The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-11-07
EVENING STORY
A Story Without a Plot"
(By Louise Oliver.)

longing1y.
BERTHE Patton on the Fords' front
porch, swinging slowly in the green
willow seat, shifted uneasily when ne
heard the town clock strike the half
hour. He knew that the lights in the
parlor chandelier now filtering thru
the finely webbed curtains and trac-
ing a graceful pattern GU Rose round
cheek would snap out in somewhat
less than five minutes. Ten-thlrty was
Papa Ford's hour.
Never had the honeysuckle smelled
so sweet, never had Rose looked so
adorable, never had parting seemed so
cruel. BERTHE sighed.
We'll Rosie, 1 guess III have to CO.
Time seems awfuly short"
Does it ?''
Il like that"
"What?''
Il like your saying you don't know
whether the times short or not
What time are you talking about ??
"Why, the time I've been here this
evening, of course"
"OhI I'm glad you've enjoyed It.
We'll, haven't you p
Rose snapped off a twig of honey
suckle and buried her nose in it.
Pleasant! You talk as tho you'd
been at a sewing society.
Say, BERTHE, if you're trying to pick
a fight you may as well go. 1 hear
papa, anyway"
BERTHE was instantly contrite. Elk
cuse me, I didn't mean it, Rose:
There was step in the vestlbuIe-
But it was Roses mother this time
who called.
Rose, your papa went out with the
Reinemans in their new car and has
MT come home yet. My mead ism
any better, so 1 think I'll go to bed l
wonder if Bert would mind staying a
little longer. 1 sort of hate to close up
the house till papa comes. don
think he'll be late"
Oh, ecstasy! oh, blessed words!
BERTHE longed to kiss the hem of her
gown. He cleared his throat man
yes, I'll stay, Mrs. Ford. Don't
you worry
And Rose supplemented, You may
as we'll turn out the lights. mamma
They seem to hurt my eyes.
'-AIl right. If l should happen to
go to sleep and our papa doesn't come,
don't sit up to late. You'd better
get your sweater. It's blowing up
cooler"
yes, I will if 1 need it. mamma"
Wen, good night"
GOOD night
The lights went off and there W.
quiet, ecstatic peace. Now the moon
traced filigree leaves on Roses fair
cheek thru the vines. In her white
dress she looked like some dainty, elu-
Jured of moonlight and dreams. Bert
wondered if he could possibly be
awake. To test reality, he lighted a
cigaret.
Nice. isn't it?'' he remarked.
Just to be here He had thought
of casually, quite accidentally, laying
hand on hers as it lay beside him in
the darkness but he lost courage.
- Say Rose, do you want to go to
~
plemented instead ~
I'm going
- Excuse me"
That's all right Thanks for ask
ing lie anyway"
4 thought there was plenty of time
81 promised a week ago"
My, somebody was in a hurry"
"Oh, I don't know. I've often been
asked to things three weeks ahead"
We'll, here's hoping then. How
about the boat excursion on the 10th.
That's three weeks Think you'd be
allowed?''
I've been asked to that, too"
Thunder" Berries tone threatened
storm
Il hadn't an idea there were so
many wcrshippers at your shrine"
That's not polite. Besides there
aren't SO many dozen that you can't
count. I'm going with the same per
son to both. if that's what you're
''That-that Dixon, I'll bet a lit
ney!'
Don't call him that Dixon He's
been awfulIy nice to me-
''Why, he's old-too old for you,
Rose
He isn't-he just looks distin-
guished, and you're-you're jealous"
DISTINGUISHED Good night! Just
because he's mustached like a Ma gyar
and wears glasses and lives in New
York"
Bert Patton, you're horrid. II
think I'd better go in and look after
mamma, anyway. Good night
He caught her hand in both of his
Rose, Rosie dear, don't go. Sit down,
Won't you" She yielded finally and
sat down. He slipped an arm boldly
around her.
Rosie, dear, love you!"
why, Bert Patton!"
Yes, I do, Rose. I adore you. Clear
crazy about you. You don't care
about that New York fellow, do you ?"
Il don't know. Papa seems to like
him. That's what he's here for. Papa
wanted somebody reliable for a good
place he has open and Mr.. Dixon
came to see about it,
Lucky dog," sighed BERTHE. The
question of income had been the one
that doomed big in his dreams of hap
piness.
But you, Rose? oh. say, Rose, be
my girl, won't you? 1 love you!'
81 don't know. You see papa
Suddenly a horn sounded and a car
stopped at the curb
There's papa now!' Rose sprang
up.
Mr.. Ford came up the path slowly
hmping, and the car slid away
''Oh, that you, Rosie? Waited up,
did you? That's a nice girl And Bert
Patton? Well, declare! Mamma in
bed? Don't tell her. We had an ac-
cident-- No, not much hurt-just my
foot, but we might have been killed.
all of US. It was that young ass.
Dixon, out ioyriding, ran into US. the
fool! Catch me giving a good job to
a scatterbrain like that Don't have
him around again, Rose. I don't like