The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-06-06
The Euening Story

The Eueni11g Story
| Spring for Widner.
(By Joanna Single.)
Widners thirty-eighth birthday
came on the third day Of April. Usual
ly he forgot his birthdays since his
mother had died and there was NO
one to care when he was born. He
hadn't cared himself, but this morn
ing as he dressed in his dingy board
ing house room he looked out over the
Iash-strewn back yards and the smok-
ing chimneys and wondered what he
was living for anyway. The worst OF
| it was that the trees were breaking
out into delicate wreathings Of green.
and where 1T had chance grass
sprung up. Though it was hardly
the air was alive with the fresh voices
of children and chirping OF birds. And
somehow IN all this thrill of life Wild
ner himself felt dead.
Down at the uninv1ting boarding
house table he ate q depressing break
fast Of cold toast and warm fruit and
llukewarm coffee, elbowtng two little
office girls. listless from their over
night. They looked faded. feverish.
He reflected that downtown work was
not normal tor q woman. What made
them do it? He did q thing that sur
/ OI1S0O
"What ON earth makes you do lit"
he asked suddenly.
Every ore started at the tall, fair
baldish man with the pleasant face.
the man who seldom spoke.
DO what? I'm no mind reader, ;"
said Elvie, the frowsiest Of the two
work in Offices" he said. and then
Remembered how foolish he must seem
Ito them. 81 mean. it's NO place for
girls
''What makes your" retorted the
girl. I'VE have to eat and sleep and
wear clothes. 1t costs money. Steal
ling don't work out in the long run. 90
we have to work. That's easy. How
else would we live?"
81 don't know" he said weakly. But
The turned and the two took q long
Hook at each other. He caught the
deep. velvety brown of the girls eyes
and saw that the frowsiness OF her
brown head was natural curl. Her
face was little and thin and sweet.
For the first time he liked her. Per-
haps 1t was because she was 20 small
and childlike.
Somehow the others began talking
among themselves and Widner and the
girl beside him had their conversation
to themselves.
when your folks die and leave you
with nothing you have to work--or
Istarve-" she began.
"Or get married." suddenly put in
the other girl, who was blonde and
bigger and had q hard look in her
gray eyes. You can get married If
you want to take chances ut a man
| girls 1 know have hettered themselves
by getting married. They work hard
er and get only what their husbands
choose to give them. And there's the
kids. Sometimes the man lights out
and deserts when things are worse.
1t amt easy to support yourself and
| q raft of kids"
Widner was moved to defend his
sex. Men aren't all like that" he
said. Lots Of them are on the square.
a woman all her life. And she does
MT always make 1t pleasant" He still
spoke to the broWn-haired one. ElvSe.
The other girl rose and brushed the
ssd 5aS% nso 1ns sns nn
well, we girls wouldn't have to hurry
downtown IL you bAchelors were doing
your part. You're sidestepping your
duty. Marry one Of us. why don't
and n look .ftsr to ' ~.t BETTER
/ She loves to cook and sew. and she
has a mania for kids With this Inn
lpudent thrust she disappeared into
Eivie blushed to the tips Of her ears.
and Widner. turning. looked straight
II wouldn't have you II you asked
| me- she said quietly. You're dead
You'd better come to! OF course. I
know 1 haven't been asked. but when
| I get married want some man who's
glad he's alive. You've Dat beside me
three months and this 10 the flrst
| time you've seen mo. And really
| believe you don't know that spring u
here. Do your" She rose. and
though her words were serious. . lit
tie smile sprung up In her eyes. He
| came to her side and they went to-
gether into the hail.
seWe'ye time--let's walk this morn
ing. Let me walk with you" he said.
| flushing. Girls were not In his line.
! She ran to her room ana in Q moment
came down in a trim little brown
| jacket and hat
Eyes. know it's spring" he be-
gan. looking down At her He cal
| ty-five. He knew that she was q
stenographer ana remembered what
the other girl had said OF her d0mea-
tic proclivities. For all the down.
town life, she had . honey look
men," he ventured. aren't all
like she said, you know"
Lets not talk about it." she de-
cided. whats the use 20
| It was three mornings later that
meeting in the hall after breAkfast,
John W1dner and Elvie again started
/ out together. And again they walked.
Somothing new and alive had come
into the mans face-a warmth ana
bent shoulders under . trim new gray
coat He looked fresh and well
Il asked for . raise yesterday. and
got Il, he told the girl The boss
asked Why didn't mention It before.