The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-03-01

waved his hat in the air and stroked
the cat with the brim of it to try to
convince himself that he had meant
to take it off anyway, and that he
was not a bit embarrassed by Freda's
hauteur.
I'VE amt got no oil-a1l sold out"
came from the grocer's boy, just as
Victor Paige was inquiring of the
grocer himself whether it happened
that oil stoves were part of his
equipment. In the grocery store back
in his New England home town he re-
called that such trifiing articles were
always sold. And as the grocer as
sured him that the only places to get
nishing stores, and they were all
closed because it was coalless Monday,
he confided to him. He knew the
grocer didn't care, and he didn't care
whether he did care, but he spoke in
loud, clear voice. Could It have
ben that it was for Freda's benefit?
You see, the woman that keeps
house for me suggested that if 1
bought some DILL could manage to
keep warm, even when the steam was
not up in the apartment, and 1 was
such an ass as to forget that one real
ly needed something to burn it in. I
have gallon of oil, but what good
does that do?'
Freda did listen, and for just one
m oment she was tempted to tell her
neighbor that between the two they
might manage to get some sort of re-
suit. But she didn't tell him. She
hurried home, walking faster and
faster as she heard his footsteps be-
hind her. He overlook her just as she
reached the landing off which both
their apartments opened. and would
have spoken to her only that she
closed the door rather unceremoni-
ously in his face. She knew she had
been rude, but for some unaccountable
reason she took satisfaction in her
heartlessness
A half our later, when Victor Paige
answered slight ring at his doorbell
he wore skating cap, a bathrobe an
overcoat hockey stockings and GAL
oshes. He found Freda Tilson on the
landing. She was very sorry to dis
turb him, she told him. but she had
received word from the editor in the
office where she worked that, because
he had been unable to dispatch some
copy for her to do at home. he would
like her to put in the day taking die
tation on the typewriter from Mr.
Paige. Wasn't it funny that Mr.. Paige
happened to be connected with the
/ same office2 Did he wish to come
into her apartment, should she
come into his? There was small
choice; both were arctic.
Ten minutes later Victor Paige, car
rying an odoriferous gallon of kero-
sene. some ill-kempt notes on stray
bits of paper, and a dish of apples
Victor could not write without apples
for refreshment-went into Freda's
small apartment. When lunch time
came Freda had forgotten her resent
| ment, and Victor. truth to tell. was
as much in love with her as he had
! ever been with any girl.
IF L had some eggs I'd make an
omelet and ask you to lunch,' she
said, just a little timidly.
And aItho Victor knew that his
DiEah was coming to make lunch in
| his apartment that day, he hurried to
get some eggs that he was right in
guessing she had left in his ice box
/ And so they lunched. and so they
worked On thru the afternoon
| Whats the use of resisting the in
| eyitable?" he said as size handed him
the last page of his manuscript from
| her typewriter. I'VE can't either of us
ge along without the other We would
both Fave been miserable today
| alone
TT does seem strange. Do you be-
| lieve in fate?"
And apparently Victor did, for he
| was always sure it was fate that threw
him and his wife together that coal
less Monday.