The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-04-18
EVENING STORY
Making Romance.
BY INES MCDONALD.

to the railway station to buy his ticket |
for home. He stood waiting for car
and just as it drew up he saw an un-
stamped letter lying in the street. He
stopped and picked it up, slipping it
into his pocket as he boarded the car
with the intention of mailing il when
he reached the station. = However, it
slipped his mind and not until the next
day did he discover it again.
1t was addressed to Miss Adele Aid
| rich, 1920 Parkway, Bushton, n. J., in
what was evidently a girls handwrit-
ing. Merker studied the address for a
| moment thoughtfully, and then, with
grin, he took out his fountain pen
and wrote on the back in small script:
Letter found at 2Sth and Broadway,
Monday, December 18th, $3.50 p. m.
| Sorry it was delayed in mailing" and
! signed his name and address. Then on
| his way to the restaurant, he dropped
the letter in a box and promptly for
got it again.
Three weeks later he returned to
| New York, and among tie dozen let
tiers that had accumulate in his mail
box during his absence was one ad-
dressed in strange feminine hand
post marked Bushton, n. J. On the
| face Of it, was a prim little rote of
thanks at his courtesy in mailing her
letter that he had found, but between
| the lines danced a dare-a challenge
| to romance and the great adventure.
He answered the note in kind. and
then few days later he had occasion
to go to Bushton while the Red Cross
drive was on. and in the station a
dozen or SO Red Cross workers fitted
about soliciting the crowds that came
from the trains.
| Suddenly Merker was looking Gown
into a pair of brown eyes and he hesi-
tated.
Have You Joined" she began
with a little dimple wavering south
east of the left corner of her pink
mouth.
81 have" he laughed. but I'll join
again.
She smiled her thanks and led the
way over to a table where a woman
was keeping the records. Here Merker
gave his name and address. whereat
the young woman who had accosted
him studied him curiously from the
corner of her eye, and just then
breathIessly:
"Oh, Adele. how splendid, you have
another one!" and the woman who
kept the records said precisely: Eyes.
this makes nineteen for Miss Aldrich;"
/ Whereat Merker turned impulsively
to the brown-eyed one. took her by
the arm and drew her away from the
desk.
you recognized my name and were
never going to make yourself known?'
he accused.
| She flushed and gave him a fleeing
look. II wanted to be sure" she
said.
And now that you're sure?" he
She had recovered her poise and,
with her head little on one side, she
laughed saucily. why, I don't know,
I'm sure! Except of course I should
thank you for mailing my letter.
you've done that" he reminded
her.
We'll. what more can / do?" she
asked. daripgly. You don't expect
me toto kiss you, do your
) Merker laughed in spite of himself
Let me tell you this, young lady;
that letter started something but it's
not going to finish it. Pm coming to
see you"
When" she dared him
Thursday night he said promptly
Wont be home Thursday
Friday night. them
She shook her head.
Saturday, them
Again she shook her head, and just
then some one called her and she
r turned from him with a little chal-
lenge in her eyes and was gone
S Merker FASTENED off to keep his ap-
2 pointment. and later in the afternoon
while he was eagerly returning to the
station hoping to see the brown-eyed
Adele again, who should he meet but
Sally Wilmarth. the very charming
wife of an old friend.
'Oh, SALLY" he almost shouted.
her a bit.
"Unhand me, villain!" said Sally de-
murely. Il am a perfectly nice mar
ried woman, who loves her husband -
r At which they both laughed.
IT want to know" he demanded
eagerly, do you know girl over
here by the name of Adele A1drich ?''
'Oh, you poor man." exclaimed Sal
ly her matchmaking eye agleam.
Adele Aldrich is the lovely rock upon
which many a man has wrecked the
Mayf1ower of his Affections
Il don't care" he said determined
ly. Il want you to help me out, will
your
And they parted with the under
T standing that she would see what
Il could be done
e That very evening Sally began her
{ propaganda. She and her husband
; were fellow guests with Adele Aldrich
: at an Informal little gathering, and
:. Sally skilfulIy maneuvered the unsus-
l | pecting Bert so that Adele overheard
:, her saying: Bert. dear. I met Richie
J. Merker today, and l thought he was
q going to kiss me he was so glad to see
= me-"
u Her husband grinned Fine chap
= Richie. Haven't seen him for weeks
e We ought to have him over, if you
E think you can withstand his fascinat-
i. ing ways" he leased.
!, And Adele caught herself thinking
II how jolly 1t must be to be so happily
q married as the Wilmarths so appar-
II emily we're. Later in the evening she
5. got Sally alone for a moment. and
asked in an off hand way:
by the way, Sally-de you know a
man named Richie Merker?"
Isl My dear" said Sally pityingly
r. with a diplomatic CLEAN in her match
=. makers eye Richie Merker is the
i stalwart rock upon which many a fail
n maid has wrecked the Mayflower OF
l. her affections"
e. But there was a warm excitement ir
: the brown eyes of Adele Aldrich a.
d she whispered eagerly in the amused
ear OF Sally Wilmarth.