The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-11-25
The Eoenine Story
Who Was tho Goat?


IF you put 1t in water on your desk
it will keep fresh for days." said Dorine
Fable as she pinned a martgOld on the
coat lapel of young DR.. Hanscom.
I'm do it and you'll see me wear it
home every night while it lives" re-
piled the doctor. And for good be-
havior perhaps you'll do me the honor
Of pinninR on another?'
Dorine nodded Her dimples played
about her mouth when she smiled and
the sight Of them had become very
interesting part Of DR.. Hanscom's sum-
mer sojourn at the Laketon Hotel. He
was young veterinary surgeon and his
Office and visiting hours were not long.
so that he had had the advantage over
many Of the summer men at the hotel
by getting home early. And it seemed
almost as if Dorine waited for him on
the tennis court or on the veranda. AT
least he always managed to find her
and this was the first morning that she
had been so friendly as to pin flow
er in his coat.
that took him to the city he thought
of the girls face as she had reached
up to put the little flower on his coat.
1t had seemed very welcome at that
moment, and Joe Hanscom was sure
that he loved the girl now even II
he had not been sure OF 1t during all
the weeks of summer.
He was a little disappointed not to
find her about the hotel that afternoon
when he reached home. He sought
her ON the courts. on the golf links. on
all the porches, but he could not dis
cover her. He wanted to tell her why
it was that he was not wearing the
flower she gave him. and to have it re-
placed by another one from her own
hand.
In the dining room she was not at
the family table with her father and
brother. 1t was possible. the young
man decided, that she and her mother
had gone motoring and had been de-
tanned, as Mrs. Fable was absent also.
His surmise was evidently correct,
for within a half hour. while the doc
tor dragged out his dinner as slowly
as possible. hoping to have a sight of
Dorine, she came into the dining
room with her mother, and they both
wore automobile costumes.
Dorine gave him her usual bright
smile and nod, and then her eyes fell
on his coat lapel. which was guiltless
of adornment. A slight flush burned
her cheeks and after that she gave
him only cursory glances, and when
he asked her to walk with him as he
passed her in the corridor she de-
clined almost frigidly.
The next morning she was not at
breakfast and DIR. Hanscom had to
leave the hotel for the first morning
since he had met her without having
seen her smile and nod farewell to
him.
Time dragged that day and he did
not look forward with pleasure to his
evening at the hotel. II Dorine would
let him explain to her why he was
not wearing her flower he was sure 1t
would be all right She would see
the humor Of 1t. II he had looked a
little more closely into the matter he
would have realized that the girl
A@lr III 80
the small blossom 80 seriously If she
had not cared for him. But he was
! too respondent to interpret her atti-
| tude as an onlooker might have done.
For three days he did not have con-
versation with her. He saw her
er, mother and brother. and he re-
ceived. each time. cool little nod
| from Dorine. 1t was Saturday night
at the weekly dance that he deter
mined to talk with her. for by this
time there was no doubt in his mind
world for him.
! He waited for her at the big double
door leading into the ballroom. He had
! fully decided to force her to listen to
| Inn. AS she came downstairs. lovely in
| a white dancing dress. he met her face
to face.
/ .This has been our dance all summer,
Dorine. Have 1t with me now" He
! put his arm about her and they stepped
on together in the hesitation waltz they
| had learned to dance 80 well as part
ners.
| Dorine did not say a word. but her
heart was pounding as it had never
| done before at his touch.
Wen enjoy the dance now, Dorine, -
Joe was saying when they reached a
clear spot in the floor for a moment,
.'and afterwards I'll tell you what hap
pened to your dear little flower
When the dance was over he led her
out through the French windows that
opened onto a secluded veranda The
moon was sending little lights through
the dense honeysuckle vines that hung
all about and whose flowers perfumed
the air 50 heavily.
"Sit down." Joe said. drawing up a
chair. Himself, he sat ON the railing
facing her.
4 Now" he began. looking at her face
as the moonbeams played on 1T, what
| y the matter? Why have you deliber-
ately avoided me for days9"' He paused.
Let know-it was because you thought I
was careless about your fower-that /
had forgotten it,
You were-you did, said Dorine
with asperity- And know very well
why 1t WAC
-'Dortne :" began Joe. but - inter
.rnpted him.
st a :