The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-01-27
THE EVENING STORY
An Interrupted Story.
fRy lane Osborn.l

mark around a certain holiday in Feb
ruary to remind himself that that
day was to be kept sacred. Then ne
was going to write much-dreameo-
/ of story, for which in the busy round
! of his duties as managing editor OF
the local paper he had no time on
workdays. Hence the black, soft pen
! Gil mark on the calendar over his
chiffonier to remind him night and
morning-warn him lest he should
the neighborhood Qualifications. Pretty
little Jeanette Gray, who lived next
! door, had leased him to come with
them, but he was firm.
Will lived alone with an indulgent
mother, whose sole thought on Wills
holidays was to make things as cheer
full as possible, but VIII had been
toreslghted enough to induce a favor
lite aunt to invite his mother away for
a few days.
At last the day arrived and viii
was ready. He arranged his most
comfortable chair in the upstairs sit
ting room, piled a ream of paper at
the side of the chair, and proceeded
to put points on a half a dozen new
pencils. He next drew a tabouret to
the side of the chair and provided
it with tobacco and other smoking
accessories. Now he was ready. He
sat down in luxury and read over
his notes. Then he remembered that
he had not chosen name for the
heroine of his story. This was a
puzzle. Never having dealt with hero
ines in his editorial work on the paper,
he could not think of a suitable name.
1t must be a very beautiful name
perhaps his mothers would do. Eliza
he wrote down, but somehow it did
not exactly suit the character he had
in mind. He paced the floor for a
minute and then, with a smile of salts
for oo1y hi oh
wrote Jeanette" That was exactly
what he wanted. He leaned back and
blew circles of smoke in the air. He
looked at his watch. 1t was 10 o'clock.
He would have four hours before
lunch and, as he had let Maggie, the
maid of all work, off till dinner time,
! his lunch would be undisturbed. 1t
was to consist of milk and apples,
which Maggie had been instructed to
leave ready for him.
What a cinch writing was. thought
Will. Why not give up the little local
paper altogether and devote his time
to story writing? He was doing won
derfully so far, although all he had
written was the name of his heroine
Jeanette.
Then the telephor rang downstairs.
He tried not to heed it, but it was
persistent. He sauntered downstairs
and took the receiver in his hand,
Yes" he growled.
"Oh, WILL" came the voice. 1t was
his next door neighbor, 1s-year-oId
jeanette. How are you getting on
with your story? I am so anxious to
know. Won't you let me read a little
of it now? Can't you hurry so you
can join us tonight?'
The idea of hurrying over such a
thing as this story was. of course
painful. but Jeanette didn't under
stand.
NO said Will. 81 can't. Now run
away and don't bother me- He hung
up the receiver, hurried back upstairs
and again leaned back in his easy
chair. He regarded the name of his
but 1t was most too childish He
changed it to Jean. He wrote a few
paragraphs and again the telephone
rang. 1t was jeanette.
Il am going to be so disappointed
not to have you with us tonight" she
said. IF 1 came over and helped
you, sharpened your pencils and things
like that, couldn't you come tonight 2"
VIII laughed for a second, then he
growled out MOI and returned to
his work. This time he changed the
name of his heroine to Jane He
wrote for an hour before the tele-
phone rang again. 1t was Jeanette.
why, WILL she began, "why didn't
you tell mel Bridget just told me that
she saw your Maggie going out with
is away. Where will you have your
lunch -
Nowhere said Will.
How dreadful!'' said Jeanette.
please come over here. We won't
take long and 1 will make some of
that gingerbread that you like Please,
VIII. You must. You know you will
be hungry"
Will thanked his neighbor as po-
iitely as possible. For almost a sec
ond he wavered. But he remembered
the visionary Jane upstairs and has
tily returned. 1t was nearly noon
by the time he got to work again, and
the labor of writing soon made his
healthy appetite annoyingly sharp
He could even smell gingerbread
Jeanette's gingerbread was penetrat-
ing. He had a boyish longing for a
taste OF 1T. He tried to write, but he
could not concentrate his thoughts on
Jane. Perhaps, he thought, if he had
his glass of milk and apples he would
be in better mood for writing He
got up lazily, carrying the manuscript
in his hand, and went downstairs. He
would read what he had written as he
drank his milk. He STUN bled into /
the dining room What an amazingly
strong smell of gingerbread! The wind
must be blowing straight from the
kitchen next door.
Will had told Maggie to leave the
table, but where were they He look |
ed around the room, and, to his sur
prise. saw a small table drawn up to /
the little fireplace where a coal fire |
g1owed brightly. The table was set |
for two, with a dainty vace of pink |
flowers in the center. Could it be |
that Maggie had misunderstood him? |
Just then the door from the kitch-
en- opened and there was jeanette /
with a fetching little be-ribboned |
apron carrying very large tray. She |
smiled. William was speechless and |
watched her carry the tray to the lit
tie ia BILE and arrange plate of chops |
gingerbread and butter balls and a jug |
of steaming chocolate.
Come on" she said, coming over