The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-05-05
The Euening Story
Number Eight.
lBx Ellis perbyO


Its too near the prov of the boat,
Aunt Catherine" Dora protested. when
they had followed the Iuggage-laden
porter up two flights of stairs and had
landed at Number Eight, a stateroom
the fourth from the forward smoking
room. And. dear, there'n be all the
smoke, too. You can't stand it"
| Yes, L can, too. Just lay those
things right in the berth. Miss WIN
throp fun bled for coin in her hand-
bag for the porter, and turned her
flushed, beaming face to her assem-
bIed relatives. Where's Phil2
don't dare to let him out of my sight
Her brother, Pills father, and
Phirs two sisters and Phifs mother
all eagerly assented-
Not for a minute, Catherine, until
you see him safely in Gregory $
hands, said Mr.. Harding. his
stateroom is next to yours. By George,
| for two cents I'd lock him in
Now, Frank, you were young once
yourself" began Mrs. Harding. on
the outskirts of the family gathering,
beyond the confines of the stateroom,
stood Phil. Poor old Phil, as they
called him back at Harvard. His stay
there had been ruthlessly cut short
He was being consigned now to New
York. in care of Aunt Catherine, to
another uncle, and from there to
conditions in the export trade.
/ Phil tried to see the crowd down
on the dock through the side door
leading out on deck. She must be
there some place 1t couldn't be that
she didn't care a rap what became of
him. They said because she was on
the stage she couldn't be really in
love with him. 1t was just the fam
ily's cash. He had told her long ago.
right in the beginning, how none of
them believed he would amount to
anything, excepting Aunt Caroline.
anyway. And she hadn't minded at
all. They were engaged and all was
well until somebody found out and
told.
The last call went out, and the fam
lily babe him the final farewells, with a
touching effect of forgiveness and re-
proach. Phil stood with his chin up,
hating the world at large, wishing
with all his heart he dared leap over
the side of the boat before them all.
But what was the use? She WASH t
down there Not a single line had
come from her in days and days.
1--WE can go on deck, now, PHIL
Aunt Caroline was saying comfortably.
"Just get nice seat for me where the
wind doesn't blow, and I'll make my
self comfortable. Glad to get away,
aren't you, dearie?
| Phil gave her one long, eloquent
look.
Never mind and cheer up"
Cheer up when you're going away
from the girl you love and she hash
even sent you a line to say she was
sorry, I'll bet dad pinched any she
did send.''
Aunt Caroline said nothing, but pre-
| tended to settle herself in her chair.
And after Phil had disappeared, there
came cautiously across the deck to her
| and
very anxious and wistful as she sat on
the edge of the chair next to the old
lady and listened to her.
ooh, you must have known I'd be
sure to come after 1 got your letter."
she exclaimed once ..Why-why, I
love Phil terribly I had no idea they
were sending him away like that 1
thought it would all just blow over,
and when they saw wasn't so dread
full perhaps they might even like me"
Miss Winthrop eyed her pleasantly.
| Real sweet, slightly sort of girl
she said, half to herself. ''WeH, my
dear, Boston families are given to
strange notions. They wanted Phil to
wait till he was settled in business, I
suppose, before he thought of marry
ing
But that's all wrong. Phil needs
me now while he's trying to make
over and he's tired with the fight for
success. You understand, don't you,
Miss Winthrop"
PITY sake, child, don't cry before
folks" said the old lady, hastily pro-
ducing a large linen handkerchief.
Yes, I understand all about it. That's
why I sent for you
And Phil doesn't know
He won't know, either. You're GO
ing to share Number Eight with me to-
i night, and tomorrow morning when