The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-18
EVENING STORY
You Know Little Brothers.
BY VINCENT G. PERRY.

Miss Caroline York. He repeated the
name and address a second time to
impress the florist. The florist spoke
it aloud as she wrote it down to con-
vince Morton that she had it correctly.
He did not blink an eyelid when she
named the price of his purchase. He
handed out the bills as if they were
pennies. What difference did a few
dollars make when he considered
whom they were for, and besides, he
could well afford to pay for them. Just
as he was leaving he remembered TO
leave a note to enclose with the flow
ers. He watched to make sure that
the florist put it in the box. and then
as he saw her tie the bouquet he gave
a breath of satisfaction.
When he arrived back at his office
he started the work that was piled up
before him with vim. He was gong
to finish it in time to go to the dance
with Caroline. 1t would be a surprise
to herNWhen she got his note with the
flowers saying he would be able to
go after all. He was too busy to call
her by telephone. but she would I'M
derstand from the note.
He had to go supperless that night
| to get dressed in time for the dance.
When he arrived at Caroline's home
he was fifteen minutes late.
"Why Miss Caroline left half al,
hour ago. the maid told him when
| she answered his ring. "She didn't
leave no message for you either, sir"
| She had shut the door very uncere-
moniously before he could question
her.
| Morton stood on the veranda and
| wondered what it meant. Caroline
| had never done a thing like that be-
fore. He' wondered if she had re-
| ceived his flowers and the note en-
closed. She could not have done 50.
| or she would have waited. no matter
| how late he was. Unconsciously he
glanced down to the veranda floor
where the light from the street was
shining. And there, as if in answer
| to his question. he saw the green rib
the box of roses. He picked the rib
| bon up and looked at it closely. The
light was poor, but he could distin-
guish the florists name printed on
| the ribbon. So Caroline had taken
the flowers from the deliveryman her
self. The evidence was in his hands.
She would tell him why she hadn't
waited when he arrived at the dance.
He hurried away, eager for an expla-
nation.
The minute he arrived at the ball
room he caught sight of Caroline.
whose face he couldn't see. He Sc
| cured a partner and went out on the
floor. He chatted idly to the girl he
was dancing with, but his mind and
eyes were on the girl he loved. AS
| her partner whirled her past him,
| Morton caught sight Of Caroline's
bouquet. 1t was of white roses. That
| wasn't the only surprise either. Her
partner was Jimmy Dale. the man she
/ had been engaged to before she knew
Morton. Morton could hardly wait for
the one-step to be over. Caroline had
| caught sight of him and smiled at
him, but he did not smile back. When
she smiled up into the face of Jimmy,
Morton felt like going over and
snatching her from him. No sooner
did the music stop than he led his
partner to a seat and made for the
cloakroom. He could not stand it an
other minute. He banged the door as
he left. but of course Caroline did not
hear that.
/ When he answered Caroline at~the
telephone the next morning he was
ready for her.
Weren't you we'll last night, Nor
ton?" she began in her same natural
sweet tone.
'It does not interest you. does it?''
he asked as gruffly as he could. II
was not what he had planned to say
but it fitted in.
Obi" 1t was just a quick note OF
pain from the other end of the line
and then the receiver was hung up in
too brutal he reflected, but anyway
it would teach Caroline a lesson As
far as he was concerned, he was thru
) with her. A girl so tickle was I'M
worthy OF his affection. He would
: show her how easy it was to forget
| her.
A month later found Morton still
trying to forget. 1t was not such ar
easy operation as he had imagined. He
was coming home late from the office
one evening when he heard familiar
little voice call out: "Mawton, taks
Caroline's 3-year-old brother, Sammy
why, Sammy" Morton exclaimed
as he picked him up. What are vol
doing here? Don't cry; that's a goot
fellow"
"A naughty, bad boy stole my twair
of tars an I'm looking for him." sam
my sobbed. The tears started again
: and Morton had to comfort him al
over again. There was nothing for i
but to take him home, he could see
, but he wished there was some othel
way out of it. What if he had to meet
Caroline?
:: On the homeward journey Sammy
told him all about it. Morton trans
lated from the queer little story tina
boy had stolen Sammy's train of car:
and the little codger had gone IL
search of them and wandered too fal
from home.
; Sammy" CAME the glad cry from
the veranda as Morton and his little
charge started up the walk. 1t wa.
Caroline's voice, and 1t was too late
for Morton to turn back. He had te
stand there, first on one foot and Their
on the other. until she almost smoth
cred her little brother with kisses.
Where did you find Sammy" sht
asked at last. How good Of you t.
bring him home"
/ Morton explained very coolly. "Yo,
5 would much rather have had Mr.. Dial.
find him, of course" he couldn't helI
finishing with sarcasticalfy.
That aroused Caroline instan tly
|. Mr.. Harthway." she said al she drew
herself up disdainfully, thank good