The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-05-28
EVENING STORY
A Mans Heart.
BY LOUISE OLIVER.

BOP mad gone away that she mad act
ed dreadfully. But with characteristic
pride she never acknowledged it to
any one else.
All Clearwater knew that she had
resented her fiances enlisting; that
she had returned his ring and refused
to say goodbye. But that was the end
of it as far as anybody knew That
she still nursed her Indignation was
the consensus of opinion for the more
she repented of her action, the more
she was determined no one should
know it.
She plunged feverishly into all kinds
of work; also into what gaiety there
was left in the little-rown. In fact, it
was Virginia who gathered up the
frayed ends of social life and finally
wove them into a new fabric of enter
tainment.
Her house became the mecca for
knitting parties, thrift teas, dances
with proceeds for French orphans and
card parties with saving stamps for
prizes.
The Red Cross became gradually so
cognizant of her ability that all points
turn of a hem, the size of a button
hole. the folding of a gauze dressing.
the turning of heel.
when Virginia is so thoroly i'm
bued with the spirit of this war, said
people, zone wonders why she ever
away" How were they to know that
it was a case of cause and effect, that
had Bob not gone she would never
have been in the frame of mind that
found useful activity quite essential
Virginia hearing something of this,
answered spiritediy, "Oh, 1 don't dis
approve of men enlisting. and in a
way I'm proud of Bob. Only I think
an engaged man is the same as a
married man. His duty is to someone
else, no matter how he feels about
fighting There are ten million unat-
tached men who can go first. Then
if they are needed, let the engaged
and married ones go. But man VINO
has the idea that something else
needs him before his life partner.
either present or future. isn't cut out
for matrimony. 1 did BOD KINDNESS
to release him.
And after such long and impress
sive speech, of which she didn't mean
a word, she added: Its just as well
to find out about people BEFORE II
mean that, either. only she was AFRAID
people would think she still cared.
Of course, home letters carried
gossip, and Bob in camp soon learned
the colossal difference with which
Virginia regarded his absence. He
would change her mind: that absence
might as it is said to do, make her
heart grow fonder. But this did not
look like it.
He was selected for an officers
training camp, and as the weeks went
on he made good ana won ms com
mission as first lieutenant. Then be
ing given two weeks leave before he
was assigned to a regiment. he went
home. And great was the re1oiclns-
For Bob had many friends IN Gear
water. That was why the girls once
-syso a.
sentful of her treatment OF him.
The big thing was dance the girls
PLANNED in his honor. Clearwater had
not had q real dress-up affair since
the war began. So they decided to do
it up right now. Also they decided
for once that they did not need vir-
ginia's help
But they didn't put it that way to
her. because they didn't want her to
stay at home you have SO much on
your hands, Virginia" they explained,
I'VE thought we'd give you a rest and
do things ourselves Just come and
enjoy yourself The fact that Bob is
to be there need not affect you any,
you know"
brightly.
YOU all to know that I'll be very glad
to see Bob. The fact that we are no
longer going to marry each other
doesn't necessarily say dislike him,
does it? How funny people are! she
spoke as evenly as she could.
But even after this speech. she was
not included in the list made out for
Bob. Adopting the college plan OF
filling cards beforehand. the girls OF
picked Bob's partners for
him long before he arrived home.
There were no dance cards-the list
was Just made out and handed To
him.
you see. it will save you such lot
~ hother." they explained. when he
smiiingly thanked them. "One loses
so much time hunting partners In the
scramble. So each girl has put down
her own name once-you see, we dare
Rot's face fell Once! Then he
could only have one dance with Vir-
ginia instead Of a half dozen he had
on. He had meant to try
again tonight to plead with her for a
But running his eye down the list,
he discovered that her name was not
there at all. Was she so irnplacable as
that then that She didn't even care for
one dance?
But Virginia knew of no list. and as
there were no cards, she supposed
Bob's evening to be his own.
He looked stunning In his UNIFORM,
and she felt an involuntary pride in
the silver bar on his shoulder. He had
changed somewhat. and her heart gave
a fierce little tug when she saw it. IT
was hard to explain this change. He
looked well; hard outdoor work had
bronzed and toughen6d him, and rigid
training had Strengthened even his
Straight shoulders. But the greater
change was in his eyes and the express
sion of his mouth. There was no sad
ness, rather a sternness. the look of a
man with a great work ahead to do
and a determination to do II.
She felt like an ineffective bit of
white paper against a great iron wall. /
She saw now that sentiment and duty |
must have entirely different places in
a mans heart. How little and silly |
and cruel she had been!
And as the evening passed and Bob |
did not come near, she hated herself |
more and more. He doesn't consider |
me at all" she thought. I've killed |