The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-05-11
The Euening Story
Deliberate Miss Henshawe.


(By Jean A. Smythe.
| Uncle Gregory looked Guizzical1y at
his niece, and lines of humor crinkled
about his mouth.
! Accurately speaking, my dear
JOAN" he said at last, ''you are thirty
three today and not growing any
younger"
'Yes?" returned Joan, carelessly
twirling the bracelet he had just given
her.
And if you are ever going to marry
| -" he began.
I'm going to take my time about
it, Uncle Gregory" she interrupted,
lifting a pair of calm blue eyes to his.
1T is my nature to do things deliber-
ately-and so far, have never had
occasion to regret anything-unless it
was that hat / rushed in and bought
from Nine Donzelle; it was most I'M
satisfactory after all, though it did
look attractive in the window, she
ended regretfully.
Uncle Gregory rolled his eyes in de-
spair.
"On1y a hat to regret!' he groaned.
What about all the lovers who have
grown weary waiting for you to make
up your mind?'
| 'They. have married other girls"
said Joanawithout emotion.
''And you ~ he could not help ask
ing.
Joan shrugged her pretty shoulders.
II have never envied the other girls"
she smiled.
There was one who did not marry"
insinuated Uncle Gregory, with a
sharp note in his voice.
"Oh!" A faint color flushed
Joan't clear skin. .I suppose you
mean Peter Dodd."
"Of course"
He hasn't troubled you lately"
Was there spite in the old gentleman's
tone?
Joan was quite pale now.
You forget Peter is in Japan" she
reminded him.
Peter Dodd has been in New York
for six MONTHS flung Uncle Gregory
over his shoulder as he hobbIed from
the room.
And Joan sat and stared out of the
window with a dazed look in her
blue eyes.
Was Uncle Gregory right? Had
she deliberated SO long over the great
questions of life that she had missed
the very thing she most desired?
Had Love and Happiness passed by
while she deliberated?
Peter Dodd paced the floor of his
studio his chestnut hair outstanding
from the riot of his restless fingers
He was a big man with rugged fea-
lures and in his paint-stained blouse
he looked rough hewn-elemental
One would not have believed that his
sinewy fingers had the magic touch;
at least he might have painted big
canvases depicting great warning
themes.
touch of some patient Japanese artist
of the long ago-a Hiroshige might
have painted those dainty landscapes
which had made Peter Dodd famous.
He looked anything but famous now
or content. He looked fiercely UNI
happy.
Japanese servant entered softly
and laid pine log on the fire. As
Mtto passed a table he flicked aside
a little dust, moving, as he did so, a
big white box tied with blue ribbons.
Let that alonei' roared Peter an
grily, and as Mito scutt1ed out of the
the box of chocolates and another vio-
let-colored box from which came the
scent of violets.
A bunch of violets and a box of
chocolates, Foolish, feminine "trip
perry for a big mans workshop. Espe-
cially when that man detested women.
Suddenly the portiere was whirled
impetuously aside and a woman en-
of Mito's frightened. astonished face
as the curtain swung back.
Peter she said with a catch in
her voice.
Peter Dodd's lower jaw dropped
ludicrously. If any one had asked
him to wager his life as to the last
woman in the world who would rush
impetuously into his studio at the close
of this March day, or any day-he
would have confidently staked his ex-
istence on that one woman-Joan
HenShawe.
Yet, here she was-Joan Hen
Shave, Older by seven years since
he had last looked on her fair love-
illness. exu1ting in her sta tuesque
beauty; hating her for her cool Sc
renity: loving her always-bitterly.
Joan stood there, lovely color in
vading her cool cheeks. She wore
black and white and by contrast her
eyes were very blue and her hair very
shining.
Don't you remember me, Peter?"
she asked.
''Of course do-Joan Henshawe. I
was surprised to see you; that's all.
Here of all placesi Did you come
alone?" BY this time he had shaken
hands conventionally and pushed for
ward deep fireside chair.