The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-27
The EUening Story
How He Proposed.
(By Susan E. Clagett.

| of refinement that makes possible
harmonious whole.
The man paused an instant. his eyes
taking in every familiar detail; then
they rested upon the woman stand
! ing before the open fire.
THE fates are indeed kind she said
as he advanced toward her. Il was
beginning to think myself forgotten"
Never that" he answered, a smile
lighting his face, Think it the eXig-
encies of business, anything, but not
that"
AS he spoke he pushed an easy
chair nearer the fire and sank into it
with q sigh of content. 81 have lost
much, / know. You, who have it al
ways, cannot appreciate the charm,
the delight of such a room as this TO
weary man. 1t is always before me
as a haven of rest and has so tan
talized me this day that I was forced
to yield to my mood although my desk
is piled high with unfinished work.
II am glad it was So" she answered
cordially. "Of my many friends, your
presence is the most acceptabl BILE"
Are you not mistaken" he Ques-
toned gravely 1T has seemed to me
that have lately been on the outside.
a position that has so annoyed me. 1
hoped for just such a chance as this
1t is months since we have had a quiet
talk together"
Perhaps you have not sought the
opportunity" she responded, taking a:
fan from the table and holding it so as
to screen her eyes from the freight.
1T was never necessary before
why now?'' he asked in some amaze
ment.
She laughed.
You are cultivating your imagina-
ton, or perhaps you are not we'll. Ii
takes little to make one suspicious
under the latter circumstances"
81 am perfectly we'll and 1 have
| n aver heen SIlSniciOuS in nv life. The
change is in you, not in me-"
And my offense? Tell me what it
is And she looked at him with a
flash of amusement in her eyes.
| q cannot 1t is intangible. 1t is
as if you had shut door in my face
and said, Thus far, but no farther"
"a Pigment of your BRAIN" she an
swered lightly. What have you been
writing lately? A story? If so. I sus-
| pect this room has figured in 1t and
| incidentally it's mistress.
II would have no skill in portraying
| the subtle workings of your womans
mind" he replied with some bitter
ness. ''I will confess to many faults.
to subterfuge.t
"A suggestion that l am.?''
"a woman feels privileged to hide
herself in the mood of the moment,
does she not?'
She dropped her fan and looked at
1 .
Your voice sounds angry. Are you
trying to provoke a quarrel? Do not,
1 will not quarrel with you. For some
reason you are not yourself and l feel
that 1 am proving an irritant instead
| of helping you pass restful and
quiet hour"
"Then why do you always fence
with me?" he asked impatiently. ut
has been this way for months past, but
it is unlike you. I value our friend
/ FNI.1 %
| ing as I willed has for years been my
chief pleasure. But this rift within
the Lutte that you will not explain away
leaves me stranded. Our oldtime
friendship is gone. Do you wonder
that I make a fight for it, that 1 re-
sent, bitterly resent, this something
that has come between us?"
Believe me, 1 have been most I'M
| fortunate if my manner has conveyed
such an impression she said slowly
Jack" with a swift glance into his
gloomy face, ''for how long have we
| been friends?"
For more years than care to re-
member" he responded promptly.
She rarely called him by his name
and he was conscious of keen de-
| light in the unaccustomed word COM
ing from her lips. He shaded his eyes
from the freight and looked closely
at her. There was a note in her voice
he had never heard before, but dark
ness had fallen and her face was in
shadow.
st have always thought my name
rather a good sort, but 1 never realize
its possibilities until I hear you use it.
Why don't you do so oftener?"
at is my reserve weapon" she re-
piled with a soft laugh. when you
are as bearish as you have been this
evening it is the only thing that
creates a diversion"
Then 1 must be an amiabie kind
of fellow ordinarily since 1 hear it so
rarely 1 will foster the trait hereafter
if it will induce you to use it,
He stretched out his hand as If to
touch her, but turned instead toward
the fire. Once he seemed about to
speak. but checked himself.
Quietly she watched him, but there
was nervous tremble of her lips
nearer to tears than laughter.
81 have been a fool" he exclaimed
abruptly.
She let the accusation pass in
silence.
And a coward"
You are beginning to see how I'M
reasonable you are?" she asked as she
raised her fan to hide a smile.
mo. On that point my opinion is
unchanged. 1 was thinking of the
loneliness of my life The friendship
| lieve, for 1 love you, Margaret. think
have always loved you. 1t is com
monplace way of putting it, but then I
am commonplace man. Anyone else
could do it better than l. I would
have told you long ago, but I was
afraid. afraid that my doing so would
end everything"
II think you should also add cruel
and selfish The words would be ap-
plicable,'' she replied with hardly con-
| cealed bitterness.
The years had risen in a flash before
| her; years in which she had trained
| herself in the difficult art of friend
ship when her heart was crying
against such discrimination. And now,
to know she could have been spared it