The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-04-23
TIE EVENING STORY
Back to TOScO.
(By Florence S. Kelly.)

at ToScO, Iowa. 1t was March, ana
the outlook about the little buff sta
| ton was bleak and slushy Ed Daw-
son, the station master, looked up
from his report sheet as Athy Hay
ward entered the station: Cad, I'm
glad to see you back" he exclaimed,
| extending his big red hand.
Thank you Ed, I'm glad to be
back AS she left the station, she
| wondered if she were really glad to
be back. She knew she was not; that
she hated the place.
Athy had spent the last two winters
| in washington where her father had
been in congress. Although young
men are a scarcity in Washington,
she had never lacked for attention,
| as she was a charming girl with good
looks, plenty of small talk and al
! ways ready for good time.
The last season had been espe-
cially gay since Hal Mainwaring had
been added to her list. Hal was by
no means the sort of man a young girl
dreams about. He was small and in
sipid looking and wore a horrible lit
tie red mustache. Where Hal shone
was a cotillion leader or at a skating
rink. He drove a tri-colored machine
which had a coat of arms the size of
a pie plate on the door. Halls people
were genuine blue bloods. His father
had been a cabinet member at one
time and his grandfather was on the
supreme bench when he died, so they
had tone and went in the best set in
town.
Hal had introduced Athy to this
ultra set into which he had been born
and had kept her busy seven days out
of a week. 1t was no wonder she gazed
about her with big tears in her beau
tiful eyes. as she thought of settling
down in Tosco again.
AS she passed the hog chute and
walked up the main street ankle deep
in slush, so different from Washing
toms immaculate thoroughfare, she
wondered if she had not better accept
Halls proposal.
She had promised to let him have
his answer in a week.
AS she reached the familiar corner
of Main and Church streets, a rubber
tireless piano-box buggy ratified up to
the curb and stopped. A big, robust
fellow of 35 or so jumped down and
grasped Athy's hand. 1t was Tom
Matthews, and he had always been
one of Athy's most jealous admirers.
In fact, before Athy went to Washing
ton, two years before, it was rum ored
they were engaged, but no one knew.
If it had not been for Tom, Athy
probably would have given Hal Main
waring his answer before she left
Washington, but she felt that she must
see Tom again before deciding. In
his letters he's had always been as un-
assuming as he was interesting, al
though she knew he had become ia
nous out west and she could read be-
tween the lines of his still deep af-
lection for her. Il
Tom came from good old New Eng
land stock. He had been raised on a |
70 O
a wide brimmed hat and his trousers
bagged at the knees. 1t was easy to
be seen he had never had his nails
done" or worn pumps.
He had made his way through law |
school and was now about the ablest
man in that section of the country.
He was plainly embarrassed and began |
to talk of many things so glad to see
not look for you back so early. |
Sorry for your fathers sake that he was
but glad for our sakes," he said |
with meaning look.
of living here again. she said. |
II would love to live in Washington for |
ever. Oh, Tom, it is heavenly down there. |
The air of prosperity everywhere the |
beautifully dressed women and we'll |
groomed men. 1t already seems like a |
dream
Toms face saddened as he realized how
much in earnest she was. He had heard |
of her popularity in washington and |
she would say the word. His prospects Of |
Winning her seemed very ", remote note
her. and she hurried
If Tom could have read her thoughts he |
would not have been so discouraged. The |
contrast between the two men was 50 /
that it startled her. She was |
forced to admit that she cared for Tom |
and always had, but Hal, and especially |
w ashington, had become necessity. 50
she felt. If Tom had only lived in Wash
ngton instead of Toscoi
The next evening Tom called and Athy
hardly knew him as he was ushered into
the drawing room He was dressed in
evening clothes and wore them well.
why Tom, when did you start wearing
naIf-six six clothes?" asked Athy with a
augh.
'Oh, I've been wearing these the last
year In fact, ever since I started speech,
70 hear a speech I'm about to give over
1t Fairhaven tomorrow. Let's take d
walk and I'll tell you about it.
When they returned Athy knew there
was but one thing for her to do. and that
was accept Tom and live in Tosco the
est of her days. He was everything
sensible girl could wish for-big and strong,
II the same time tender and full of SYM
oathy. she knew she loved him, but it
was hard to give up Washington and all |
I had meant, so soon Still she had a
Telling of conten tment now that her mind
vas made up. She would write Hal to-
morrow and tell him her decision.
When she came down to breakfast the
lext morning her father was busy read
ng the morning paper Il told you So"
lie said. by way of greeting
What do you mean, father"
tom Matthews has been appointed to
Ill the unexpired term of Senator Elmore
who died last month 1 suppose he viii
De leaving for Washington soon-
That afternoon Tom dropped around.
"Oh, why didn't you tell me before?"
was her greeting.
Tom smiled modestly as he replied, II