The Topeka state journal., 1914-02-19
The Euenine Story

(By Harmony Weller.)

In the first place she had not want
ed to come out to the country and
spend the weekend with Johns pa
rents. John Warden's mother had q
most unpleasant way OF looking one
over a. II for untidy oddments about
ones costume. Coline never forgot
the time she had found button off
her shoe; 1t had seemed a. IL Mrs..
Warden's eyes had not once left Off
glancing disapprovingly At It.
| In the second place there was a
high wind blowing dust in perfect
hurricanes along the streets. Colino
detested wind. Her hat had barely
chosen to remain on Its nest OF soft
hair. A slight pucker developed be-
tween Coline's brows and fingered.
| To cap the climax she all but missed
the train, and when she did get in.
hot and peevish. there were NO seats
Immediately visible.
| However, second glance pointed one
| out to her, but it was beside q mother
with her crying baby. COline knew
that her nerves would be torn to
shreds-and perhaps her feather boa
If she were to sit beside that badly
behaved baby.
beside a man whose shoulders left
little room. even for another pair the
size of Coline's.
| However, a crowded seat was bet
ter than no seat at all. since her trip
was all Of an hour, SO Coline squeezed
herself and her small bag down beside
the big man.
When she leaned forward to ad-
just her bag beneath her feet, she
gasped.
shoulders. A flame of hot anger
sprang into her cheeks. Never before
had she taken trip so fraught with
irritating happenings. She drew off
/ the offending coat and gazed blankly
at the great tear. If 1t was any one
in tho world but John Warden's
mother whom she was going to visit
Coline might have found laughter in
her heart. The coat was old and CO.
line had wanted to make 1t do the
winter. since the season was 30 mild
and fashions SO exaggerated.
i ...No wonder the poor old thing
! gave way" she sighed. and fell to
wondering how she could best hide the
! rip from Mrs. Warden's critical eyes.
She tried pinning the fur together
with number of pins she had sue
ceeded in extracting from her bag.
but she might as well have used glue.
| It burst apart with diabolical swift
! ness.
i Coline was SO interested in her coat
that she failed to sense the amused
manner in which her companion was
regarding her efforts Her own ex-
preston for the moment was at least
/ cross. Also the slight angle at which
her head was habitually poised gave
i Coline q degree Of haughtiness not
carried out in her happy eyes.
However, the man beside her saw
only the haughtiness and feared to Of
fer her most valuable assistance.
Within his pocket lay spool of black
thread and q needle. Bachelors often
carry necessities.
] Blair could almost feel the tumult
Of annoyance that had piled itself into
the girls being. Assuredly the world
of convention held many senseless
laws.
Here" he muttered. is a most
lovely damsel In need Of help can
easily offer, yet convention demands
that I keep my spool of thread entire
ly to myself. No! BY Jove-I won't,
he decided. IT will put it here on the
window sill and see II she rises to the
bait" He drew the spool from the
pocket that was nearest the girl and
Iplaced 1t conspicuously on the window
sill.
Ito the flying landscape and waited
A moment later a soft laugh greeted
his listening ear. Turning he dfscov-
cred that the laugh in the girls eyea
, was duplicated on her lips.
IT would surely ntbble your bait
. were It within my reach.' she said
with charming candor and lack OF
conventionality.
.Hook. line and bobber?" ques-
toned Blair. II am sorry to have NO
thimble," he said, and with .unmis-
taxable good taste turned to the win
dow and left the girl to use the tmple-
. ments of sewing he had passed to her:
Coline felt both irritafed and
pleased. Irritated that her compan-
ion seemed unconscious of her prox-
fmfty and glad that she was sitting be-
side SO evident q thoroughbred.
II She was relieved beyond measure
that she did not have to meet John
Warden's mother with q coat that
would seem to have seen better days
Also she had q peculiar sense OF well
ibeinx that she could not account Tor.
When her sealskin was mended az
well as could be expected. Conne mes,
Eitated about returning the needle and
. thread. She was suddenly shy. Per
. haps the intimate feeling that had
: awept over her as she sat sewing be-
{ side this perfectly strange man and
using his needle had made her SEN
? conscious.
) she fidgeted about for some mo-
ments wondering vaguely Al to the
: mans destination. his character and
= his occupation. It was not often thai
I | time ON the masculine element OF
. creation. She was more or ieas ais
interested In men a. class. II ene
3 | consented to marry John warden u
: would not be out Of desperate love FOL
: him. Coline had formed the impress
I sion that love at the best was nothing
Il more than lack Of irritation in the
Z presence Of another. SO far. John had
never Get her nerves to jang1ing. He
waS. 70 far Al she knew. . most ex-
emplnry perDon-
81 For the moment, however, Coltne
wished John were 1eaD fond Of bridge
: L and draWing-room conversation and
! THAT his shoulders were big and broed
I like those Of the man beside her. She