The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-12-05
EVENING STORY
Miss Katie Sets Things Right.

buttOned glove DeIOre she answered..
Fine! I never lived before."
The smile faded slowly from her
aunt's face and she scanned the girls
features anxiously. Just what do you
mean by that, dear? What would Tom
say if he heard it?"
Isabel took off her hat and shook
a curl out of her eyes rebell1ously- Il
don't know what he'd say, and I don't
care!'
Now, honey, be careful. Don't say
things you'll be sorry for.
"I'u not be sorry, and 1 mean every
word 1 say. If you could only see how
the Pattersons live and what Jeans
friends are like! Why, auntie, never
knew there were such people in the
world. And such clothes. such jewels,
I've never seen. Diamonds and pearls
as big as hazel nuts, barrels of EN-.
But surely the young girls didn't
have such things!"
1.-The engaged ones did,
Her aunt's eyes sought the hand
with Toms modest little diamond,
then she gave cry of dismay. Where
is your engagement ring, Isabel?
Its in my bag. Do you think 1
was going to wear it for those people
to see? jeans sister is engaged to
Donald McCrum and Encouragement
ring is worth a fortune. 1 wish you
could see it,
Maybe Donald McCrum is rich
HE isl
and Tom isn't"
That's the entire trouble
But you knew"
yes. 1 know, but I didn't know 1
was tired of poverty. I've Just found
it OUT
Her aunt sighed "well, what are
you going to do about it?'
Isabel was silent a minute, then, 81
think, Aunt Katie, that it's best to be
n
truth. I never could be happy with
poor man now"
Pretending not to notice the deter
mination in her niece's voice, Miss
Katie said lightly. Don't do anything
foolish, dear. Think it over first;
you're tired from your trip now, so
s'pose you go up and take. a nice hot
bath and change your clothes. I've
an errand to do, but I'll be home in
an hour, and by that time Susan will
have dinner ready. Try to take nap
if you can
Tom Custer had looked at the office
clock so many times that afternoon
that Mr.. Merrick, the Junior partner,
said finally. Girl away, TOM"
Eyes, sir
Coming home today?"
YES, SIR
t1 thoughtSso"
Tom redeemed. you see, it's the
first time she's been away since we've
been engaged
Better keep her at home until after
the wedding. Engaged girls get queer
notions sometimes''
"Oh, I'm not afraid of ISabeli" an
swered Tom, loyalty.
Mr.. Merrick put on his hat. I'm
going home now, and you'd better
make it holiday too and quit an
hour early. You'll want to get candy
! and flowers and do the right thing. 1
want to talk over things with you in
the morning.
Tom waited until the door closed,
then drew over the telephone But
just as he gave the number the door
opened again. He looked around i'm
patiently. Miss Cartwright" he ex-
claimed.
Aunt Katie nodded greeting.
Wait minute, Tom. Don't call Isa-
bel Just yet I want to tell you some
thing first You'll hate Inc forever.
but it's got to be done, and I guess
I can stand it if it's going to do any
| good
'-All right. Miss Cartwright. I guess
I can stand it, too, then. Sit down
please, won't you? 2"
And then followed conversation
which left Tom white and wretched.
but with a determined set to his Jaw.
AT dinner her niece was quiet She
was wondering just what she would
say to Tom and how he would take il.
Eight O'Clock came. Miss Katie was
keenly conscious of everything. altho
she appeared to be engrossed with her
crochet She saw Isabel glance from
her magazine to the clock
Half-past eight
| THAT Miss Smertz the society edi-
tor of the Herald has bothered me
to death about you, SO 1 gave her all
the information she wanted this
morning. There's a piece in tonight
1 guess
us that SOP" Isabel was painfully
disinterested. But she was saying to
| herself: ''Then Tom does know Tn,
home I wonder why he hasn't called
up, at least"
Nine o'clock,
Il think I'll go to bed" said Miss
Katie. 1.-The preserving this morning
made me very tired. Perhaps Tom
will drop in if he knows you're
homer
Perhaps" Isabel turned a page.
Then, with studied indifference, But
he really ought to know I'm home. I
think L told him the day."
oh is that so? Well, he may have
know Goodnight dear"
Goodnight"
Ten o'clock and no Tom. Isabel
puzzled and weary eyed, took the lit.
| tie velvet box with the ring out of the
| table drawer, switched off the light
and went upstairs, not to Sleep but to
| toss wretchedly most of the night.
She was up at daybreak and down.
stairs waiting when the paper boy
came. She turned to the society page
| There was a five-line announcement
of her return. Tom may not have
seen the other. but he would surely
know now. But what was that right
| under it? Mr.. Thomas Custer of the.
| firm of Merrick & Merrick, left last
night on a business trip to Des
| Moines. He expects to be gone a
| week
| The postman brought mail and
there was a letter from Tom. She
tore it open with feverish haste.
| Dear Isabel" he wrote. Il was
/ sorry to have to leave just when you
were coming home. but I couldn't
/ very well help it. My chance for sue
/ h -i..I-ex