The Topeka state journal., 1914-01-30

had : good day. Perhaps II was pride.
or common sense. or ptQue. but men-
Jerry Pier. Al the noon hour she
went to good shop and spent % near
hundred dollars that she decided NOT
to ada up and find out exactly how
much had BDne for ray ralmsnt that
she did mot really need pretty
dress. q pretty cloak, and 4 hat and
gloves, and AL dns shades OF brown and
yellow. to bring out the browns Of her
hair and eyes and the clear pallor Of
! Jerry. Pier always came to Caxpons'
when he liked without warning. He
had done 80 for years. ana always
found Doris waiting.
He was quiet and . little slow. and
lived with few 0ther men In = sort Of
half-club, half-boarding-house fashion
that fostered the male brute's natural.
selfishne8s.
SO It happened tonight that he came to
Carsops just AZ Doris. looking like pref;
ty dark doll. tripped down the stairs.
Je9ries had not arrived yet
Where In the world are you going In
all that glory. Dorfsr' he asked. his eyes
ITO tho theater-with Peter Jsnriss."
How do You like my fine feather1f Do
they mako q pretty fine bird?'' There
was something maddeningly saucy about
Tho bird was fine without the feathers.
But they're al right. too. But-what
makee You 30 out with-that man? His
-.'Becauss 1 like him?' Jeuy's sooWl
Jealous. DortsT'
sobered. You always amuss me. Jerry.
jealous Mr.. Jenries has no Hight to be
has better sense. ThereI hear him"
She glanced toward the hall.
'Dorris." said Jerry hastily. will you be
| at home tomorrow night?'
She looked at him. Yes" she an
| swered. but shall want to go to bed
| early It's my hard day at the office to.
Jefferies entered. well dressed. confident
The two men spoke pleasantly. ex-
changed few remarks. and Doris and
Pier with the Carson parents. Mrs. Car
son was quiet and kindly. and Mr.. Carson
his blum SELF Doris had said nothing to
ton. and both talked pleasantly but kept
away from the subject of their daughter.
Jerry fingered while and then went
home with q serious face.
1t was nearly two weeks before ho saw
Doris again really to talk with her. she
Vent out with Jeftries, or with some wo-
could not believe his own senses- When he
did see her there came q reckoning. but
Doris had changed. She was frank when
he questioned her.
1 49, 49,
You never said so.' she submitted.
calmly. seeming a thousand miles away.
hand. but . look from her made him
withdraw his own.
"IAsten. I've been buying and fixing
up that Townsend house. It's az good .
place az there II in town, and expensive.
| wanted to offer you everything 1 could
| when I offered myself. Are you trying
to drive me mad7 Why are you treating
Jerry. I'm not treating you anyway.
You're making = big mistake-rm not
plain truth g sSst Woke :" up to
the fact that was doing. myself an in
justice; I've devoted myself to you 90 on
times-an but those you gave me. We
were more than friends, you and / ana
Peter gses bsca1ss fSo ne himsa
be honest I am trying to fall in love with
nim- ~. He Is u Torth s;th.. it.but-
her cheek flushed.
And you-don't love me as I love
here that rye been blind and selfish and
unbelievably fool. I might have known
a that IT, I shosld heys told .ycu. that I was
women for me except you. Is youI
quite cold to me? Doris He stopped
suddenly at little gesture from her.
dont sysn Svs MIND tens sh gon but sSws
how I feel resentful toward you. It's q
little hardness In me-a place that's
want onen to oxey iegs ss yoI s.y 1Jery don't
Doris did not finish. The man stood
looking at her a moment al she made Z
motion for him to como no closer. Then
suddenly he sprang toward her and put
both arm. around her. She .trueF1ed. but
he drew her close. and spoke. his voice
tense with feeling.
II love you, Doris! And you love mo
you've said 50! was q stupid fool-tc
sweet--tust to be sure Of each other with.
. out either Of us saying so. but this d
| sweeter! might have known that ns
woman could thrive on silence But yor
are mine now. I'll make up for my
, silence. love you'll want you to marry
me now: Perhaps you'd like the fun q
, helping fig up the placer never though
of that. Doris, II there's q froxen place II
your heart. I'll thaw It. Do YOU hear?''
) Doris stopped pulling away. And In 4
, moment she turned and leaned her fac1
tight against him. Then softly she begai
. to cry, Jerry Pier consoled her, and knew
|. that all was we'll She denied him noti1ins
but he learned his lesson.-Copyrigntt
: 1914. by the Mcclure Newspaper Syndi