The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-28
EVENING STORY
The Plans of Mice and Men.
(Ry Ruth Ishaml


head and not let his heart run away
with him. Fate had been unkind and
brought him to poor parents and the
lack of the silver spoon had caused
Tommy considerable discomfort. But
as he grew older he consOled himself
with the thought that "all things come
to him who waits" Also, he argued,
There are as big fish in the sea as
ever were caught" This was COM
fort. He would watch his chance and
marry some girl who happened to be
an only daughter of some rich old fell
low with bad heart.
So he settled down to his ledger at
Smith & Dewey's, fairly we'll contented
with life, confident that time was all
that was needed to consummate his
plan.
Therefore it was with keen annoy
ance that he woke one morning real
izing that he had made fool of him.
self the night before and, quite before
he knew what he was doing, had
proposed to Clorinda Mowry, one of
the office.
Tommy had been afraid of Clorinda.
He had caught himself time and again
watching the outline of her head
against the big plate glass window,
and her hair had a way of catching
the sun and rejecting it into his eyes
that was quite annoying. He had
caught up several mistakes in his rows
of figures that he was sure were due
to Clorinda's hair. Once in while,
as she put new paper into the machine
or stopped to pick out some compli-
Gated dictation, she managed to flash a
smile in his direction that gave his
heart alarming momentum.
And being fully aware that the girl
would wreck all his carefully laid
plans for a prosperous future If he
were not exceptionally cautious, it was
Ill hi
feelings to get the better of him just
because a silly boat upset and he
thought she was dying. He had called
her his darling. And he had told her
she must live for him, that he adored
her and so on.
Then a light broke upon his gloom.
Had he really proposed to her? Telling
a girl you love her and that she is So
and-so and so-and-so doesn't mean
that you have offered her your heart
and hand. He bathed and dressed
hurriedly, breakfasted and made for
the office. He had Il plan.
THE vacation lists are out and I'll
sign up for mine right away. BY the
time 1 get back perhaps Clorinda will
have forgotten what l said. Besides, If
go to Kenebunket, or Menobscot,
where millionaires are at discount, 1
may be able to persuade some fair
maid to take me on for keeps. Why
not?"
And so, leaving Clorinda with no
more affectionate farewell than a pres
sure of the hand ana look that he
tried to make full of meaning without
being too committal, and saving that
the time would be endless until he re-
turned, he packed up bis bags, tennis
racket and golf sticks-the latter more
for impression than for utility
bought his ticket and departed.
He had chosen Keneburket and he
1, Il ~, rrAl1 fIz<@
hotel register made his head swim and
the rates made him dizzy. But Tommy
had planned his campaign long
enough ahead to be prepared for just
such en- emergency He had saved up.
Ten dollars n day for two weeks would
be one hundred and forty dollars
Counting car fare, he had two hun
drad to blow irl He signed his name
with a flourish-''W. Thomas Car
stairs, New York" Tommy had al
ways been bit proud of his name.
And now for the girls!
Well, there is no use in relating
that Tommy had anoher awakening
almost as shocking as the one we
have described. Only this one took
several days In that time he learned
that although his name might be w.
Thomas Carstairs and that he dressed
well, the summer colonists would
none of him. Even when the girls
were nice and willing to make up,
their mammas vigilantly got them out
of the way as soon as possible. He
found himself in a state of isolation
that was enlightening and not fiat
tering But just when he needed con-
ISOLATION the most he found it. And
her name was Lorelef!
He was coming along the beach one
day and as he passed she dropped
her book. He restored it. She thank
ed him. He remarked on the weather.
She spoke of something else. They
both mentioned boating and it ended
in taking a ride in launch together.
She was very pretty-straight, classic
features and very light hair netted
and puffed to perfection. She was
Clorinda's opposite, tall, statuesque
almost and her eyes were blue. C1or-
midas were brown.
I've only been here a day or So"
she said confidentially, land I feel
rather lost You see, we've been in
Europe every summer until last year
and we spent that in the Canadian
Rockies. Father and mother are there
now, but 1 came here from school
with my companion to wait until they
Join me- Then we are going to Nova
Scotia But Isknow scarcely any one
and it's splendid to have found you.
know father will approaches so
cosmopolitan"
Tommy chirked up his business ear
Daughter had rather an aura of pros
perity about her and father had GER
tainly some coin. An only daughter,
too, and pretty at that.
I'm the luckiest person alive" de-
clared Tommy. 81 don't care a lot
for many people. Just one or two is
enough for me- I came to rest. My
doctors told me it was absolutely nee
essary. You know how it is-the re-
sponsibility of a large business, late
hours socially and so on
Lorelei was sympathetic. The boat
ride was a great success and over all
too soon. That evening he met her