The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-10-30
The Eueni,7g Story
Fair Play.
(By Richard Barker Shelton

Fair Play.
(By Richard Barker Shelton.)
The candles in the many little pa
per lanterns sputtered away and made
many -colored reflections in the still
water just below the boat house We
randa. Up the green slope of lawn
| sounded the dreamy encore of hesi-
| tation waltz. Constance Waite, her
| eyes troubled, stepped away from the
| big. eager young man before her.
why did you come back here z"
she asked.
You knew I'd come back" said he:
II didn't" said she. Il thought
We'll. just what did you think -
IT thought that you. knowing what
you did. would stay away"
COMFY said he, when went
away told you I was coming back
coming back in a position to ask you
to marry me-"
Her only answer was a little trou-
bled sigh.
You didn't believe me-or better
you didn't have faith in me. did you? ?"
he persisted.
We'll. you're not to blame for that.
he reminded her. IT didn't have any
too much faith In myself when left.
I've been lucky"
She looked at him a moment Then
quite suddenly her face flushed ana
She pulled the White wrap more close
ly about her bare shoulders. She
started resolutely past him. Up the
slope the hesitation waltz went
dreamily on.
Hold on a minute. COMFY said he.
laying a hand on her arm. Don't go
yet. Tell me first."
Tell you what?"
THAT every bit of your love for me
died when 1 left here
Come, I'm going up to the house"
she said evading the issue.
TELL me that first"
She threw out her hands in a little
gesture of despair.
"Oh. what's the use?" said she. II
shan't say it. 1t won't matter any
and no matter what think or feel
I'm going to play fair with him. It's
too late. that's all. Now come up to
the house and we'll dance awhile and
try to forget"
He started after her. miserably
enough if his tagging footsteps count
ed for anything. Before they had
reached the slope he had put ten
tative hand on her shoulder again.
"Conny. why in the name of con-
science didn't. 1 make you marry me.
whether I had money or not. before
ever went away"
why didn't your she echoed.
She would have gone on after that.
but ne would not nave IL.
IT see it ALL" he cried. "As soon
as I left your Aunt Ellen began on
this match. She made it; she forced
it upon you. She was always strong
for Bunny and Bunny's money!"
ut doesn't matter how it hap
pened," she said YEARLY. THE thing
that does matter is that it has hap
shall play fair with him. He isn't the
worst chap in the world. and he's
awfully in love with me. Yes. I shall
play fair with him."
Again they started up the slope to-
ward the sound of the music and the
| the stretch of lawn he stopped short.
IF it wasn't for Bunny" said he.
| She turned and faced him in the
soft darkness, her eyes ashine.
"Oh, If it wasn't for Bunny" she
i breathed.
She heard him catch his breath.
Then he took her in his arms and
crushed her to him. despite her strug-
| giles and her little smothered cries of
dismay.
Hang it! You shan't spoil your
life and mine. You shan't. I say!
Something shall be done about this!"
He stopped and kissed her full on
the lips; then, putting her almost
roughly from him, he began to run
up the slope.
"where-where are you going?''
she painted.
ITO murder Bunny. If can't think
up something better before I happen
| to encounter him." he called back
over his shoulder.
''Kirk. Kirk. wait! You mustn't"
she painted.
But he paid no heed.
| Just what he could do in the matter
he wasn't at all sure. as somewhat
calmer he reached the broad veranda
OF the house. He mounted the steps
and glared savagely through the win
dow at the dancers, dipping and GID
ing and evidently enjoying themselves
hugely on the polished floor of the big
dining room. Angrily he turned
away. strobe stormily down the ver-
anda and turned a corner. So great
was his haste that he did not see the
gloomy figure sprawled in a chair
with long legs sticking out before it.
1t was only when he tripped over
these same legs and went ungraceful-
ly and not without something OF q
miniature earthquake to his hands
and knees that he was aware that
particular chair was occupied.
The occupant of the chair leaped
up. apologizing for his offending
legs, and helped Kirk Brandon to his
feet. Then his face lighted
"Oh. 1 say. Kirk" said he, this is
good-this chance to see yo1 alone
I won't apologize for tripping you up
] not even IL I've broken your neck. Sit
down. He dragged the other man
to a chair.
well, what's on your mind. Bunny.
Brandon asked CURLY, and he was won
dering how on earth Constance had
ever managed to so far forget herself
as to allow herself to become engaged
to such an all-round stupid fool as Bum
ny Cotton.
Bunny twisted and untwisted hia