The Topeka state journal., 1916-10-18
EVENING STORY
Marjorie's Night Letter.
(By Catherine CraEmer. }

York could get hot until she walked
across the streets of this overgroWn
Young city and felt the blistering heat
of the tar that oozed from the wooden
blocks used as street paving She re-
gretted having decided to stop even
few hours there on her way to the
Rocky mountains
Roger Davis, her first sweetheart,
had gone to this city five years before
to practice law, and Marjorie had CIV
en- him her promise not to become
engaged to another until Rogers first
years work either proved or dlsproVeo
his professional mettle- The promise
had been easy, but gay society sea-
son and a trip to Paris and European
watering pla ces the next summer dim
med the memory of Roger, and her
letters gave him so much evidence OF
her growing indifference that he re-
Trained from pressing his SUIT; lest the
Indifference change to dislike. Hut
that was where he erred, for the fol-
lowing winter in New York produced
so many attractions that the distant
Roger was entirely dislodged from his
insecure position in Marjorie's regard.
AS her train sped across the harvest
fields of the middle west, and drew
near to the city where Roger lived,
Marjorie began to feel a desire to see
this place, which, she felt, must en-
body some of the honest energy so
]
ed the street in the shopping district,
however, the hot tar almost melted
her sentiment about the city. She went
into a department store to avoid the
heat outside. AS she entered an ele-
vator to go to the tea room on the
top floor, two young girls in smartly-
tailored linen suits preceded her.
She must possess some hidden
charm beside that lovely country place
tucked away among the elins," said
one girl, with a smile.
Hidden? Not at all. At least not
hidden from Roger Davis, who has
been the family lawyer for two years,
with every chance to know the finan-
cial charms of the only daughter. It's
no wonder if they we'd" The speaker
was obviously proud of her blase
speech and manner.
'Mew,'' said the first girl, with
pretty grimace. But aren't we catty
about this little romance?"
Aren't we, really?" agreed her
some ice tea will set US to purring.
| Let's get that table by the window"
| The speakers passed on, but Mar
jorie abruptly re-entered the eleva-
tor. She felt unreasoning resent
! ment toward those girls for having
| Jared in upon her "reminiscences with
the intimation that Roger was about
to wed some unattractive girl for her
| money
| Leaving the department store, she
| crossed the street and entered a bank
to have a travellers check cashed. AS
she stood in a line of several waiting
| patrons she made a mental note of
| that banks similarity to so many others
in the preciseness of its rows of shiny
| window cages, the whitenesS of its
marble floor and the suavity of it's
| liveried floor attendants. AS she left
the window after receiving her money,
| hot
standing near her. with his hat in his
hand. Almost simultaneously there
came a familiar voice in her ear.
"Marjorie," exclaimed the man, and
a queer trembly sensation took pos
session of her as she looked into the
| felt the pressure of his strong hand.
"Rogerl" she said, weakly, like an
echo of his own greeting.
You're remarkably unchanged" he
said, and almost unconsciously he add
| ed, Sin looks"
Marjorie looked at the firm lines
about his mouth, at the sprinkling of
gray at his temples and at the smiling
frankness of his eyes.
you are both changed and un-
| changed, think" she said.
| Little polished doors glided into
place back of the shiny window cages
and general exodus of patrons indi-
Gated the banks closing hour had
|
I'm wondering what luck has
brought you here" said Roger, as they
moved toward the door.
1T wasn't luck, ii was-wel really,
hardly know said Marjorie. Il
merely stopped for a glimpse of this
city. But tell me how you manage to
live in this terrific heat?"
And this from New Yorker?"
Roger shook his head ruefully. But
come with me and I'll show you the
of its environs. How long will you be
| here?'
Until o'clock this evening"
We'll have just time to end our
sightseeing trip with dinner at the
Country club. Gomez said Roger en-
Enthusiastically.
At the curb they entered his dark
gray roadster and for two hours glid-
ed thru shady residence streets and
pretty little parkweys and out along a
jorie forgot the heat of the city and
she forgot the disa greea BILE words she
had heard in the department store Gle
vator until reminded of them by
Roger.
That house on the hillside over
there is the ElmS, the home of Miss
Andrews. client of NINE" he said
and Immediately Marjorie knew that
the lovely rambling house almost hid
den by great elrns belonged to the
plain but wealthy girl referred to IN
that conversation in the elevator. And
Immediately she felt resentful toward
Miss Andrews and angry. at Roger for
being enticed by her money.
rs she as lovely as her home %
asked Marjorie, ard the sarcasm in
her voice made Roger vince. His re-
ply was curt.
"She is lovelier than many suppose
who see only her appearance without
knowing of her sterling traits"
1t was so. then. thought Marjorie
for pretending to like the plain girl
Marjorie abruptly changed the subject
determined to invite no further con-
fidences- These hours with Roger had
made her yearn for a return of Their
: former close friendship. and perha ps
for even more than that She fel.