The Topeka state journal., 1913-04-02
TIE EVENING STORY
ChivaIry.
(By Louise Olney.)

| The age of chiyalry and sudden
rescue is not dead. Jim Morton was
| a knight of labor. He stopped whis-
| ting and spreading pale green paint
on the smoky ribs of the Grant room
ing house and climbed down his lad
| der to Investigate. April was soft and
green, but beauty in weeping little
Womanish heap on the dingy side
porch was too much for him. AS he
wiped his hands on his overalls he
watched the fair little head shine in
the setting sun. The girl, in her dark
| blue dress, sat flat in the wreckage of
what had been a trunk and wiped her
eyes on flimsy white gown, torn and
soiled.
What's up?" he asked. She jump
ed TO her feet and gave him a pathe-
years in department store had
weakened her natural trust in her
kind. She.was very little and young.
But her searching eyes found trust
worthines in the clean, kindly young
face of the man before her.
Im-just moving in. I got off a
little early. 1 know my trunk was
old, but the man was drunk and drop
ped it into the mud She began to
cry again.
Something in his very silence bade
her go on. HE lost half my things,
and I didn't have much. The other
half is spoiled. And-I have nothing
to wear, and I promised to go out to-
didn't want to move, but they sold
where I was, and-'
Hard luck he said gravely. Lets
pick up the pieces" He began to fit
reached for can of nails and a ham
mer with a matter-of-fact, brotherly
air, he looked at the white dress she
was frowning over. Couldn't you
sew it up or something?" he asked
helplessly.
She gave a sudden little teary April
laugh.
It's past being -sewed or some
thing
He finished the tray and began on
the wrecked hinges. Couldn't you
stay at home for once?" he suggested,
''or do you want to go so very badly?
It's too bad to miss good time,
but
consciously both man and girl
Strengthened and stood looking at
each other.
I'D rather die than go. But I said
partment. I've put him off before
| would lose my place. I can't this
time of year. I've always held out
against public dances. The other
girls go. When you're-alone you
can't hold out always. Would you
go?"
Jim glanced up and saw Mrs. Grant
coming up the street. gaunt, a little
hard of face, and protective instinct
gripped him. The woman was almost
home. He spoke in a low tone.
Quick! Tell me your name, where
you work, where you came from, and
who the eXpressman was. Do you
know his NUMBER"
She obeyed him instantly. Annie
Mason. I'm eighteen. 1 work at
Near. e Ny nefen1edS fofRs are dead ano nsGn eame
from Spring Valley. His number was
19-he was big and fat, with a red
beard
AS Mrs. Grant came out the side
door with her hands on her hips to
watch operations. Jim was helping to
put things back into the trunk
you're the new girl?" she said
Annie described her accident in her
little, faltering way, while the woman
waited stonily.
I'll carry it up, Mrs. Grant. if
you'll show me the way" Jim said
pleasantly.
Annie thanked him and he went
whistling back to his work. He re-
mounted the ladder and began
smoothing pale green paint over the
winter SCOT and dust. He thought of
the budding trees about him, and a
little house in patch of green at the
edge of the city. new, glad thing
stirred in his heart, protection, re-
sponsibility, warmth and burden.
To his mental vision came a little, fair
head bent despairingly over torn
dress and a battered trunk. So absorb
ed was he that at first he was not
conscious of a woman's half-scolding
tone and a girls indistinct murmur-
ing. Then. with a start, he listened
deliberately. The sound came from
the second-story window, just above
his perch. Mrs. Grant was saying:
.'And I won't have no fresh actin up
in my place-talkin' to a workman you
don't know almost before you get in the
housep'
in at the window, his big shoulders fill
ing the open space. The woman shrieked.
but the girls glance caught at tie
strength and comfort of him.
Couldn't help hearin' you, Mrs. Grant |
Now, you have known me years and I've
lived in your house You know I'm
to help her-and I know her anyway,
knew her folks back at Spring Valley. |
The Masons were all good people, and |
work at Herder's. You have had girls |
that didn't do right, but she tends to busl-
ness I'll answer for her..
The woman smiled at him a little She
was only overworked and disillusioned, !
no. really hard. We'll. I didn't mean |
any harm. I'm sure she's all right. |
Young girls are SO careless. 1 meant it as |
a warning. Put your things away and |
come on down and I'll give you some |
needs scarin'-cuddiin' might do better"
1t was quitting time and James Morton |
put away his ladder, cleaned his brushes |
and made Dee me Tor lne express Office
He knew men there. He emerged with |
the light of conflict in his eye and check |
IN his fist. Still whistling, he took car /
TO the hot room he shared with Connie !
Semple He washed, shaved, dressed and /
listened unf1inchingly to Comics per-
siflage Connie jumped at the chance to
tease.
saThe rubbfn' down, an dressin, and
scraniu' of himi Gir1-at 1asti I began
to think ye weren't human about girlsP'
"A fellow has to-wait for the right /
GIRL Jim said as he dashed out He ate
at the first lunchroom and then took a
EAR in the direction of Grants boarding /
house.
The evening was filled with the smoke |
and fragrance of little cleanup fires. Boys /
played about the buildings, old people /