The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-03-05
EVENING STORY
A Newspaper Clipping.
BY SUSAN CLAGETT.

ra pidly. pauSing for an instant to
look at the superscription upon a
small square envelope, the handwrit-
ing of which he did not recognize.
This he TAI" aside for the moment for
more pressing business and then for
got it.
This was strange, for it was an in
sistent thing, lying as it did alone
upon the desk in front of him. >Qnce
his eyes fell upon it and he stretched
out his hand to take it up but was
| interrupted and not until he left the
office, hours later, was he conscious
| tn. the letter was still unread.
He picked it up and slipped it into
his pocket, thinking to read 1t at his
| leisure and again it was forgotten
Yet he was neither careless nor for
getful man, but at this time he was
, absorbed by an important case that
| claimed all his energy and deterEiina-
tioI- to carry it to successful ISSUE
Beside this, he believed it to be an
Invitation which he had i.o time to
! accept
-xo months later as he was pass
| ing the White House he collided with
| a woman in white wro had suddenly
frage banner held aloft by very
tired-looking girl. With an apology
| he was about to pass on, when he
| caught a side view of the face under
the board brimmed hat. YOU" he
said, stopping short and holding out
| his hand. Il thought You were IN
California
Il was until two months ago. Mary
| Bowie answered, land it is good to be
| back even if my throat does contract
with an ache every time uniform
rasSe3 me. War seemed farther away
| out there, but here, where almost
every othe-- man you meet is in khaki,
il is very near
| Yes" he said. looking at her with
appreciative eyes, living in Washing
ton we are in the uni6st of things and
the war is brought very close. But
| suppose we forget it for time. Come
and take lunch with me. / know
| place where they give you wonderful
rolls and a delicious salad That is. of
| course, unless you prefer hotel.
| My tastes are still simple she re-
Piled with a laugh. Rolls and salad
sound good to a hungry woman"
1T is rather a shabby little place"
he answered. almost in apology.
| What matter? Washington is a
| city of extremes. Two blocks up the
avenue from the White House is
shabbiness indeed. Walk down Seven
| teenth street until you reach the Cor
/ coran Art gallery. What do you
pass? Gentility, nothing more until
YOU come to the wonderful group of
buildings further on. That IS the one
| thing about Washington-its strong
contrasts"
..I did not bring you to lunch to talk
about contrasts and extremes. | want
to hear about yourself Why didn't
YOU let me know you were in town ?"
Don't you read the daily papers?"
she asked carelessly. II believe 1 was
announced ever to the details of my
| travelling dress, which was an old one,
by the way. and did not deserve no
toriety."
II never read the society news and
frivolity does not sit well upon you.
nv dear young lady. What reason
did you have for not sending me your
card?"
quite sure. 1t would have reached
me if you had sent It
II forgot your address and did not
think to look in the directory. You
can give it to me now, II you viii.
He looked at her steadily. Are you
unite sure that was the reason"
why not? 1t IS the best 1 can
think of on the spur of the moment"
she returned lightly.
why should there be reason 2" he
| asked again.
why do you always look for one? 2"
she countered back. Think of 1t as
a woman's whim."(
Neither whims nor frivoIity be-
comes you he replied shortly, but
| will give you my card. He drew a
] fat case from his pocket and. not find
ing what he wanted, laid several
papers upon the table. Uppermost on
the pile was the unopened letter re-
ceived two months before.
| Mary Bowie's eyes widened. then
became expressionless as she glanced
from it to her companion. still search
ing for his elusive card. AS he raised
his eyes, they. also, were caught and
held by the square envelope.
"I forgot it, he said simply ut
req ched me when 1 was absorbed in
an important case. OF couTse it was
Iinexcusable. / meant to read IL when
] had leisure. but whenever I started
to open it / was interrupted. If you
will pardon me will look over it
now
Let it wait. An hour or SO will
now make little difference to your
correspondent.
II have never corresponded with a
woman in my life. and 1 doubt If this
is anything more important than an
invitation"
She placed a hand over the letter.
still lying on the table. Just a little
longer" she said gayly. There is no
telling what news it may contain and
you may wish you had read it alone
He shook his head q he slit the en-
ve1ope. IT will not have it longer
upon my conscience"
AS he opened the sheet he found it
blank. Curiously he further unfold
ed it and a newspaper clipping drop
ped upon the table. 1t fell right side
up and held his gaze. Over and over
he read the printed words, then raised
his eyes to the girls face.
You were right. II does contain
news" He touched the envelope 81
have never seen your handwriting.
Did you direct this?'
| For answer she took pencil and
card from her bag and wrote his name
upon it,
He placed it beside the envelope
and studied theitwo His glance again
! fell upon the printed slip which, after
a moments hesitation, he read aloud
Il Mr.. and Mrs. Robert Bowie an
4 nounce the engagement of their
daughter, Mary. to Mr.. William