The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-02-11
The Euening Story
Breaking the News.
(By Wayne GrayO
V, MaXie. you know"


offending one. IF ever a kid needed |
it taken out of him. you do, and for a
nickel L do it myself
you'll make a fine big brother, 1
don't think so-maybe. Freddie flung
back, but in rebuking tone, even
grieved and disappointed tone. why
don't you talk that way when Edie's
around to listen and get acquainted
with you"
It's a mighty good thing for Edith
the family 1 don't mind kids and
know all about boys. but there's linn
it. What time did they go?"
about seven. 1 told him you was
coming with your car at seven-thirty
to take her out. You see, it was this
way, Max. Edie'd been crying ever
since she came home and the girls
and mother fused over her and told
her it was all for the best and how
nice you were and how they all liked
you-you know the line they hand out.
And Eide cried all the more. Then
pretty soon mother asks her did you
two have a fight and she says no, she
don't want to hear your name
Max's face Redeemed. He lit
cigarette with unsteady fingers.
Go ahead. What else?" he said.
Then the bell rings and it's the
boss's son down where she's been
working this last week and that's all
They went out to a show
Freddie stopped short. Even at
eleven one may understand things,
and the look on Max Dittmar's face
cut short any further condolences.
Il wouldn't care, Max" he added
confidentially. Girls is just girls, you
know, and she's engaged to you"
Whats that got to do with it when
she'll go out with another fellow %
He turned quickly at the opening of
the outer door, but it was only Kitty,
Edith's younger sister. She threw her
fur scarf on the couch and laid her
velvet coat and hat over beside it
with a final pat before she saw Max's
face.
Now what's happened?" she laugh
Hes having the everlasting colly-
wobbles because she went out with
Jack Lewis
Mother wants you to go to the
store, Freddie" Kit gave him a long,
steady stare of infinite disapproval.
AS the door shut. she glanced at Max,
pacing up and down the little front
parlor and she frowned. There were
Just eleven years between Edith's age
and Max She was twenty he was
Kits mind ran back and forth over the
figures. She leaned forward con-
fidentially.
MAX, will you just listen to me a
minute before mother comes in and
the rest? Edie and I room together
and we've been chums ever since we
were toddlers, / guess. She's cried
herself to sleep for three nights now
You don't mind if 1 tell you just the
way it seems to me, do you? You've
always seemed pretty big to us, Max,
even before you asked Edie to marry
you. Father d give me an awful scold-
ing if he knew I dared to open my
mouth to you, but it's for Edie's sake
Do you mind ?"
81 suppose she's in love with this
kid or thinks she is" Max blurted out.
go ahead. Don't mind me-"
'She don't think she is. She knows
it. So does he. But you see, you've
got father and mother on your side,
and Edie's sensible. She knows you're
awful kind and good to US all, and
it's lucky thing for her. You see,
you own the jewelry store and Bonnie
can work there and you helped father
get his tailor shop started and mother
just swears by you. Edie told me
last night she didn't dare break the
engagement when you were so good to
everybody and to her. But she said
she knew the minute Jack came into
the office and spoke to her he was the
right one I didn't suppose you could
tell for sure, but Eide says you can
He knew, too, and-and-
Max stood listening, watching her
race all animated and tender as she
pleaded Edith's cause, watching how
the gaslight caught at the gold CLEANS
in her auburn hair, noticing even the
dimple in her cheek when she smiled
/ He sat back in the Morris chair with a
! feeling of relaxed nerve tension, hear
| ing her argue for her sister.
Anyway. don't think it's so
wrong to break an engagement" Kit
said earnestly Suppose 1 was en-
gagged to somebody and then found
out it was all a big mistake, wouldn't
1 break it? Well. 1 rather guess so.
No life sentence for me, Max Edie
didn't go to work until she was nine
] 7 &c
| fifteen, all the way from Cash to the
| ribbon counter, and now I tie bows
around them all and get ten week.
So I've had time to look around and
think more than Edie. Anyhow. she's
romantic Why don't you let her go
and marry the fellow she loves? May
be by and by you'd find somebody you
liked better, too
Maybe 1 would assented Max.
"Only we'll miss you awfully in the
family" Kits hazel eyes were full
of regret. Maybe I shouldn't have
told you. but I want to get some sleep
nights Mother'll be needing me to
help with dinner. Good-by.
She held out her hand laughingly.
Max stood up and laid his hands on
her shoulders, looking down into her
eyes searchingly- Il might have been
only girlish mischief he thought he
read there. but his mood caught at
the challenge.
! say, Hsten, KIT Would you throw
me down like that for. Jack Lewis?
Do you think that's fair?''
Kit laughed, and drew back
81 don't know but what it is. L
know I'd have thrown down Jack for
you if it had been the other way"
The telephone bell was ringing in
the hall. Kit slipped out to answer it
and he followed.
Yes yes, it's Kit" she said.
What? Oh, Edie. tell them yourself
can't. No, 1 don't blame you a bit
think you're just too brave for any
thing. Say hello to Jack for me.
What? Yes, yes, all right, I'll tell
him.
She hung up the receiver and held
out both hands to Max
They're in the ferry station at
Twenty-third street" she whispered,