The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-03-15
THE EVENING STORY
EXPLANATION.
by Louise OIney


| finally gone to her father, who dis
claimed any knowledge of Marcia's
love affairs. His manner proclaimed
politely enough, his unwillingness to
be told of them. But Stephen Wright
| would be heard. He was not a man
whom even a narrowly escaped ia
! ther-in-law ignores.
| It's so-unfairl" re protested hot
| ly summing up the situation, land
| so-unlike her. One day she owns
| she loves me and promises to marry
me- A few hours after L am called
away by a telegram for a week-be-
| fore. 1 could even speak to you about
| it, sir" the old man bowed in rec
| ognition-"and on my return / find
on my desk, re-enveloped and ad-
| dressed to me in her hand, every one
of the frequent letters I wrote her
while away! Not one of them had
she opened Then I rush out to see
| her, and have servant tell me that
she is not at home 20 me. and never
| will be! l try the phone, and she
| refuses to talk. send Mrs. Town
/ send, her best friend and mine, to
her, and am told she coldly refused
to mention me! And now you, sir,
| say you can't help me!'
Women are alWayS-in some way
Unfair" said the Old man slowly, as
he rose defiantly. I know nothing
about this. l am-sorry for you, but
I can not interfere. l will tell her
word L will write YOU
That had been all. II was a pro-
| ceeding that matched the dulIness of
the November day.
Stephen had gone home, grilIed
hopelessIy over the matter for a
weary night, and in :he morning had
pitched into his business to keep
from thinking. He hated a mystery.
A mystery between himself and Mar
cia was unbearabIe. a month passed,
m hn fT-in 20 IL; l.
what he could have done. His clean
young life was unshadowed by any
thing darker than the merest usual
follies. He had always been decent.
had never loved any one but her. He
had had few epheIneraI boyish fam
cies, such as he had mad for Kate
Boyd, whom he had been beauing
about bit before Marcia came home
from college. From that moment
Marcia had been all, and Kate
mere friend. He was too chivaJrous
of mind to have it come to his mind
that Kate might have cared. She had
been jolly, Kate
cheer all passed. Stephen Wright
felt numb. His anger had left him,
and only helpless hurt remained.
He had given up going anywhere lest
he meet her, as he had done a few
times. once he had taken Kate, in
the old way to a little company.
Marcia was there. Somehow she
managed to avoid even speaking to
him. and early in the evening went
home with a headache which he be-
lieved to be unreal. Twice thereafter
he met her on the street. Her dark
bright eyes seemed not to see him.
Then he refused invitations from the
set to which they both belonged. He
would not trouble her nor torture
himself.
That was a bad winter. January
I.71lS, ,T<,.1 -,
came suddenly, unseasonably warm.
The SHOWS melted to rivers in the
streets. People caught colds. but an
electric shock of vitality passed
through everything Spring was on
On such an afternoon stephen. his
face a little thin and drawn, left the
overwork of the Office and strolled
out into the air. He began for the
millionth time to wonder why Marcia
had-then he stopped himself. That
way lay heartbreak and a sort of
madness. But-he still wanted an
that was her right. Perhaps when
summer came she would remember
and pity and send him a word. He
no longer had any pride in the mat
ter she could do as she would with
him.
The sun was hot. though the wind
was cold in Swallowed places. and,
wandering about, he could no longer
COnIrOJ MS ne luuSL 11uu
distraction. He turned aside to allow |
the passing of group of young girls, |
eyed, white gloved. festive |
with violets on their open coats. |
matinee bound. He looked after them |
Youth and beauty meant nothing to |
him but MARCIA" but he needed di- |
version. He also would go to the
theater though he knew the play
would be driveling-
He bought his ticket. checked his coat !
and found his seat. The curtain was |
vet down and the orchestra playing in /
the dim place Women were chattering |
all about him
The curtain rose in Que time and re- |
veale@ about what Stephen Wright had /
expected-a little truth, much mere rot. !
He wondered why people should need |
so rnuch-why this should |
anuse them. But some of it was not |
bad 1t all turned on a misunderstand-
ing between lovers, separated by the |
of a jealous woman. The
theme was very, very threadbar and /
ancient He wondered if such things /
really happened In plays, unlike life.
however. things were cleared UP.
Everybody knew why There was ex-
PLANTATION.
Gazing about between the acts, lie
saw Kate at the edge of a box. He
studied her face 1t was queerly drawn
and pale-a1most tragically worried. He
himself for neglecting a
friend just because he happened to be
wretched himself.
He straightway rose and went for
talk She was very con-