The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-11-25
THE EVENING STORY
Checking a Scandal.
NV Frank n. Meloon.)


speoted pastor of our Pottersville
church! How long do you think you'll
| remain respected If you can dlsproVe
| this possibly malicious gossip? Ana II
ought, under the circumstances, to
permit our engagement to continue? p
The Rev. Robert Bowden, young
and decidedly good-looking, permitted
! himself to smile compoSedly.
Elsie, haven't 1 always told you
that you are too emotional for your
own peace of mind, that you give way
too easily to first impulses
| I'm this case you would appear TO
be the emotional one. I don't see
how the criticism you so kindly offer
applies to me-" the girl persisted
! poutingly THE stories about you are
! all around town. Every ones SO stir
red up about them. You seem to De
the only one who doesn't care. You
don't deny them even now, so I've no
alternative except to believe them.
"You think it logically follows that,
| because a thing isn't denied, it must
perforce be true?" he asked quietly.
| Yes, dol" she replied, explosively.
Think it over a while, Elsie, and
am quite certain you will come 70
different conclusion urged the young
minister, his jaw setting firmly.
Here comes old Mrs. Wh1tby. ao-
wise you to go and leave me to surfer
alone her usual trade against her
younger sisters husband. I'll see you
tomorrow. Elsie and / am quite, quite
sure things will look different to you
by them
Was it a promise? The girl strobe
away. tossing her dainty head angrtly.
She felt that Robert had as good as
admitted his guilt. To think of him,
a minister with first class prospects,
endangering his whole career by flirt-
ing with silly actress! And he an en-
gagged man, too!
It was fortunate, the girl reflected,
that she had found out the POSSIBLE
ties of his duplicity before their mar
riage, which might now never take
place She had heard that man who
would flirt before marriage would do
so after the nuptial knot had been
tied. you can never tell anything
about a man." thought Elsie Courtney.
She had believed Robert Bowden to
be all that was good and honorable.
Yet now positive-or what seemed
positive-evidence that he had been
seen walking on the street with an
actress had come to her ears from sew
eral sources.
who was the actress? Elsie hadn't
learned her name, but of course she
was bad. To the untutored country
stage life might sometimes go togeth-
er had never occurred. She had new
er heard such thing suggested.
at was a fool to believe in any
man. said Elsie to herself bitterly.
Yes, even if he was minister. l
remember my poor mother when she
was alive used to tell me that few
men were to be trusted. 1 thought, |
however, that 1 was needing her ad- |
vice when accepted Robert. 1t SEEM
ed to me that he was one of the few.
Endeavoring to analyze her feel
ings, Elsie was surprised to find that |
she still loved her fiance.
A petite miss of perhaps twenty |
four years, with bewitching dark eyes,
and lips that were continually curving
into smile, Adele Whiton,, star OF
the ''Witching Minutes theatrical
company, was a girl to admire for her ;
beauty. And, better still, she was also
to be admired for the more sterling, !
more lasting qualities Her heart was
generous, and there was not an 1ota /
of selfishness. in her whole makeup.
Perseverance had brought her stage
success.
She met the Rev. Robert Bowden
at the incoming of the second section
of the New York flier at the station.
The look they exchanged was certain
ly one of deep affection. And the JOY
of meeting was very evidently mutual.
Elsie didn't want me to come to
you, Adele" the young minister vol
unteered amusedly. as they made
their way along with the swift, JOS
Ting current of the crowd.
Adele Wilton knitted her pretty
brows in mock distaste. But you are
here. It's evident even Miss Elsie
can't keep us apart"
mo, Adele, you have too firm
hold on my heart. And I decided to
tell her nothing, although she was
very much wrought up over what she
fancied to be my indiscretion. might
have told her the truth, but it seemed
better to me she should learn lesson
of trust, however severe"
''I wouldn't be too harsh with the
poor girl if I were you. Robert" ad-
monished Adele Wilton, gently, COM
Ing quickly with generous overflow of
sympathy to the defense of one of her
sex.
"Oh, now" laughted Robert cheer
fully, you can be sure 1 won't let
matters go too far. 1 think a great
deal too much of Elsie for that"
"And Elsie thinks too much of you
to allow her jealousy in the long run
to have serious consequences con-
Cured his fair companion.
st think you are right about that"
agreed Robert, hopefully. And now
you can watch for me at the theater
tonight, and I'll see you home after ,
the show"
The story that the pastor had not
only attended a theatrical performance, =
but also had escorted the leading lady
TO her hotel after the play, spread rap
idly about Pottersville on the busy
tongues of the gossips. Robert Bowden
to the parsonage and kept !
close to his study all the next day.
The deacons heard of what they termed ,
his goings on, land three of them made
up a deputation to seek him out. If