The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-11-22
TIE EVENING STORY
rhe 1ndependence of Catherine.
(By Jane Osborne.)

ell LII just tell you IulS AhUSA'
Helen; if you ever see me letting any
man take my arm, you can just know
Pm engaged to him" So said indie
pendent Catherine Potter to her chum,
Helen Wild. II know we live in
sleepy, backwoods, old-fashioned town,
but the way the girls here let the men
pilot them from one end of the town to
the other, just as if they couldn't walk
quite as well by themselves, I think is
ridiculous! And now you, of all people.
I followed you for eleven blocks on my
way up here today, and 1 do believe
Billy Lands had his hand on your ell
bow half the way. 1 think it's awfully
silly
but 1 can't help it," Helen defended
herself. eff a man says May L? when
you come to a crowded crossing, and
then forgets to take his hand away,
what can 1 do? I don't know"
well, do" said Catherine, straight
ei1ing herself up to the fullness of her
five-feet-two. You can say that you
don't like to be led about like baby.
You can say Please DON'T"
"But don't like being di5agreeable,"
Helen went on.
Pm not disagreeabIe. I've just got
some sense
Inwardly Helen acknowledged the
truth of the statement. Certainly men
did not find Catherine Potter disagree
able. They seemed to like her indie
pendence. But although Helen did JUS
tfce to GATHERINGS powers of attrac-
ton, she would not admit openly the
right of GATHERINGS point of view.
Anyway. Catherine Potter" she con-
tended, 'I'll wager you a pound of
chocolates that within a week you'll
forget yourself and some of US will see
you calmly letting man steer you
about this old town of Warren"
mo, indeed" reiterated Catherine.
eff you, or anybody else, ever sees me
Iatfino anu man Mint mo around bV
the arm unless, of course, it's night in
a big crowd, where I just can't get
along by myself, you can just know
I'm engaged to him. And then, even,
I won't like it,
Helen chuckled to herself over her
friends explosive declaration of her be-
liefs and privileges. And before the day
was over she had passed on the story
of GATHERINGS declaration to many of
the young people who made up what
was called the younger set of Warren's
socially elect. These, in turn. had
passed it on to their elders, and soon
all Warrent was smiling to itself at
GATHERINGS expense.
So it was that William Lands, one Of
the men who found GATHERINGS indie
pendence irresistible. hit upon a plan.
81 know that Catherine likes me. at
least" he unused to himself, thinking
of the time, week or SO ago, when
the spirited Catherine had refused to
that he was talking nonsense. "She is
just afraid to let herself go. She's so
used to being independent, she doesn't
know how to be anything else. It may
be mean, but I'll put her in a position
where she has to explain things, and
then Wen see what will happen"
William kept his plans to himself,
not even confiding it to his good friend
Helen Wild, who had told him of
GATHERINGS declaration.
Warren boosted one business street
of Importance called Main street. 1t
was necessary that all the town, when
it went shopping or visiting or to its
work, should at some time or other
cross or traverse this thoroughfare.
One day, a few days after GATHERINGS
call upon Helen, William Landis re-
turning to his office after luncheon,
suddenly saw Catherine coming unsus-
pectingly toward him down Main street.
He quickly prepared to put his care
fully formed plan into practice.
Just as Catherine caught sight Of him,
when he was only a few feet away,
William skillfully shook his eyeglasses
from his nose. Both lenses shattered
themselves on the stone sidewalk. In
apparent CONSERVATION he stopped and
CROPPED about the sidewalk, finally pick
ing up and pocketing the gold nose
piece. He squinted his eyes up ana
stared at Catherine as sh stopped in
front of him.
''Oh, that is you. Catherine. couldn't
quite make you out. I am in an awful
hole" he lied glibly. GLASSES broken
and can't see three feet away. I sup
pose I will have to stagger home the
best way I cam" William smiled
sighed, lifted his hat, and started to
walk away. He carefully collided with
a lamp-post.
Billy said Catherine. forgetting
her prejudices in a moment, "I just
can't let you go running into things
like that. Here she said, putting
her hand on his arm, Couldn't guide
your
why, you are awfully good If you
don't mind, just to my Office door; or
Just till we see some little boy that
would take a poor old beggar like me
for a quarter"
mo, indeed" said Catherine decfd-
eddy. "I can just as well walk home
by way of your office as not, and no.
body IL notice that I'm leading you:
they'll think you are just helping me.
I'm not going to have any little raga-
muffin leading you around like blind
beggar; why, you'd be getting a dog
and a tin cup next!''
Catherine ratified on. trying to dis
tract Williams attention from his
plight
'I didn't know his eyes were so
quized-
William Jagged and pretended to |
stumble to prolong the pleasant walk. |
In the meantime he looked anxiously |
about for a familiar face. His search |
was rewarded. Making their way |
through the crowd were two of Cath |
crimes friends, young women who were |
also friends of Helen Wild. He saw
them exchange a knowing glance as
49, A ~