The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-09-29
THE EVENING STORY
In Youth.
CBy Josephine MilIedge.l


| hatefulest- thing in the world Lucille
burst out. her face tense.
Trevenna whistled raising his eyebrows.
'Of course-you don't agree Wit, me-"
she cried. with emphasis on the noun
gravely. Even though I've seen only a
few specimens
Il hate liars" Lucille broke in: her eyes
you wouldn't be forever dangling
"A Iady-charming and well bred-an
the more charming because of gray hair,
Trevenna in turn interrupted.
Lucille Slared at him, choked moment,
then slid off her new ring. and flung it
at his feet, crying Historically, ''You-had
-better-give her this L don't want it,
'Lucile" Trevenna's voice was sharp.
Are you crazy? Pick up your ring! At
once,'
1T is you who are crazy-speaking to
me so after-after--" Lucille faltered.
biting her lips to strangle a sob. After
you havellet her make a fool of you
just so she could laugh over it" she went
on when again she could speak.
Trevenna had picked up the ring. He
stood upright. but made no approach to
her. He said in his gravest voice: Il
hate taking back gift-therefore please
just a gift
why do you say that?" Lucille de-
manded unsteadily.
He looked at her hard Il hate scenes"
he said. Especially when they are cause
less
OduSeleSS the girl ecnOeu as IL the
word burned her lips. when you stayed
three hours with that woman last night
after dinner.'
'.Only two-to my regret. Two profit
able hours All through them-I wished
you We're with us. Mrs. Alwyn has seen
so much. and done so much, she is
tossing the ring to Lucille. She shook it dis
disdafnfully from her lap-he appeared not
to notice that it had rolled to his feet.
Il am forgetting my errand-it is to ask
If you will go with us this afternoon in
the car to the Lodge? We will eat a pic
mic supper there and come back by moon
shine Cousin Helen is chaperon-
And Mrs Alwyn, of course, guest of
honor Lucille interrupted-then her face
hard heart-breaking sobs that hurt
Trevanna cruelty to hear, though he did
not try to check them.
At the door he called back almost awk-
wardly: BE ready-if you decide to go
we shall call for you at four" Lucille
sobbed on, but he did not pause-nor
even look back until the gate had shut
behind him.
His head whirled. He had escaped a
great peril: A Jealous wife! Not if he
Lucille. not the least leaven of disloyalty.
How could he, when the other woman
was frankly so much his elder? He had
recognized her womanhood to be sure
but only as an added charm to her quick
wit and keen intelligence. A charming
voice, face mobile and vivid as sunlight,
had had effect-that he did not deny So
had dainty frank and finished coquetry.
The frankness of it ought to have shown
Lucille there could be no harm.
All at once there came over him
wave of regret He loved Lucile-truly,
tenderly. They had grown up together,
but oddly enough, he had never thought
of her as sweetheart, until three
months back-then after the fashion of
love from time immemorial. he had
found she was all the world to him They
had been betrothed bare fortnight-and
now they were-hardly friends. If she had
been reasonable, if she had only shown
a hn- y .ararrx- Il
OF storming at himls He would have quit
haunting Mrs. -Alwsyn 20 please her,
though he would have laughed her sus-
plclons to scorn, but-not under COM
pulsion. Lucille herself had made it i'm
possible to draw away from the older
Henriette Alwyn had seeing eves-tbev
told her at first glance, that afternoon,
something had gone amiss with her
e Eoung SQUIRE 1t had amused her, delicate
~ to capt1vate hfm-mainly if truth
must be told, in revenge for LuciIe's in
sunctlVe hostility. Jealous little puss
She needs lesson" Henrfette had said
mentally, after her most disarming smile
mad been lost on the girl Thereafter. she
had wasted no more smiles, but had
QenIy exquisite. 1t was that indeed which
mad provoked Lucile's outburst-she felt |
SO helpiessly young and weak by contrast. |
1 outh is oftentimes more handicap than
auNdntase-When age adds charm to ex- |
perlence- Trevenna did not in the least |
u that-being so sure of himself |
Henf1ette was too wary to name Lucile
she felt her as the oct |
almost loveT-like She met him haifwaV- |
they came to the Hardin steps. hand IN |
hand ~ "
Lucille in wait. saw it, notwitbstandinr |
her eyes were downcast. Her first I'M.
pulse p was to go inside, without d worli. |
put pride prevailed. She let herself be |
half lifted into the car, saying ungra cious-
~ as she sank upon the cushions: Il don't |
being crowded.
You won't BEL shall sit outside the
I resi-! OF me way Treyenna said, suiting !
Cousin Helen. in the other car with |
Major Martin. and Ralph, her. handsome |
boy just home from college laughed 10 !
see, Lucille must mend her WAYS she |
thought Elise lose the game. Trevenna |
look his .youth-she's only fifteen years
his elder" And then it flashed over her |
and hardened toward her whilonl friend.
with fire-unless indeed she were really |
for the Trevenna fortune. Sic
decide Lucille deserved Observation-Disclosures
Cousin Helen had thrifty impulse for
wa ahe onS in the fa bn Te
was her first cousin, therefore to DC
helped-with all the wiles at Cousin
Henrietta understood-and smiled Ralph |!
had ousted Trevenna the minute all were
Ieast-in fact. the game became but the
more entertaining. They might possibly
end by making her seriously consider
Trevenna. she reflected. She had no par
ticular care for his riches. being herself
possessed of a fat annuity-but she was
not a meek person, for all her suavity. |
and the sense of unfair usage made her
wary Therefore she made herself more
than ever bewitching-but solely Tor
Ralph's benefit. Trevenna. all the rest,
she ignored. But now and then out of the
tail of her eve, she noted gleefully that |
they seemed i'll at ease. Trevenna especial
~. Major Martin who had much more
cause, was better skilled in masking his
dsquiet.
After supper she drew Ralph 70 the
hilltop to watch tie sunset from sheer
cliff there. This. though it was we'll
known she hated SCenerV