked the
junior partner fatty what had become
of her, and that individual was evil
IDENTIFY i'll at ease.
She's-reSigned," he said. Z
don't know her plans
The ringing of the phone cut off the
conversation, but that evening Philip
dressed with care and did what he
had never done before. He called on
Miss Mary Mount. She was at home.
Together they sat on the porch of the
little cottage in the suburbs and talked
with her mother. Finally he got her
to walk with him up the path where
woods yet unswallowed by the park
commission.
Look here, Mary" he said like a
shot, why did you leave Peters %
Even in the twilight he could see her
sudden hot flush. Going to be
mo" she breathed, mo, no! but I
had-worked there long enough-I-''
He finished for her, and most imper-
tinently, but she did not reprimand
him.
Eyes, we all know the Junior part
ner wasn't-isn't good enough for you,
Mary! The whole office loves you"
He drew her hand under his arm.
She gave a queer little laugh. The
whole-office?'' she said, whimsically
''Are-you sure?''
I'm sure of-myself," he said hot
ly, and then realized what he had said
that he wanted to say it, that he
had come home to say it-just that,
and that he hung upon what she
would reply when he asked, as he did.
MARY, you know I couldn't rest
until 1 got here and told you how 1
wanted you'll Could you care for me?
Do you?" She did not laugh this time, /
but she nodded her head, and it was
so close to his arm that he felt it.
Mary" he said, leading her along
n the dusk, "Oh, Mary!'-(Copyright !
1912, by McClure's Newspaper Syndi- |
eate.)