The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-06-08
The Euening Story

fBy Helen Doremus.)


(By Helen Doremus.)
Echo Field lay warm under the sum-
mer sunshine. Gay parasols were scat
tered among the hard benches that sur
rounded the diamond where the Lit
tleville nine was to meet q picked num-
Der Of young men frop the hotel
guests.
Long black stages crawled up the
hill and deposited moro spectators
There were awkward country youths
and fresh faced maidens from the sur
rounding villages all in holiday attire
and dapper, white clad young men ana
pretty girls from the big hotel near the
bay. Old men. stopped from following
the plow and tho patient routine OF the
days work, and old men from the hotel.
bent and wrinkled from studying the
stock market. Joined the crowd. :.
At last the hotel players came and
they were no mean antagonists Tor
these country boys. A big automobile
bus glided up to tho field and the play
ers and their friends tumbled out. Tho
Hotel nine was q trim, we'll set-up
crowd. in uniforms Of pure white from
their caps to the soles Of the feet The
hotel rooters rose and cheered.
The Littleville nine. clad In their
sober gray and blue suits, arrived in
Sammy Hawks two horse stage. There
was a loud cheer from the home sym
pathizers as the nine went onto the
Stevens. the biggest and brownest
giant Of them all, gathered his men in
"a bunch and spoke plainly.
Buck up, you chaps" he said with
q click Of his strong white teeth. This
is no parlor game and that hotel gang
Just keep that in your mind, Todd,
when you go to the stick-see? Don't
have your mind on the parasols on the
benches!'
'sI'H bet his minds on q blue parasol
all right grumbled the crestfallen
Todd to his crony. Wakeman.
You mean Miss Galen?
"Yep-and Link Stevens hasn't got
a ghost Of a show with her! I was
talking with that Peters fellow from the
hotel and he says Miss Galen's ~ good
as engaged to that chap over there
that's pitching for the Hotels-what's
his manner"
sMifflin? Well, he Is some swell!
So is Helen Galen. Links got a lot Of
nerve to think he can get her; he's
nothing but q country lawyer. and they
say her fathers some punkins out In
Omaha, where she came from-well,
the games called. Watch US put 'em
on the rum
Todd went to the bat. stin nursing
q grudge against the handsome cap
tain OF the Littleville nine. The men,
DRY Of another game. earlier In the
season. which had been lost to the
hotel boys because Todd had lost an
inning through the simple mistake OF
trying to wave his hand at May Plat.
and keep his eye on the approaching
ranked in his mind. He missed the
ball and Mays cheerful roofing could
not compensate Todd for the error.
The Littleville player could not for
get this horrid blunder; the hotel
boys wouldn't allow them to-
Among the sea OF snow white para
soils that marked the hotel crowd Of
onlookers was one OF blue; its owner
bore a great deal of good natured rail-
lery with sweet composure. Once her
Stevens and her smile and blush sent
him stoutheartedly to the fray.
Dick Mifflin came to her for
word Of announcement.
You are carrying the enemys col
ors," he reproached her. THAT'S Dit
tough, Helen
She waved q white-gloved hand.
But, see, Dick, what hosts OF friends
you have! Can't you spare one to the
enemy?"
know it," he cried in a low tone.
At that moment some one touched
his elbow, the game was called and
he was compelled to leave her.
will you furl that parasol for my
sake-wear my colors, Helen?" he
asked. Just wave your handker-
chief-just a CLEAN Of white!"
my color il blue, Dick" she said,
regretfully, and he tore himself away
with a heavy heart beating beneath
his uniform.
Link stevens tried to forget the
blue parasol on the bench. and failed.
His heart palpftAted with the thoueht
Of what that blue might mean Helen
TaNn
before all her Fashionable friends
before all Of Ldttleville! Did II mean
that she really Cared for him after all
He had asked her the other night. md
she had deferred an anewer until At
ter her father came. he like that
idea-he wanted to meet the big west
erner and have Judge 0alen know Just
the kind of man his, daughter would
marry. $3.50
with these thoughts rioting through
his brain, is II any wonder that tho
Littleville nine made another specta-
Gle Of ITSELF on Echo field that August
day?
When the gameswas over. score : TO
s, the hotel benches were riot OF
waving white p4raDo1s ana din of
cheers FOR the victorious nine. The
section devoted 20 the IAttIaville sym
pathixeFs took ON the air OF country
funeral a. on4~ by one their friends
solemnly shook hands with the de-
'tbeaF up
Capt. Link stevens found Jim Todd
and Gripped his hand
s-Say anythipe you like 70 me, Jim, "
he growled. Il know just how You felt
put M out this time. too-and I'm to
blame for IT."
.sWeIl, it was this way, Link" ex-
planned Todd eagerly. II didn't see
the hall when 1t came; Vas kinder
.'oh. know an Sisht." interrupted