The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-09-25
The Euening Story
A City Bird.
(By lola Forrester.)

from the outer world. He had hall
bedroom at Miss Meloney's, on Lex
ington avenue just above Gramercy
park. 1t was convenient to his work
over on Broadway and he rather liked
this old end of the town best. But
there didn't seem to be one congenial
soul until Laura Edwards came.
She was about nineteen, he figured,
that first night when they met at din
ner. He watched the gaslight fall on
her bowed head. Her hair was chest
| of golden brown. Her eyes, too, were
brown, and very friendly-almost too
friendly and comradely in their ap-
peal, he thought-and he wanted to
protect her, vaguely.
Hobart and the rest made straight
set for her. Hobart offered to play
the piano for her, and Tucker old her
of his recent set of Kipling, three
asked her if she liked the movies. And
she parted them all with a smile and
looked over at silent Gardiner.
He found out that she worked some
place up town, probably in an office.
She left the house around seven-thirty
and came back about six. Even Miss
Meloney knew no more than this.
Gardiner wished she wound find out
more, but there was certain point
that even her curiosity could not get
| by in Miss Edwards manner.
I'm thinking she's from the middle
west" Kinney, the little highlander
| Sdluy one UlSAl Jul Oh LAlO IL OAl SlCPo.
''She's spoken to me of Dayton. Ohio,
very often. Tenderly like, too
shes way of the south about her
at times" Hobart declared with
sigh. Like a rose, like a rose.''
Gardiner rose uneasily. He hated
to have her discussed by them. She
was so much apart, so wonderful to
him The very ,o mystery that nat lay lay
princess in disguise, graciously linger-
ing among them for a little while.
Privately he rather thought she might
be waiting for a legacy to be divided
to some person of importance. Moth
ing commonplace could ever be asso-
ciated in thought with her
So he approached his hour of fate
to tell her so. That, at least, was
mans right. He was earning twenty
five a week now, and commission on
sales besides. Back home in Rhode
where his mother lived. That was
his, too, if he cared to run it. But he
knew, someway, Laura would never
care for the country. She was city
bird born to preen on stone pedestals.
Still, he would tell her.
1t was Saturday night. The city lay
under the first spell of early fall. !
There a haze in the twilight. IL
tender GOODNESS and hint of autumn.
He had asked her that evening to go
up through the park with him and
she had consented. They had taken
At Fifth avenue bus up, ard sat up on
top. To Gardiner it was a night of
enchantment and he said little. 1t
was enough to be with her. Now and
then she turned her head and smiled
at him.
I've always loved this ride, haven't
you ?' she asked.
"I always knew 1 should with the |
right girl ne answered bravely, and
she laughed at him softly, unrebuk- |
ingly. The stars seemed to dip and |
pat him on the head for his pluck.
1t was after ten when they re- |
turned The front steps were de-
serted There was a settee placed on |
the little grass plot under the lone |
catalpa tree, and they sat out there /
monplaces, yet with every nerve ting
ling, every glance conveying messag es |
their lips belied. And all at once |
Gardiner blurted out:
Wen never be the same after to- |
night, will we2;'
She smiled up at him wist fully
"Why?"
Because we've found cut Aren't
you sure I love you? Oh, didn't |
mean to spring it like that, Laura" |
He reached for her hands anxiously. |
Don't go in yet. L had to tell you.
I've been awfully lonesome here until
you came"
She nodded her head.
II was lonely, too" she said softly,
but I'm used to it, I've lived around
in boarding houses for two years now,
and it's horrid where I work I'm a
retoucher on Photographic plates, and |
that means work in dark room by
red light all day. 1 hate the dark
Some time I'm going to live outdoors
right in the sunlight and daylight all
the time"
Where are your folks7' he asked.
81 thought you were just here for a
little WHILE
Dead mostly, I guess. I've got
married sister out in Dayton, Ohio
After my mother died went to work
here. I can make pretty good pay at
it, but I hate it, just hate it. It's
awful when you hate the work Won
have to do"
Gardiner sat nearer, his arm lying
back of her along the settee. And
some way words came as fast to him
words to tell her what he would like
to do to make life easier for her. She
wasn't a visiting princess any longer
she was just a sweet, everyday mate
and pal who might be wife some day
to him.
They could get a little apartment
four rooms would be enough to start
with. He had a couple of hundred
saved already and could get more
from the home nest-egg- Perhaps
some time they'd go back to the farm.
1t was near the town and the trolley
ran r close ;eI by She might liz Ike it
ately. I'm just starved for daylight,
Tom. That's your name. isn't it? I /,
heard one of the boys call you Tom
Say it again. said Gardiner con-
tentedly. 81 like to hear you
The front door opened cautiously
and Miss Meloney peered out, saw
who was there and hesitated.
Have you the time. Mr.. Gardner? ?"
she asked.
Little past ten." answered Tom
genially. I'VE had to stay out little