The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-20
THE EVENING Story
Chance VS.. choice.
By Jeanne o. Loizeaux,

Chance VS.. Choice.
(By Jeanne o. Loizeaux.
cts a matter of chance" COM
| mented Bertrand, struggling into his
coat and hastily preparing to take Ms
body where his heart already was
ten miles away on the green links. II
was the last of May, hot, and SATURDAY
afternoon. and he was glad to leave
| the office. He was also glad to get
| away from Harrison, who was in love
and liked to talk about marriage.
| TITS a matter of chance" ne IN
| sisted. ANY sane man would prefer
his freedom. You know 1t, Harrison !;
He fights shy as long as he can, ana
| when chance throws just the right girl
| in his way. she gets him. He strug-
giles, then yields, then pretends he was
! the aggressor, whereas he is nearly al
ways merely accessory after the fact!
He gets ANONYMOUSLY engaged, ana
| then tries to talk himself and his
! friends into believing that no mere
| single man can know what happiness
ISL
| 1.-THE man chooses" said Harrison
doggedly, putting some documents into
: the safe. Nov. L"
! His friend and partner lifted pro-
testing hand and started for the door
| his merry dark eyes dancing, his cap
| on the back of his dark head.
"DontI We all know just what
happened to you! You went to a party
and met a pretty lady from Los An
geles and will never be yourself again!
I'm going now, so you can write your
daily 40 pages to her. But you're a
living warning to me, I've sense enough
| to know I'm susceptible, and don't
daily with temptation, old feliow-see
! you Monday. Hope it isn't going to
rain!' He swung into the corridor of
| the big Office building, but Harrison
was after him.
wait moment" he said. Want
to tell you something-heard yester-
day that Mona Waite is to marry that
Rawson creature from-where is he
from? Nobody seems to know. What
Mrs. Harley meant by introducing
him about I can't think! 1 thought
that you and Nona-"
John Bertrand shrugged his Shout
ders the least bit and took the eleva-
tor down. He would not discuss Mona
with any one. his little playmate from
childhood. She was too close-like
sister But the information about
Rawson brought black scowl to his
face. He would see the girl-hadn't
seen her for months save in public,
and he now remem bered as he went
out on the street that she seemed to
avoid him. Then he remembered golf
and the country club and forgot every
thing else. He hoped Carter would
be on hand. Carter played a real
game and made opposition worth the
trouble.
Despite hint of wet in the air.
the day was perfect, the links were
perfect, Carter was waiting and the
world was bright. Bertrand got his
clubs and started, losing himself in
the game.
Half way around the course he sud
denly recognized Mona. She was
with Rawson, who was no match for
her at golf or any game. She gave
Bertrand the merest recognition. In
fact she almost turned her back on
him, and her nod was small and
chilly. What had he done? He teed
off, wondering. The girls little red
brown head was uncovered to the sun,
her blue dress blowing in the breeze.
She gave a vicious drive and missed
the ball. That was unlike her usual
careful, deliberate game:
Wondering what he should say to
her about Rawson, he missed his own
drive and anathematized himself ind
vigorous words, hereafter concen-
trating his mind on the business of
the game in hand. He was no man
to do two things at once. When he
looked up and saw the sky clouding.
Also ne saw Nona's blue dress dis
appearing into the wood beyond,
Rawson still beside her. He frowned
and holed in with fine accuracy. He
was leaving Carter far behind.
Before long he felt drop of rain
on his face, made a wild drive, and
in searching for his ball, the caddy
being evidently of no account, he
came close to the little wood with it's
wild paths and rustic seats. The
caddy told him, what he knew him
self, that it was beginning to rain, a
soft, swift, summer shower. He sent
his clubs back by the boy and turned
into the wood. He did not. mind a
wetting He loved the wet, fresh
grass, the budding flowers the great
trees. He went up path and then
through brush up a slope to an i'm |
mense elm. 1t would shelter him and
he could enjoy the outdoors and
think.
Leaning against the great trunk. |
he suddenly remembered Mona and |
sort of fear for her possessed him. |
Had Rawson gotten her back to the
club house? There was neither car
line, house, nor other shelter in this
direction, and he knew she was afraid
of a storm OF course the fellow |
knew enough to look after her-but |
Bertrand was nervous. The sky was
growing very black and thunder be-
gan to rumble distantly. He deliber-l
ateIy started out to look for the girl. |
He had not gone a rod when he
heard a swish in the bushes and
turning, heard e. queer little fright
ened sound. He saw nothing. but
without consciously intending to, he
called out:
"Nonat Where are you?" In a mo-
ment he saw her come from behind a
tree. She was very pale, and as he
rushed. to meet her. she came quickly