The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-09-18
EVENING STORY
The Man of the Mountain.
(By Louise Oliver

grandeur of the mountains 1t was
the time of day she loved, the long,
re stful twilight, when the lake and
pines looked like great splotches of
ink on d canvas of silver white.
The stiffness and majesty of the
place rested her, and she needed rest,
1or she had worked feverishly all day
en- the first chapters of her new book
There had been party in the after
noon. The girls had asked some peo-
pie to the lodge for tennis. and Elinor
had expected to lay, but at 3 O'Clock
repeated rappings at her door had
failed to get any response, and they |
knew that Elinor was having one of |
her days. One couldn't get her out of |
her study with anything short of dyna- |
mite.
You'll be sorry, SIS Betty had |
called thru the keyhole. The Pals
leys sent word they were coming over !
and the CARROTS, and what do you !
think-Weldon Berg is coming. Surely |
/ you don't want to miss him. He's only
coming on your account, because you
are an author. Mrs. Garrett told me
/ SO herself
/ Go way, Bet!" was all the answer
| this had elected !
! Elinor knew later, from the sounds
outside, that the guests had arrived,
but it was rather her subconscious self
| that sensed it. She knew vaguely that
! she wanted to go out and play tennis
and to know Weldon Berg, but even
the best-known writer of his time
must be neglected until her precious
| book was started
Now the day was nearly done. After
dinner she mad changed to some out
ing things and gone out alone. She
took her favorite path down to the
edge OF the lake where a canoe was
tied. 1t was then she saw the man.
He was sitting in a rather detected at
titude on the narrow strip of beach
facing the water. His knees were
drawn up, his arms embracing them,
and his mead was dropping forward
inertly.
Evidently he had not heard her
coming. for he sat immovable as tho
carved out of one of the giant powders
of the mountain. There was some
thing oddly familiar about him. A
thrill OF mixed sensations shot thru
her as memory came rushing back,
leaving her hot and cold, wildly happy
and furiously angry in turn.
She hesitated, not knowing whether
to go forward or back. To go farther
meant discovery to go back without
his knowledge meant-she caught her
; lip between her teeth and tried to
think.
But the thing was decided for her,
for the man lifted his head and looked
at her
please don't go away he said.
Il wasn't sure It was you, john
she replied as evenly as she could.
coming the rest of the way down to
the beach.
He rose and held out his hand. She
put hers in it and he shook it gravely,
looking deep into her eyes With the
old searching smile that always made
her feel so uncomfortable, especially
when there was something she was
trying to conceal His eyes seemed to
S hav way of discovering ones
, thoughts, and she dropped her own
now IN vexed confusion. She had
5 meant to be so dignified. SO poised. to
: keep things in her own hands and to
let him know that in the few years
since she had seen him she had be-
come quit a woman of affairs.
= Won't you 1T down and talk. to
me, Nora, or were you going boating ?
. Maybe you'll let me be your gondolier.
= I'll promise not to rock the boat
: I'm really out for exercise" she
. said hastily. suppose we walk in
stead"
( Just as you like. 1t really doesn't
i matter. just so I'm with you, Elinor. -
She Redeemed hotly. Don't talk
that way, John"
a why"
s why. Do 1 have to tell you? Be
s cause you've been four years deciding
whether or not you do like to be with
e me. It's flattering to have you decide
+ in the affirmative, but too late to be
r appreciated"
$ Mora, what do you mean-four
years deciding? Didn't we agree? II
q L
! told you 1 loved you. 1 know 1t was
y all over for me the minute you came
into the Tribune office that day and
n asked to be put on the staff. And
= ! afterward when you said you wanted
!, to devote all your time to your work
until you'd made a name for your
self and asked me to come to you
g them did, You've made your
= name. Here am"
After four years." she said bitter
3 ly.
i But I've tried before!" he remind
i ed her.
y You tried before? 1 don't under
stand. You've never written"
e mo. I've come as / promised.
tried to-day; I tried last summer.
k tried two years ago. And when you
refused to see me. what was 1 to
q think?"
Refused %
TT amounted to that"
:, II never refused to see you. This is
:. the first time I've heard of you since
e left the Tribune to take up my
: other work"
Moral The first you've-do you
!, honestly mean that you didn't avoid
= me purposely? Look at me, dear"
r 'Of course not, John"
II The name enlightened him.
: Listen, Nora; don't you remember
that I used to write editorials under
another name?"
'Yes-I believe you did; but never
remembered it. You were too modest
to use your own name 1 had forgot
ten"
And the name grew until lost my
identity. When my editorial wander
4 ings grew to the size of pocket phil
osophies my publishers wouldn't let
me abandon the name. I'm Weldon
Berg. 1 thought you knew it, Nora -
weldon Berg!" she gasped. John
are you Weldon Berg?''
Yes, dear"
And you did come TODAY. and Ia g,
year, and the year before and
wouldn't see you. I remember now
Tell me you love me, dear. Wei
forget the rest.
Yes, / love you, John, better thar
anything in the world CHIT
1a17 hy the Mcclure Ne1usr,a raar- es,rr,.