The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-02-25
TIE EVENING STORY
FIetcher,s Farewell.
(By Ella Randall Peaxce.)

en-, lHdp ne could not choose between
| them, even when it came to the Sc
| lection of a life partner?''
! Fletcher Orr spoke musingly, al
most gloomliy, yet his brows lifted in
surprise when his companion an
| swered pertly:
i've always considered you a SEN
| sible man, Fletcher
ME" young Orr laughed shortly.
"Oh, well, I'll acknowledge the fact
| to you, Bristow-my affections are
| divided. can mot choose be-
| tween
| 1.-THE charming Miss Bremner and q"
'The other one.'
| why choose? ''
"I'u tell you why-it is time 1 was
settled in a home of my own. I'm
| cut out for a domestic man. But,
mind you, L have been honorable,
Bristow; [ have given neither of the
attentions were at all serious; but, in
both cases, 1 have come to a point
where 1 must declare myself. 1 love
one of these women, and the charm
of the other blinds and battles me.
If L could but see with a clearer
visioni"
His friend slapped his thigh
smartly.
Il have it! You are too close to
the situation Get a perspective view
go away. Fletcher. Can't you leave
town for a while? '
''Why. yes; the firm has asked me
to go to Mexico. I did not care
about the trip and the junior partner
is preparing to go; but
1.-THE very thing! Go make your sad
farewells, Fletcher / warrant you'll
come back from Mexico clothed in
your right mind once more
The more Fletcher thought over his
friends suggestion the more agreeable
it seemed to him. Perhaps he did
need to ''get a perspective view" after
all. He was obliged to decide quick
ly, for the junior partner had already
begun to equip himself for the trip
Fletcher's last evening in town would
be the one for which he had an en-
gagement with Edith Bremner; there
fore at little past the hour of that
same evening dignifed, serious faced
young man was ushered into the coy
sitting room of plain brick house far
from the fashionable avenue graced
by the handsome Bremner residence.
A young woman with glossy brown
braids and a slight, girlish form that
swayed as she walked, came to meet
the early caller with look of concern
in her eyes.
'Your aunt-is She
''My aunt is very well, thank you.
l came on my own behalf. / am 1eav-
ing town tomorrow for a little trip and
I dropped in to say goodbye"
Laura Tilton caught her breath
slightly.
"a little trip, you say?''
$40 Mexico, for three months or
so. 1t came rather unexpectedly"
at was very kind of you to think |
of me at such time said Miss TIL |
ton, earnestly.
She had not seen very much of this
friendly young man since his aunt's
convalescence from a long, tedious |
illness had brought to an end the
ministrations of the gentle, youthful
partly subdued her bright, girlish
charms.
Fletcher watched her as she talked.
How delightfully."- unconscious of her
own attractions she seemed-like
frank, artless, unspoiled child. When
the hour of s had struck, he rose re-
luctantly to depart. Surely three
months would seem a long time to wait
before seeing her again! He held her
hand a long moment; the curving fin
gers seemed to cling to his own, and
the uplifted hazel eyes were shadowy.
Fletcher spoke impulsively.
IT shall miss YOU
''I shall miss you, too. she said
Fletcher closed the door, feeling
that he had been gently dismissed
Well, he was glad of it; he wanted to
get that perspective VIEW As he
went down the outside steps an ap-
preaching masculine figure jostled
against him. He turned almost an
grily.
''sam Sears-here again. the con-
founded
calling on Laura Tilton for? She's not
his style; he belongs at the stage
door waiting for Flossie Footlights to
appear. By George! somebody said
he'd reformed. Perhaps Laura's MAX
ing a man of him: she'd be just the
sort of a woman to do it if anybody
could
So disturbed was young Orr by the
thoughts inspired by the meeting on
the steps that even the gracious
could not restore Kim to a normal
frame of mind She was wonderously
attired in pale gray chiffon over rose
silk.
When Fletcher announced his in
tended departure she raised her Ian
ruorous blue eyes reproachfully. They
were deep, steady eyes that Fletcher
had never encountered fully without
sense of being magnetiezd; but, some
how, he felt now that his companion
was quite aware of the appeal of her
chances; that she was making an ex-
rraordinary effort to influence him. I
The truth was that Edith Bremner had
suddenly made I'D her mind that her
tardy sutton should not leave without !,
an avowal. ,
s.Why, you are not going to run
AWAY from your friends like that" {
she said, pouting prettily. do you 7
have to go2"
She laid her jeweled hand on his
arm and tilted her head archly. Her
-lances deepened and became almost .
sager Fletcher stirred uneasily. He !
;eIt the fascination of this subtle /
iennininity; but, looking into Edit c
3remner's eyes he suddenly found
himself recalling a softly whispered Il
;hall miss you. too |
will you miss me?'' he said; then !
hrank from the triumphant light of :
Ter eyes, too tardily concealed beneath =
Irooping lashes
Ediths voice came purringiy. II ! t