The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-09-25
EVENING STORY
A Fortnight of Phillippa.

II you don't like the company
keep-the door is not locked" Anne
said defiantly.
Hayden swore inwardly. 1T will not
need to. be locked-against me, Miss
Burton, l bid you good evening" he
said, rising, hands stiffly at his sides.
With a ceremonious bow he walked
steadily toward the door. 1t burst
open when he was two feet from it,
thrusting him back into the room.
AS he Strengthened he saw fronting
him a wild-rose face, with star-blue
eyes, blue as the sky. now full of in
nocent concern, with red lips that
cried. "Oh, have 1 hurt you? 1 am
so sorry-it was very needless of me-"
Don't cry. Phil-Mr. Hayden was
just leaving-else l should present
him. Anne said with a smile of soft
malice. Hayden stared. So this was
heard such tales. An audacious flirt,
even limited at as correspondent in a
pending divorce, he had felt more
than justified in begging Anne to
have done with her-Anne, who was
like a sister to him. only dearer,
81 believe in omens," he said, fac
ing about. Therefore, shall not
countless you insist on it," His eyes
asked for mercy. Anne was loath to
grant it; it hurt dreadfully to have
him say such things of Phil-Phil,
whom she knew in her own heart to
, be as clean and honest as daylight,
yet unhappily lowered with charm
she was too innocent to comprehend.
Men felt it-whether or no. Phil was
specially deadly to the married, thru
being so refreshingly unlike the aver
age matron. at the same time so full
of childlike appeal.
/ s.Stay-if your pressing business
can wait, Anne said, as un-racio"sly
as hospitality permitted. Phil opened
| her blue eyes wider than ever. She
felt the spiritual tension. Had Anne
quarreled with this big masterful
| sweetheart? He must be her sweet
/ heart, since there was no one else
Phil could not conceive her dear Anne
! unsought She greeted him prettily,
Talked smilil-sly for ten minutes then
Caught up book and ran away, say
| ing over her shoulder: II came to get
/ it--wouldn't sleep a wink tonight ii g.
did not find out il how the end
came. 1 know, of course, she is going
to pet him-after hating him half way
thru-but Idont know how"
May l apologize ?" Hayden asked
as her footsteps grew faint outside.
Anne looked at him steadily.
| ''Why?' she asked. Phil is-just
the some. I told you she had been
1 shamefully lied about. You stood in
lave of Mrs. Grundy until you saw
her."
Are you jealous like those others?"
Hayden hazarded. Anne laughed
u don't know how to be-" she said.
mot of anybody Least of all Phil
, lippa. You saw how resented your
slurs Still, am a little curious"
LAS to what?" said Hayden
why beauty excuses said Anne
with a dry chuckle. Hayden flushed.
ut may reasonably excuse" he said,
And that with nothii e Interior. The
sight of anything so charming makes
one who knows life understand the in
stinctive jealousy it wakes in the un-
lowered. Philippe, born worker of
charms, is also, and innocently. a born
trouble maker. knowing that, l am
glad to find you big enough and brave
enough to stand by her."
1t was handsomely said. Coming
from Hayden it meant everything
Anne smiled at him, but could not
help saying You wouldn't trust me
to judge for myself"
Hayden reached for her hand. press
ed it between both his own and an
swered, Il think it was BECAUSE
don't care to have you do anything
for yourself I'm so much bigger
and uglier and rougher. I like tC
fend for US both. What do you say?'
"Nothing-until you've had a fort
her eyes dancing. IF it leave you con-
slant, then 1 shall never have mis-
givings That is, OF course, suppos-
ing 1 make up my mind to sa;
/
I'VE will tell her. of course" Hay
den said with decision.
Anne shook her head Nothing tC
tell--yet," she said. Resides. thai
wouldn't be fair. You both are sc
human you could hardly resist for
hidden fruit"
In the last day of the fortnight
Hayden walked with Philippe thru
an enchanted October world. 1t seem
ed to him typical of his state-life
ta1 n1y 1it-ao 1C11
all the glow and color of it, Why
he did not ask. He had been con-
stantly with the two wQmen-as con
stantly he had told himself he would
of paradise, and like the tabled bird
she could not touch earth. Anne
meant-all the dear, homely activities
essential to flesh-and- blood man.
Il am so glad it is like this-oul
last day." breathed Phillippa, stand
ing bareheaded beneath a golden ma
pie, upon a grassy hillside. snuffine
gratefully the winey air from lower-ly-
ing vineyards and orchards. "Rair
would have been tragic" she went on
TT always iS-when you must bury
something precious
Hayden trembled violently She
faced him, looking him full in tbs
eyes. Forgive yourself for lovine
me-" she said clearly. You never
meant to do it-no moe than l did
it came-all in a flash"
"Yesl" Hayden assented bowling his
head. But why talk of forgivine
myself? If you love me--we can defy
the whole world"
Except Anne" Philippe said soft
ly "And-my conscience Dom
laugh have one. Could l ever b.
| happy. knowing she sat in shadow?
She would not sit there-she il
too fine, too strong. Besides. she lef
me free of her own choice" Hayder
| nrotesfed doegedIy THAT proves hel
WISDOM
1T shall not prove my treachery,'
PhiIlippa interrupted SO it is good
bye for always. I'm going early to