The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-11-27
EVENING STORY
pr. Bradford,s obsta che.
(Ry Ammo Collins.l

friends would nave Deen nlleu with
pity for her because of this. They
would have nodded their heads sadly
together and have said: What a
pity that a young woman of James
position and family should be reduced
to taking in boarders." But, being an
up-to-date young woman of the
Twentieth century, Jane preferred to
look upon her venture with deep in
terest. put her boarding house on a
business basis, kept her books with
accuracy and was regarded as one of
the business women who had won
out in the neighborhood where she
| lived.
THE Dawson House." as Jane chose
to call her establishment, had
definite number Of resident boarders
and an indefinite number of IN eal-
ers," as James housekeeper called
them In the latter class was DR..
| Bradford, who was known to the reg
ular Dawson House clientele simply
as a promising young doctor who,
| having spent the last two or three
/ years at the front, had now taken an
| apartment somewhere in nearby
neighborhood with the intentions of
| building up a practice.
! DIR. Bradford, it was whispered. was
very much attracted to Jane. That
| was not SO very remarkable, for Jane.
| in spite of-or was it partly because
| of?-her business-like manner and
trim, severely made blue serge froclxs
was a decidedly attractive bit of
femininity. The remarkable thing
about 1t was that Jane showed that
she was attracted to the doctor. At
least it had been noticed by the OBJ
serving ones of Dawson House that
the doctor not infrequently fingered
after dinner to join in a hand of
| bridge with Jane and some favored
married couple. For it was, indeed,
considered a favor to be invited to
spend en evening in James hospitable
sitting Rom where crS ckling logs on
! the hearth and warm shaded lamps
and, most OF all, James indescriba BILE
smile which always was at it's pest
| in her own private Sanctum-cast
spell OF cheer that was wari.er than
the n spitality of any other part of
the house.
Sometimes, tho this the observing
ones did not know. Jane and the doc
| tor spent a leisure hour or so together
in bracing country walks; but appar
ently-apparently surely to Jane-the
doctor merely sought James friend
ship in her companionship. On more
than one occasion of late. however, his
manner verged on something warmer
| than friendship but always he stopped
himself abruptly. However, there is
always a last time when a man is able
to stifle his desire to cUTne to an I'M
| Outstanding with the woman to whom
he is attracted, and this last time came
one evening when Jane and he were
bending over a game Of cribbage in
James sitting room. Impulsively the
doctor clapped his hands over cards
and pegs and board just as Jane was
about to peg out to the finish.
1 Jane" he said ave got to tell
you. You know my mind is not on
the game. Tin thinking only of you
and l have been for weeks. Jane I'd
try and make you love me enough to
be my wife if L thought it could ever
work out-but-'' H.
James hands that had suddenly
turned cold were, with an effort at
composure, trying to straighten out
the pack of cards.
But what?' she said after a mo-
ment's silence, and then, as the doctor
seemed to be unable to make an ex-
PLANTATION, she went OH with a DELHI
erateness that was characteristic of
Jane: DO you mean that there is
seine reason why you couldn't ask me
! to t-c your wife,
There is a reason why you might
MT WISH tc accept me, he said.
| jane looked across the table, her
fran ewes meeting his
rs it something that happened
| when you were in France?"
The doctor nodded in the affirma-
tive. II didn't think much about it
! till got to this country. Why. Jane,
even my mother told ME 1 must have
been inso ne to do it--anG it is be-
cause of it that she didn't want me to
settle down at home. That's why I
came here and took the apartment -
/ Il am sorry" was all Jane answered
and perhaps the doctor was disap-
pointed that Jane did not force a full
er confession from him.
Jane spent what seemed to her
boarders a foolish proportion of her
/ earnings on the furnishings of her lit
tie sitting room. New pictures and
| books and objects of ornamentation
| that tempted her soon found their
| place in the room, though she would
| have hesitated some time before buy
ing a. new hat or gown. The doctor
was always Interested in her pur-
/ chases, however, and had a keen eve
/ to detect any new book, or picture or
/ art object. For the weeks that fol-
| lowed his attempt at confession Jane
had been none. the less cordial than
before, but whenever their converse
! ton approached point where the
confession might have been completed
Jane abruptly changed the subject
Late one afternoon Jane found the
doctor waiting for her in her sitting
room when she returned from a lonely
walk A smile of keen pleasure, was
! on his face as he greeted her. I've
1 found your newest purchase he ex-
| claimed.
Jane bent down to life-sized Jap
! anese doll that squatted patiently on a
| yellow silk cushion, its painted black
| eyes looking out appealingly at her as
it stretched two brown, plump arms
to her.
| isn't it adorable" Jane said. i've
) seen those babies in the windows of
JanaDese shops for months, and
finally l couldn't resist the tempta-
ton. If there>~were any real young
sters in the house / might have got
along without it, l don't suppose peo-
pie that have babies ever live in
boarding houses. 1 wish they did;
! but 1 suppose they would disturb
other boarders."
The doctor looked on with a degree
Of fascination and surprise that might
have amazed Jane were she not so
intent at gazing at the lifelike jap
anese doll. She planted a kiss on its
1 IllIIrr1r rnrcalain chaak -.