The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-08-31
EVENING STORY
The Book Worm
BY VINCENT G. PERRY.


twenty-five he was not even giving
marriage thought. Nothing seemed |
to interest him but books and his es-
tate. Sarah Morley. who had been
postmistress for thirty years (this was
a. fact Sarah hoped no one could re-
member) kept the village posted on |
his activities. The first year he had |
been home from college he had taken |
correspondence course in law, then |
he had switched off to short story |
writing and later had studied the I
keeping of bees and the culture of
mushrooms. He was always trying |
something new, but kept on with the.
old things he had learned, adding to |
his hobbies almost monthly. He was
books to study. The stables at the
Walsh estate were filled with horses
and dogs-dogs had been a hobby
from boyhood and he inherited a love
for horses. 1t was necessary for him
to hire two stablemen, a kennel man.
a bee keeper and a'gardener besides
his household servants, but he super
vised everything personally.
Raymond did not find time for social
life. 1t did not interest him in the
least. He attended church every Sun
day morning and sat in the Walsh
pew all by himself, occasionally smil-
ing on those who spoke to him, but
never once letting his eyes rest on any
one of the girls in the choir-and all
the eligible girls in the village were
there. Willgreen knew he was doomed
to bachelorhood and the choir girls
had long since given up all attempts
to make an impression on him. Mat
rimonially he was out of the market.
what Go you suppose he is studying
| now?" Miss Temple exclaimed, breath
lessly, as she hurried into the meeting
of the T. G. c.. CThis might have
stood for Town Gossip Club. Every
| member knew who she meant but be-
fore they could offer a guess she had
What do you think of it?" The dis
cusson that followed did credit to the
volubility of the members of the T. G.
c. Little Miss Audrey Dunbar from
| the city was an interested visitor.
"Why. auntie, what is it all about?"
she asked. who is this man. and why
does every one criticise him SO Sc
verely?"
They were only too glad to tell her
+, all about Raymond. After the meeting
Audrey felt an irresistible longing to
meet this oddly of the village. The
sunshine suggested a stroll in the
direction of the Walsh estate. Oddly
or no oddity, she was going to look
| nice when she met him, she decided,
as she put on I-er prettiest hat.
| Just as she neared the Walsh es-
tate, dog limped toward her. Struck
with a-sudden thought, she coaxed the
animal to her and examined its in
| jured foot. It was broken, she felt
sure. 1t was big. dirty cur. by all
| appearance, but nevertheless she
| picked it up in her arms and walked
| boldly thru the gate that led to the
Walsh home. She almost let the dog
| fall as she caught sight of a tall, good
;. looking man wedding in the garden.
but regaired her courage and kept
right on He dropped his hoe as he
caught sight of her and ran to meet
/ her.
what has happened ?" he asked.
"My dog has been injured" she said.
Whatever will do? 1 should not
have brought him from the city with
me. Oh. is his leg broken? Do not
wiggle so. dear Fido." e;--s =
Raymond smiled family, as he took
the dog from her and rested it on the
grass. NO. it is not broken" he an
nounced. "but needs attention"
Poor old Rover-Fido I meant"
Audrey corrected her mistake, hur-
riedly. She hoped Raymond had not
noticed 1t.
81 will carry him to the kennels.
have hospital equipment there" Ray
mond said, as he looked UP from the
dog.
might go. too? I hate to leave
tone was not all feigned
Certainly" he replied.
Fido seemed quite at home in the
| kennels All he required was the rest
cure, apparently. for Raymond left
! at is wonderful" she told him en-
Enthusiastically. Everything is perfect.
You must be genius to have
knowledge of so many things
He laughed. THE villagers here
think 1 am q lunatic. You are the first
years. Nobody takes any interest in
me. They think am odd for loving
| this place and spending my time here
instead of ENJOYING the pleasures of
the village. All the girls here think
am an oddly. 1 am. too, don't you
think SOP
Il should say do not! They must
be crazy! Village people are always
queer-some of them at least, a great
| many of them, in fact. Your life must
be far more pleasant than the hum
drum life these villagers live. 1t
would drive me mad. 1t is different in
the city,
| Yes, 1 know it is. Some day 1 am
going to the city," he said seriously.
Once the ice had been broken Aud
rey called often to see how "Fido" was
getting on. She left him entirely in
Raymond's care. But visits don't last
forever. and one day she announced
that she was going home to the city,
Il am sorry" Raymond said, sadly.
I will miss you more than you can
realize"
VIII yoa?" she asked earnestly.
81 certainly will" With an effort
he changed the subject. You will take
Fido home with you, of course. He is
right at home here"
Audrey blushed furiousIy He is
not really my dog" she confessed. II
never saw him before that day. He is
just poor dog picked up. 1 wanted
to meet you, and that was the way l
went about it,
Raymond was laughing. IT knew it
all along" he, too. confessed He is
my dog-one of the best own, aren't
you Jip, old boy" The recovered Fido
danced around his master in acknowl-
iedgment.
u You must have thought I was ter
trible," she cried, horror-stricken. 1T
was a dreadful thing to do
1T was a sweet thing to do. Every