The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-07-20
The Euenine Story

| \ The Evening Story
Fate and the Bench.
(By Grant Owen.)
| At the moment Billy Aclkroyd could
not have told what 1t was that induced
him to sit down ON that bench He
/ wasn't in the habit Of sitting on
benches IN such places an was this
little park in the center OF the square.
with its sorry. dusty trees and its little
fountain spouting noisily into the iron
basin.
But 1t was q warm evening, and the
show had been so bad Billy he'd left
in the middle Of the second act, and
he knew just what diversion he might
and. anyway. 1t always made him
rather forlorn and lonely to come
back here. Go he had started out for
| q walk when he came out Of the the
ater. and. crossing the little park in
the square. the bench had seemed to
beckon him and he had sat down.
| There was little screen Of shrubs
behind the particular bench he occu-
pied. And beyond 1t was another
bench Billy couldn't see 1t, but he
| could hear the voices of the occupants
on it. He did not intend to eavesdrop.
|
the chug OF an infreQuent motor, the
plash Of the fountain. the faint stir
ring of leaves In the breeze were the
only sounds.
mo" said a girls voice mo,
can't
| You meal you won't" another
voice answered. mans voice. a
young mans voice. There was some
thing eminently hkable about that
voice.
There was a moments silence. Then
the girls voice said: you'll write me
very. very often. won't you ?'
1t was some seconds before the
mans voice replied. 1t was hard and
not wholly steady.
II shan't write you at ALL" it said.
There was little hurt cry.
why not?" asked the girl.
You know very well why won't,"
said he. II have told you tonight that
you had a chance to show how much
fatth In me you have. You are always
prating about the faith you have in
me. Well, then, prove that you have
by marrying me and going there with
me-"
Billy Ackroyd, feeling like a man
caught peeping Ito windows, arose
and started to tiptoe away And yet
he had not taken six stealthy steps
when he paused. stood irresolute for a
moment and then sneaked back to the
bench. This time his guise was frank
~ that Of q listener. He leaned far
back on the bench with. his ear close
to the screening shrift5s.s III &a6 plain
he did not intend to miss q word.
mo. can't marry you and 60 with
you." said the girl. 'You haven't
And this is your faith in me-" the
man interrupted her bitterly. "You
want me to CO. You say it is a SPLEEN
did chance for me. You say I'll make
good. And yet you won't take the
chance Of my making good and come
with me-
Il can't" she persisted. After
you've been there a while"
Billy heard the man laugh 1t was
not wholly pleasant laugh.
"All right" said he. I'm glad to
know Just what your faith in me is.
Listen. Agnes! II you won't marry
me and go with me, I-I-well. we'd
better call 1t all on. 1 need your faith
in me. now more than 1 ever shall in
my life. If you won't go with me, ]
lshan't write-and-I shan't see you
lagain. Now, will you go?''
Billy could hear plainly the little
knew well enough just how her fingers
were twisting themselves together:
just how her lids were dropped low te
J cover her eyes and the tears in them
[ There was quite a long pause this
time. Billy strained his ears to catch
Il
vet with catch in the voice that made
| Billy Ackroyd vince.
mo-" said she. Il can't go, John
You must go alone and make good
There was scraping of gravel Al
II some one had jumped suddenly and
| angrily to his feet
Then goodnight and |. ood-by!" sale
the man.
Billy heard very firm and decided
4 nj nm t1an he
side Of those shrubs. Suddenly hi
! jumped up from his own bench ant
darted around tie bushes. He almost
bumped into a scowling young char
making for the main path. Billy
j caught his arm.
you'll pardon mel really hops
you'll pardon me-" said Billy. ''Thi.
isn't any business of mine, I'm quite
e aware; but I happened to be sitting or
E this side Of those bushes and heart
. | you and the lady talking and-well
. you mustn't do 1t. my young friend
You mustn't go away like this; reall,
e you mustn't"
2 IF it isn't any Of your business
r sir" the young man began rathel
mo. 1t isn't any Of my business a
3 ALL" said Billy cheerfully, but 1 in.
!, tend to make 1t my business. hecaus'
: once I did this very same thing 70,
:. ARE doing. Why, uttered almost TIN
q have just uttered. and then wen
e away. want to spare you what I hav,
k been through. I haven't been at al
:, happy since
The young man stared at him. The.
lwere quite near the bench where tn
e girl sat. Billy saw she was very youni
Il and very pretty: also he liked the look
8 of the man before him. 1t was one o
those honest. open faces you Hike from
: the flrst sight. and that you ares sur
. you make no mistake In liking.