The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-05-19
EVENING STORY
The Last Shall Be Best.

1Ore the ErdLe OL inc AllepidSS AilIO
which he was slowly feeding bits of
torn paper. His whole attitude was
that of a man performing a solemn
rite, and doing it sadly, albeit with
some degree of distaste.
Hello. Carey, why the air of grief?"
was Milroy's greeting.
Carey looked up with his quick
glance, and Milroy's curiosity was
further increased by the mingled light
of regret and anger in his friends
eyes.
Carey continued to shuttle the torn
bits of paper into the fire which licked
UP the fragments. Another glance
told Milroy that Carey was burning
letters-letters written in a small,
feminine handwriting, and one that
he himself recognized with a start as
that of the girl whom they had both
met that summer. She had seemed to
favor Carey, and Milroy had retired
as gracefully as he could after he dis
covered her dark eyes had for him
no light that is the most wonderful
of all on earth.
Shocked into seriousness by what
he had discovered, he said hesitatingly,
But those bits look like the remnants
of letters. Something wrong?"
Carey said nothing for a moment,
then muttered sharply: "That's what
they are-letters. I'm making a bon
fire of the letters Mildred wrote me
and that's just what they are good
for"
Milroy's heart jumped. If some
thing had come between his friend
and the girl both loved. there might
be chance for him. for next to
Carey. Milroy knew. she had seemed
very friendly to him.
What is the trouble, old chap.
something that can be Strengthened
out?" Milroy asked.
Carey shook his head with a grow1.
Knowing the ways of his good-heart-
ed but quick-tempered friend, Milroy
said nothing, but waited.
A moment later the crouching fig
ure handed up a small letter, and
Milroy took it. He ecognized the
fine handwriting, the girlishly formed
letters and the memory of them as
he had seen them in brief not>s to
him came back with a rush with
memories of her.
He went to the window and opened
the letter. The chill of the fiHst lire
struck him first. Instead of the low
ing tenn which loved one might be
expected to use, there was the gaunt.
cold, formal-"My dear Mr.. Myron."
From that cool greeting, hardly enc
that a girl would send to her lover,
Milroys eyes ran on to the body of
the letter. 1t began:\ 81 feel that it
is time that you and l came to an
understanding" and it went on TO
state in cold terms her idea of his
behavior. Undoubtedly it was a let
ter that severed the relations between
them.
Rising from before the CRATE, Carey
looked at him with mournful eyes.
There's the end of summers dream;
and why it should be l don't know.
My COMPOUNDED hot temper made me
write things a while a go that did not
/, mean. She failed TO keep an engage
ment with me-went off with an old
beau and left me in the lurch. l wrote
bit holly about it. I'm dOne-and
| suppose it is your chance. l know
how she regards you"
Milroy stopped his reading. IF
you have lost interest in her"
Lost interest in her!" Carey said
sharply. Man, / love her more than
L ever did: but no man with any sense
of honor can belittle himself by, get
ting down on his knees after getting
a note of that kind
Milroy started to say, 'If a man
loves girl enough, he will get on his
knees-or even do more than that"
but knowing his friend, he said moth
ing.
Throw the letter into the fire
with the rest of 'em-that's where
be sorry for the whole affair before
it is over, but that's the way 1 feel
now"
Milroy started to hand the fateful
letter to Carey, who took it in his
hand and then paused.
He looked at him with musing
eyes. Il have always thought you
were the chap for her. l know you
have been out of touch with her since
our engagement. You might as we'll
start in where I left off. Take the
letter along: her new address is on it,
and you can write her I am done.
/ I'm going to get out for a months
hunting trip in Maine, and when
come back. you can let me give you
a dinner. I'm done with all this bust
Mesa man in love is like an animal
! off his feed, And have been off my
| feed and my trolley ever since last
June"
| Milroy tucked the letter into his
coat, at the same time making an at
| tempt to cheer up his gloomy friend
yet knowing that the golden oppor-
tunity Law before him.
From the apartment he hurried out.
after vainly endeavoring to let a lit
tie sunshine into his friends mood
The small envelope in his pocket with
the precious address seemed to be
warm and comforting with hope.
He could not resist the temptation
TO draw it out, and as he walked he
turned to 1t again., Again the cold
| formal greeting came into view; and
once more. he read on. reading the
! cold lines that had led Carey to make
| a sacrifice of his cherished love let
tiers and to decide to hurry to his
Maine camp long before the best sea-
son was at hand
Then Milroy stopped short as he
turned page. There was a sudden
break. space of white. and the let
| ter began again: my dear-You see
| how really cold-hearted I can be if
I want to. don't you? And I guess
the preceding part of my letter has
given you a good scare. Really, if
| did not know how fine-hearted you
are. I could not forgive but
Mi1roy went cold. The mistake was
plain; the little joyous game she had