The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-11
The Euening Story
Opening Mabers Eyes.
(By Leslie Ford.)

across the station platform and dis
appearing over the hill with a series
of short whistles as it neared the mill
crossing. Ben Todd, general utility
man with the title of station agent,
carried the mail to the postoffice and
returned to the station by the nearest
route, which was significant, because
he usually went two blocks out of his
way to pass in sight of the lot he had
bought and which, it was generally
understood, was later to be the site of
a bungalow where he and Mabel Ellis
were to begin their married life. From
her seat on her front porch, the ever
watchful Mrs. Perkins took careful
notice of Ben's depression.
Just look at Ben Todd going back
to the depot the near way" she called
to her daughter. I'll bet he and
Mabel have quarreled about that
whipper-snapper Charlie Wilkes, for
she was out automobiling with that
fellow yesterday and they passed the
| depot three times, as if they were just
determined Ben should see Them
Mrs. Perkins jumped at conclusions
with the skill of a practiced gossip,
but in this case she had reached the
right conclusion, for Ben and Mabel
had quarreled the night before when
he went to make his usual Sunday
evening call.
Ben had tried to avoid mentioning
Charlie Wilkes the dapper young
man, who, while on a vacation visit
to Marshville, had been paying Mabel
so much attention that all the town
was wondering how much longer Ben
would stand it without putting his
foot down" AS Ben and Mabel sat
on the front porch there was a sitting
sense of impending storm. Converse
ton moved haltingly- Eight o'clock
came and passed, and from over the
hill came the faint sounds of the
church organ.
aren't we going 10 the 11nion Sop0
service tonight" asked Ben.
What for?" retorted Mabel "To
listen to Mamie Cobb try to outshine
Elsie Martin? For my part, I'm so
sick of Marshville that L don't want to
so anywhere 1 wish 1 could be where
There's something worth going to-
Mabel drew her white-shod feet under
| her pique skirt, let her hands nang
Imply and. with her chin in the air,
Hooked out cover the roofs of Marsh
Vile.
| Seemed like you enjoyed the
church social Thursday night; that is,
| 1t looked that way to an outsider ike
me-" Thus Ben touched off the spark
that exploded his intention to avoid
the one subject of which they were
/ both thinking.
Yes, 1 did, and that because 1 was
with a live wire snapped Mabel eff
a few people like that lived in Marsh
willie thered be something to enjoy all
1.-THE time
Ben's long pent jealousy and MabePs
defensive attitude made them both put
textravagant emphasis into all they
said, and each remark that followed
took them farther from a friendly
footing. Finally Ben took his hat
from the end of the porch seat ne
had occupied and stood looking
tnoughtfully into the crown. He
turned to Mabel, who was sitting quite
still in the big wicker rocker, with her
hands clasped tightly. but with her
eyes still looking out over the irregu-
! lar roofs of the town.
tSince you've made it plain that
there's no enjoyment for you in my
company, I can mighty soon relieve
you of it," Ben descended two steps,
and added: Good night, Mabel
You'll not be bothered with my COM
pany again unless you say the word"
"Of course, being man, you
blame the woman when things so
wrong. 1 hope you're satisfied, and
I'm sure 1 am. Good night" Mabel
| disappeared through the doorway and
Ben walked all around town to reach
mis- boarding house, only three blocks
away
During the week that followed, Ma
bel and Charlie Wilkie were often
people. On Saturday, a celebration
was held in honor of the completion
of the new town hall, and the festivi-
kties ended with an evening concert in
Wilkes had been dashing around town
in an automobile and they stopped
near the square t. listen to the band
Gee. this is no life for you. Mabel, !"
said Charlie, with easy familiarity.
you ought to be in the city. Why.
any number of girls with less educa-
ton than you get from fifteen to TWEEN
ty dollars a week for the lightest kind
of office work, and evenings they've
/ nothing to do but dress up and go out
to show or a dance.
but Amy Cobb was home last
week" weakly protested Mabel, land
she makes a good salary; but she says
it is hard to make friends in the city
among the kind of people you'd care
to call friends
| "Oh. we'll if girl acts like stiff
| people will pass her up, but you'd
never have to go betting for a friend
| or a beau-certainly not when I'm
anywhere around" Charlie slipped
| his arm around Mabels waist and
| started to draw her to him, but at that
instant there came a crashing sound
from the band platform, and a hum
bred shrieking voices from the crowd
/ Mabel started to spring forward, but
Charlie frightened his arm about her.
She wrested herself away from him
and turned her eyes blazingly upon
| him she let herself out of the car.
How dare you? And when people
around US are being killed. Why
don't you do something to help?" she
almost shrieked at him.
why should I do anything"
came Charley's Indifferent reply. ITS
no concern of mine if these Rubes
want to get their necks broken. Even
your friend the station agent and bag
| gage hustler is in that gang. See? %
! All Mabel could see was a young
woman hugging a three-year-old boy
! to her breast, and a number of excited
| men irving to make room on the