The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-03-02
EVENING STORY
A Successful Experiment.
BY GORTON CARRUTH.


Copyright, 1918, by Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicate)
He put his paper aside abruptly,
rose and walked down the leaf-strewn
path to the other bench, where the
girl was sitting.
Would you like to try an expert
ment?", he asked quietly, standing
with hat in hand before her.
She looked at him for moment
unsmiling, her expression neither in
viting nor repelling.
Perhaps" she said at length.
He sank into the seat beside her.
1T is something I have often wanted
to try he said slowly. Here are We
two, perfect strangers in a city OF five
millions, and never likely to see each
other again after we leave this chance
meeting place. We have sat here for
half an hour, each pretending to read,
or to watch the squirrels, or the fall
ing leaves. or the misty golden sun
shine out there on the field, but each
examining and appraising the other
when the other wasn't looking.
Now. this is the experiment.: We
have each gained a strong first i'm
preston o. the other. Let us, with
absolutely frankness, tell each other
what those impressions are: Let us
do what friends cannot do-speak
without reservations, made for fear
of hurting each others feelings
She sat without speaking for a
moment after he had finished. gazing
thoughtfully out at the warm expanse
of autumn tinted park.
But why?" she asked at last. 1T
am not sure that Burns was right.
Perhaps it is just as we'll that we can't
see ourselves as others see u.s."
That" he said, makes it an ex-
pertinent. 1t will be a new expert
ence. I want to know exactly how
I look in the eyes of a stranger, how
ever much the knowledge may hurt.
Have you ever felt that way"
Yes" she said. L have. Every
one does, 1 think
We'll. I'll tell you. if you will do
as much for me-"
Again she hesitated and sat silently
watching a gray squirrel that, I'M
troubled by Inconsistencies. was
busy burying nut.
WELL" she said finally. you first"
1.-The fact that 1 came over here
and proposed this experiment to you
at all shows that thought you SEN
sible girl" he began slowly. You
nor a fiirt. You are pretty don't
need to tell you that-but it has not
spoiled you. You are rather thought
full and studious, and you have a gen.
uine feeling for the beauties of ma
ture-something which too many girls
just pretend to have. You are not
above, believe. taking an interest in
babies and embroidery, altho you
know what is going on about you in
the world and read something besides
the woman's page in the newspapers.
You don't work for your living, and
your home is one of the comfortably
houses in the Seventies. You see a
good deal of the society side of life,
but you keep BEAUTIFULLY busy at SER
ious things. You are probably a suf-
fragist in a quiet way, and you are
also interested in some form of social
or philanthropic work, which you do
not treat as an heroically assumed
duty. And"
He was interrupted by the girls low
laughter. why not say that I have
all the good qualities, and be done
sion is certainly not very accurate.
Let's see if I can do better.
You, it seems to me, have many
of the excellent qualities that you are
attributing to me. You are nothing of
a sport, but are rather serious
minded young man. somewhat too
much given to introspection- You are
not bad looking, and you impress me
as having a good deal of common
sense. You are about twenty-five.
and you are one of our rising young
haps, or an engineer of some sort. You
read a good deal. and, when it comes
to newspapers, something besides the
sporting pages. You are rather do
mestic by nature, and you have a sense
of humor. You also live in one of
the better homes in the Seventies or
the Eighties, and you are a confirmed
New Yorker. There. how is that for
a snapshot portrait?"
He die not answer at once, and they
both sat silently for a few minutes,