The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-04-14
The Euenir,g Story
Double Dared.
(By Mary Marshal1.)

/ Its such a bore not to have cof-
fee."
Tom Blake drew long puff from
| his cigarette, and then YEARLY
watched the smoke as it circled over
Julia's head. 1t had come to be a
matter of fact for Tom and Julia
Dawson to come off like this at the
Blair parties and pass an hour in
quiet in the broad sweeping veranda
overlooking the sea.
But no one has coffee at dances in
July Julia did not look at Tom,
though in the light that shone from
the house she coud have seen
that he was looking absently out
toward the breakers.
''Still it's tupid not to have coffee
when you want it," Tom persisted.
Julia sat up erect and looked at
Tom with the frankness of old ac-
quaintance, the result of a friendship
that had lasted from the days when
that had lasted from the days
when Julia and Tom both = left
are getting to a miserable, grumpy
old bachelor, Tom Blake. To sit and
fume because you can't have coffee
just when you want it, and TO prefer
to. sit here, anyway, when there is
music and dancing and life and hap
piness inside-Tom, it's dreadful Why
five years ago, if you had been out
here with me you would be tanning
me or at least looking at me once i'm a
while, and you would be- telling me
stories and jokes and quoting Kip
ling and trying dozen different ways
to entertain me. But now you just
sit and complain about not having
what you want when you want it,,
'And you would have been giggling
like a debutante yourself, and flut-
tering and smiling and toying with
your fan and the pearls around your
neck. On the whole, I like you bet
ter now .-, ..-... ,--.-..,
can you say that when you know
| TINT in those daVS VOu-
go on! Say it," said Tom, medi
tating over another curl of cigarette
smoke. 81 was rather in love with
you then, sent you flowers and wrote
letters every day and was fool enough
to think you'd marry me some time
But when man is as old as [ am he
case of taking the gifts the gods
provide, now. However, 1 wish the
Blairs would serve coffee. Who wants
an ice without coffee even in July 2"
And you are miserable just be-
cause they didn't happen to have it.
Why don't you go down to the hotel
and get some if that is the way you
feel? If anyone were at our cottage
I'd ask you to come home now Cof-
fee is very simply concocted-
.I dare you, Julia" Tom tossed his
cigarette off the veranda and stood
| beside her. Don't refuse dare, do
| YOU? I double dare you to let me go
| home with you now and make IT,
Remember how 1 used to dare you
dared you to kiss me once at our jun
ior prom, and you were too good a
sport to refuse. But kissingts gone
out of fashion, now. Julia. 1 triple
dare you to make the coffee
Julia unused for a minute with half
closed eyes. I'D accept the dare if it
| weren't that there is no one in our
| cottage. The maids have gone to the
village and mother is in town and
Dora is dancing. I couldn't drag a
sister in her first season away from a
Iaox no lrnx fn "a
| cottage with me, but / can't go home
| with you alone. You know how peo-
pie to talk. They would find out
somehow"
Double double dare you leased
Tom 81 must have coffee.
A minute later Julia, her light
evening cape thrown around her
shoulders. stole down the veranda
steps with Tom. A group of dancers,
warm with the exertions of the last
trot came on the veranda just in
time to see them go. Its Tom Blake"
some one said. -'And Juha!" 1t was
Julia's sister speaking. wonder
| where they are going,'
But Tom and Julia did not hear
| them and as they hurried along the
| beach toward Ju1ia's cottage a spirit
of real adventure quickened the girls
pulses and brought color to her
cheeks.
Just as they turned into the path
way that led into the cottage two
neighbors passed Its Julia, one
said, land that Mr.. Blake. No ones
Julia to be there alone. and that
Blake they say used to be in love
with her once" Julia was fumb1ing
with the key and did not hear this.
Once in the house Julia dropped
her wrap and started toward the din
ing room
'.oh. forget the coffee." Tom called