The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-01-23
THE EVENING STORY
A TangIe Untangled.
CRV Arthur W. PeachO


| into the nearest chair, dumping him
| self into another.
His roommate looked up. We'll,
| Sid, what's wrong?"
Vernon leaned forward moodily. Il
suppose it's an ancient story, but
Alice and are out-very much out"
How did it happen, Sid? 2"
well, it's this way. I wanted her
| to give up going with Stetson, and
she said she wouldn't, for some reason
or other. Then my blooming temper
got to work, and very coldly told her
we had come to the parting of the
left."' SIG
Its no joke, Steve.'' Vernon got
up, and stuffed his hands into his
pocket. Seriously, I never thought
I would care anything about that wisp
of girl. L took her around more for
the fun of it. at first, but I began to
see that she is woman through and
through. I've been working like a
dog this year, got my raise, and L
had begun to plan for home. I've
bunked it long enough alone, and I
want a home. A fellow gets after a
while where he wants to have some
one glad to see him after he's been
plugging all day instead of room, or
a bach roommate, or a landlady. I've
been thinking of her.
Cant I fix it?" the other said,
looking soberly into Vernon's eyes.
1.-The bitter truth is, Val, she doesn't
care for me. I hate to face it, but
Stetson has beaten me out. She was
cold tonight-so cold-welI. what's the
use? I'm done. Back to the old
grind"
Thus Vernon had pictured the sit
uation, and he knew he was picturfng
it truly. AS the days went by he met
her, now and then, as he was going to
and from his work. She nodded cold
ly, and once he thought she neglected
to recognize him, though he decided
he was mistaken, for she spoke the
next time. Once he saw her with
Stetson. and the memory ranked.
With him, too, went ever the vision
of the home he had planned and the
memory of her small, girliSh face, her
bright hair and quick ways; he heard
over and over the tones of her voice,
especially the little upward infection
she gave the ending of her sentences.
He grew desperate at times and
Ionged to speak with her, to offer to
call everything a bygone. But ever
his conviction that she had ceased to
care for him stayed him when he was
about to carry out his plan.
He was sitting moodily in his room
one evening when Val had gone to
have a good time. That fact did not
tend to lift the mercury of his spirits.
A voice in the hall called him to the
phone. He went a little moro cheer
fully, hoping that some crony had
planned a move for the evening that
would enable him to forget
In answer to his greeting, his heart
jumped into his throat. 1t was her
voice, speaking with its customary
bel1-like clearness. but with some
thing else in it that the telephone dis
guised. She asked him if he would
come over. Come overt" he thought.
He would grow wings and fly. He
told her as much.
A sprint of half block enabled him
to catch a car which was held by a
good-natured conductor whose keen
ear had caught his frantic whistle.
When he reached her boarding place
the smiling girl at the door let him
in remarking with the easy freedom
that comes with long acquaintance
with lovers ways in such a place.
You're quite stranger"
Not for long, I hope" he said, smiI-
ing.
When she came in, a little uneasy
with the thought that it might be
mistake, she put a box of roses on
the table and came to him with a
rush. Her hands slipped into his in
a way that thrilled him.
Sidney you're a dear to send those
flowers to me with that note. It's
dandy way to make up. Honest, I've
been unhappy ever since you went
down the steps, and I watched you
through the crack of the curtain. I
went with Stetson simply because
didn't want you to think you owned
me-
He drew her to him and she went
on speaking-softly, happily. He was
thinking hard. He had sent her no
flowersI There was a mistaken But
she loved him. That was certain now.
alice, I've been a fool. I've beer
in the dumps since that night For
a long time I'd been dreaming of ask
ing YOU to help me make home-will
you2"
The answer was very satisfactory.
They went on to the plans for that
home. But he never forgot for a mo-
ment that his happiness might be of
a fading variety if built on a box of
roses he had not sent.
He steered the situation around
until he had an opportunity to ex-
anime the box and the note. He saw
that it was written in hand much
like his own. Could Val have done
it? But Val was not given to doing
what he was asked not to do. On
the box was the address-Miss Alice
Wells. A quick, closer glance showed
him it might be Miss Alice Weld, and
he knew there was no one in the
house by that name
When he bade her good night, he
stopped. at the door to say to the
maid. carelessIy, Il haven't been here
so long I've lost track. All the old
crowd here?"
Yes, and one new-a Miss Weld"
Vernon'S departure was so sudden
the girl must have wondered as to
the cause.
He could have told her. He was
making tracks for the first florist
There he duplicated as nearly as pos
sibIe the box of flowers, and hand
writing, which was comparatively easy,
and sent the box plainly inscribed to
Miss Alice Weld.
He drew a long breath as he saw
the messenger speeding with it. "Therei
may It serve Miss Weld and her below