The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-11-27
The Evening Story
The Early Worm.
(By Clarence Morton.)

The Early Worm.
(By Clarence Morton.)
Dicky Webb sat up on the sand and
Katrina Lake.
Katrina was not alone Surround
ing her were several white-flanneled
youths Of Dicky's general appearance.
One admirer carried her parasol over
her head. another dangled her silken
workbag, a third bore her sweater
coat, a fourth talked to her. much to
the bitter amusement of the burden
bearers. and Dicky Webb. who should
by all rights Of devotion have been
counted among the group. had been
passed by with merely a cold nod.
1t was unpleasant, to say the least!
Thus Dicky unused. while he rumpled
his fiaxen hair into frenzied mop
and stared resentfuly after the
naughty Miss Lake and her attendant
$wainS.
She's a heartless coquette" he
muttered between cienched teeth. NOT
worth q serious thought!' Still he sat
there staring out at sea, where white
sails flickered in the sunshine and
romping waves smacked the bathing
floats to peril0us rocking.
Behind him to the left was the great
miles Of sandy beach and heaped up
powders. Beyond the first heap OF
gray powders Miss Lake sank grace
fully to the sand and her young men
reluctantly gave up their booty.
Dick shrugged his shoulders:
the sand at his feet. and gloomily
wished that his four weeks vacation
was at an end. But he had promised
his mother and sister to remain WITH.
them; at Salt Beach until the frst q,
September, and that desirable date was
still ten days OF. And he must see
Katrina every day at breakfast, lunch
con and dinner, on bathing beach and
promenade, and in the ballroom at
night. And for some unknown reason
Katrina, who had been so endearingly
kind in the beginning, was snubbing
him most numerically nowadays.
Dicky's sister came tripping down the
sand. unescorted because her heart was
in the keeping of a Woodworking
young broker who escaped from the
night to spend the weekend with his
sweetheart. So Lena's love affairs hav-
ing been settled satisfactorily. she
merely existed from Monday till Friday
night. and had plenty of time between
writing letters to her beloved to devote
to Dicky's unfortunate wooing Of Miss
Katrina Lake.
Lena Webb, who was fond Of Ka-
trina Lake, took in the situation at a
glance; in fact, she had witnessed the
the hotel piazza and had flown to her
brothers rescue.
whats the matter, Diclxy?" she
demanded.
"Oh. nothing!" sighed Dicky,
Rubbish" shifted Lena. ST thought
saw you with Katrina few min
utes ago."
Ddcky regarded her pityingly. mo.
my dear. you did not see me-" he said
faI Oh 4v,vA ~.
/ your eyes examined, Lena What you
did see cavorting around Katrina were
five young idiots instead of one. Your
beloved brother has been thrown down
l-down-way- DOWN.
! He punched the sand savagely az
he spoke.
HAS she refused your" she asked
breathlessly.
Dicky grew red around the ears.
1--WE never asked her." he admitted
hotly. But she's certainly freezing
me out; passed me just now with the
coolest nod you ever saw-and-I-1
she treats mo like a worm!' he
ended chokingly.
ing eyes. IF she treats you like q
worm. Dick, be a worm. Now, listen
and I'll tell you secret: Every morn
ing about S o'clock Katrina gets up
White Stone Cove. I've been with her
once or twice, but haven't the cour-
age to get up SO early; nor has anv-
one else; but IL you-well, 1 should
think the sunrise would be as romantic
| as the sunset"
Dicky groaned. Give a. M. Lana >
You know I get my best sleep then!"
Lena shrugged impatiently.
| "Sleep then, worm!" she chided
BE sure of one thing, you will never
be caught-by early birds!"
Dicky. left alone. pursued by Slow
mental processes the thought or the
early worm At last he smiled slow-
/ ly. and, shaking the sand from his
clothes, went back to the hotel tn
dress for an early dinner without one
backward glance in the direction al
Miss Katrina Lake and her adorers.
/ That night. at the hotel hon. Mr..
Richard Webb was absent from the
ballroom. His anxious mother. FEAR
ing the approach Of some maladv.
saw her son go to bed at O'clock.
and It was Lena who treasured her
parent concerning the health Of The
Gee. But this Ii great!- ex-
claimed Dicky webb at O'Clock the
next morning, when he appeared on
the piazza Of the Salt House ana sur-
veyed the primrose eastern sky and
the nat gold surface Of tho ocean.
II Servants were washing down the
porches and he made q hasty depart
! ure- Far down the beach he saw !
slim, white figure vanishing around
1tho nut sroup oe bouldexa ~
Y ~ 5oVo, nhese ~ a1Eoo1yIs -
1lGl 90 -