The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-19
The Euening Story
Two Confessions.
IBy Earl Reed Silvers.)

(By Earl Reed Silvers)
Henry Riker had been at the Fern
cliff boarding house just thirteen days,
and during that time he had won the
worshiping admiration OF Mildred
Graydon. He was to go home on the
morrow. In spite of the fact that the
board was only five dollars week
and the majority of the guests were
shop girls, he had had a delightful
time But that had been because of
Mildred She seemed different from
the other girls, her voice was softer,
her clothes simpler, her English bet
ter. She didn't say, "Ain't that won
derful.''
They had both arrived on the same
day and had met at supper. After
that, they had been together continu-
ally, until Henry admitted to himself
that he was almost in love. But on
the evening before he was to return
to the daily grind of business. he
stood on the veranda of the low, ram
bling farmhouse and looked detected
| ly at two chickens pecking aimlessly
on the front lawn. He was about to
make confession, and he didn't know
| how Mildred would take it.
A crowd of girls dressed in rather
wrinkled white dresses came out of
the front door and greeted him
noisily.
why the funeral expression?" one
of them called. You'd think you
were attending church.
He scowled openly at the evident
coarseness of the remark, but did not
deign to answer.
Want to come down to the viii
| lager the same shrill voice persisted.
NO." he said, in tones which were
meant to imply his distaste of the
ming, thank you"
| well, make yourself at homei"
| The group passed on down the road,
their progress being marked by loud
bursts of laughter. Henry looked up
and smiled as a dark-haired, blue-eyed
girl tripped lightly down the steps and
accosted him.
Are we going out on the lake p"
she asked.
IF you want to-
| "Of course, I do. I wouldn't miss it
for worlds; this is our last night, you
know
Yes, I know it." He thoughtlessly
tossed a pebble at one of the I'M
offending chickens.
Both were rather silent as they
| walked toward the water. The beauty
of the evening spoke for ITSELF and
neither girl nor man felt the necessity
of conversation.
Once out upon the lake, Henry
seemed to come to conclusion.
He rested the oars in the locks and
|
eyes.
I've got a confession to make, "
he announced hesitatingiy. But ]
don't know whether 1 ought to make
it or not!"
What kind of a confession
About myself. I've come up here
with all these shop girls and clerks
and made believe that I am one OF
them!" A slight tinge of red crept
over his forehead. But I'm not. M,
| faf ic a hi
facturer, and we've loads and loads
of money"
And you came up here?" She
seemed incredulous.
Yes, I came for the fun of the
thing-just to see what it would be
like"
"Oh!" He didn't look up; he wa.
afraid to meet her eyes.
And now" he concluded, you'll
probably think 1 have been playing
with you. But 1 haven't; I'm reall,
! crazy about you.
He made bold this time to glance
at her, but, instead of the hurt lool
he expected, he surprised a smile or
her face.
Don't you carer he asked.
why, mol" She continued tt
smile at him. 81 knew you werenr
one of those people as soon as l saw
, you. That's why let you go with ms
so much. My father is Arthur Gray
r don, the big New York doctor"
2 What" His jaw dropped from
sheer amazement.
Yes, am Doctor Graydon's daugh
ter. I'm glad to know that you arr
what you are because now you cal
: come to see me in New York.
YES" he answered, that will b.
t fine"
But, somehow his words failed t.
: carry conviction. He took up tn
' oars and rowed slowly toward tn
t shack which was called boathouse
: The girl, too, seemed rather thought
e fully silent, and he ventured to glanc
\ naturally brilliant and bright spo
I of red adorned each cheek He wa
= struck with the sudden desire t.
reach over and touch her hand; blu
q til the boat struck the bank with
dull thud Then the man spoke.
i've got another confession t
make" he said, and this time hi
e living to you. Ny father is Tom Riker
$ and he works in a factory in Hoboken
haven't much money to speak OF
I'm a floor-walker in Tracy's
what" This time 1t was the CIR
who registered amazement-
= yes" he continued, I'm a four
: fiusher 1 thought at first that thi
: was only summer Irritation and tina
= we would forget about 1t as soon a
. we went home. So 1 told you I wa
. rich in order to make q good impress
= sion. But, as soon as you told me VIII
! YOU really are, 1 realized that I-tha
" I-cared for you. But now, I guess
A it's all Overt" He looked the pictur
I of detection.
r The girl was silent for a moment
n but when she spoke her voice equaie'
s his in frankness.
: I've got a confession to make, too,
n she said softly. Il never laid m
Il eyes on Dr. Graydon; my father /
janitor of building on Fulton street.