The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-09
EVENING STORY
The Flaming Moment.
(By Katherine Hopson-


(By Katherine Hopson.)
Bess Brownen linked her arm in
Patricia's as they went downstairs.
IT don't-like to criticise people. espe-
cially when I'm visiting them, but L
must say / never saw bridal party
where everybody concerned acted so
much as if they wanted to crawfish
out she laEghingly declared.
Patricia, who had just arrived, look
ed surprised. surely you must be
mistaken, Bess,' she demonstrated,
remembering the latter's propensity to
exaggerate things during their college
days.
Bess shook her curly head. I've
been here week, and that's long
enough to-See a good many things.
By this time they had reached the
dining room, where they were Joined
| by others, SO the conversation neces-
sarily became general. Nor were they
alone together again that evening.
| But Patricia thought over those words
many times next day, when she and
| the other young people decorated the
| house with roses and smilax for the
| wedding. Apparently everyone was
| blithe and gay, but over all was an
unmistakable atmosphere of tenseness
| and foreboding.
| Late that afternoon Patricia went
| to the drug store on an errand, and
! as she was leaving a rather showily
dressed young man came forward and,
with an apology for addressing her,
asked: You are one of the Warren
| se-party, aren't you?''
She acknowledged this fact, and he
4 drew from his pocket an envelope.
| Then I'm going to ask you to do
me the favor of giving this to Miss Ada
/ Warren, when you have the chance to
see her alone"
. Almost involuntarily she took the
letter, her gray eyes raised question
ingly.
Il am an old friend of Miss Warren
E-she'll understand he added with
| disarming smile. He bowed courte
ously and was gone.
With deepening misgivings, she COM
piled with his request. Ada's child
| like face whitened when she saw the
writing, but she offered no explana-
| ton.
That evening there was to be a re-
hearsal for the wedding, and as they
| waited for the clergyman who was to
officiate, Alice Marshall, Ada's mar
ried sister, proposed a little dance.
There are five girls and five men,
and 1 will play for you; so improve
the golden opportunity" said she.
isn't Fred Landreth typical bride
groom? He's so pale and scared
looking" whispered Bess, her dark
eyes shining impishly, as they stood
together moment before the dancing
began. To Patricia the gay strains of
the music seemed intolerable. Some
how the whole affair seemed like a
travesty. Surely she did not have
these forebodings for nothing! She
could not bear to think of unhappiness
coming to Ada, who's had been her
! dearest friend at college. nor to Lam
dreth, either. Surely, after his hard
struggle in the business world. he de-
served happiness. She thought of that
happy summer on the Maine coast two
years ago, when she and Ada had first
1, = l., 4
attention to her. and she had thought
-. Patricia pulled herself together
sharply. Those were memories she
must never think of again. for tomor-
row he was to marry her dearest
\ friend.
loudly 1t was messenge, boy with
a telegram.
This is to be delivered to Misther
Fred Landreth," he said.
I'm your man. returned Landreth,
and signed for the message. He tore
open the yellow envelope and Patricia
saw his face grow grave.
as it bad news?' she asked timidly.
.'Read." He handed her the paper
i mines at Ell Paso blow up. Cen
eral insurrection- Much damage
Come"
us it very bad, do you suppose %
! Even as she asked, Patricia subcon-
| sciously woE-ered why we are prone
TO ask futile questions in times OF
crisis.
.rThe m Message sounds like it. PROB
ably all machinery is ruined
"Oh, Fred, I'm SO sorry. nope
things aren't as bad they SEEM
Voice and eyes were sympathetic.
THANK you, Pat. Good wishes help
. I must go and tell Ada and the war
t rens. 1 may have to start BACK To-
night
He went over to the piano and So id
q few words to Alice Marshall. The
gay strains, of the fox-trot stopped
abruptly.
PLEASE take my place little
while" she said to Bess. who sat near
!; by and left the room with Landreth.
Patricia slipped away to the veranda.
She felt as if she must be quiet lew
i. minutes to get a grip on herself
They mustn't see me so upset II
would seem strange
Thru the half-open door she saw
Alice return and call the others to
!. her. They stood in a little group,
talking earnestly, and Mr. Warren
came downstairs and left the house.
As they went out the light shone on
their faces, and from her shadowy
corner Patricia observed that Lam
| dreth wore a look of grim determine
ton.
Unable to bear the suspense, she
Joined the others. and learned that
Landreth had gone to send some
kilograms and find out about trains.
He may start tonight" explained
Bess Mrs. Marshall says the we'd
ding has been postponed. But if 1
were in ADDS place and loved him,
Id want to go and help him, wouldn't
you?~
Yes Patricia made tense an
| swer and excused herself to go up
stairs. She felt that she could not
stay and discuss the situation.
On TIE way 10 the room she was
obliged to pass Mrs. Warrens door
She was III chair BY the table, and
her crumpied attitude, different
from her usual erect dignity, touched
| Patricia's tender heart. Inpulsively