The Topeka state journal., 1919-03-17
EVENING STORY
The Ministerial Beau
BY S. B. HACKLEY.

Eve Mckay, the crumpled figure on
the library davenport. sobbed plain
tIvely. Across the room Chase Ken
hall sat UP very straight, his red head
held very high.
II merely remarked" he proffered.
that l thought any old unmarried
woman who would exact a promise
from her niece never to leave her,
thereby preventing her marriage to-
her with him when Uncle Sam sends
him engineering in South America, was
a selfish c-I mean a selfish crea-
turel'
But Aunt Effie didn't exact aRy
promise from me. 1 told her volun-
tarily I'd never leave her. She hasn't
anybody but me, and she'd be afraid
to stay by herself. She'd be misera bic
if she knew you wanted me to go to
South America with you"
Kendall crossed the room hastily.
Listen, kitten If that old poke.
Humphrey Wilburn, were to marry
Miss Euphemia and take her to his
house and money, she'd have some
body to stay with her"
Eve dimpled. oh, Chase, if he
only would They were sweethearts
long ago 1 don't know why they
didn't marry. but + believe he'd want
her again if he thought somebody else
did. AS it is, he'll just keep on max
ing his twice-a-year calls, and sending
his dry Christmas and birthday re-
membranes to the end of time! Aunt
Effies going down to Georgia next
week to the church convention. I
Don't you weep another week, Evie
darling" Chase broke out; I've got
an idea boiling and boiling strong!''
Shortly after little Miss Euphemia
Mckay returned from Georgia, DR..
IrTFl1 a17n lie
car from a professional call on old
Miss Della Lavender Gone of his occa-
sional patients). picked up an unfolded
sheet of note paper just beside his car.
According to his habit, he looked at it
carefully.
Lakeland. Fla 1t read-"My dear
Miss Mckay am delighted to have
your note, granting me permission to
stop by. 1 shall be very happy to call
Thursday afternoon, and will be
charmed to stay over a day, as you
suggest, aut shall have to leave-on the
late evenings train You will permit
me to say again that never since
have been a minister have 1 met a
lady whose graces of mind and face
SO appealed TO me. 1t will be joy
to my lonely heart to talk with you
again. Faithfully yours,
Hugh Blair Compton"
The doctor put it with slow care in
his pocket. His meditative blue eyes
were troubled.
II wonder" he said to himself. 'T
do wonderi"
Thursday afternoon he took pains to
drive out Grantland avenue way
shortly after the train came in, and
was rewarded with the sight of tall,
ine-loOking man with silvery gray
curling hair and a short bread of Van
dyke cut, jauntily ascending the Nc
Kay steps.
The town was a busy one. The ell
derly man who called at the Mckay
house might have been an agent of
some kind for aught anybody but DR..
Wilburn cared 1t was a misting
April day, cold and damp, but that
gentleman drove to the river, and sat
fishing on the moist bank until the
sun went down, unmindful of the fact
that the fish were biting!
And at the Mckay house Miss Eu-
phemia, playing hymns in the parlor
smiled in sympathy with the merry
laughter from Ewes little sitting room
upstairs.
"Mavis Kendall must be with Eve,
and perhaps her brother" she said to
herself.
Miss Euphemia was popular with
the townsfolis, and on her birthday.
the following Monday, she received
number of pretty remembrances. The
brooch of gold with a single diamond
in the center of the bar. came thru
the mail. There was an unsigned
card with it, bearing Miss Euphemia,s IS
name, and the words, "A happy birth
day"
Here's DIR. wiIburn coming with
his present auntie,'' Eve announced as
Miss Euphemfa, her delicate cheeks
softly pink above the dainty lavender
crepe de chine frock Eve had made
brooch. Il wonder what's got into
the dear man? He usually mails his
presents"
When DR.. Wilburn's modest gift.
Japanese tatting basket, had been ad-
mired. Eve called his attention to the
brooch at her aunt's throat. "And to
think she doesn't know who sent it!'
she exclaimed, holding up the card.
DR.. Wilburn looked at the super
scription. He had seen the same bold
writing in letter signed Hugh Blair
Compton,"
His healthy. ruddy face grew
shade less ruddy.
Maybe she can guess!" he hazard
ed, his voice a bit husky.
II am so sorry DR.. Wilburn wouldn't
stay to lunch, Eve" sighed Miss Eu-
phemia, a little later. "Caroline's,s ice
cream is the best she ever made, and
he--he used to be SO fond of banana
ice cream,"
He seemed a little grouchy, some
how" remarked Eve.
When Mavis and Chase Kendall
came in that evening Chase gazed ad-
miringly at the birthday brooch. Eff
ty bucks, Evei" he whispered in sham
CONSERVATION, behind Miss Euphe-
saia's back pray. honey bunch, the
-acrifice will bring its reward"
One morning two weeks afterward
DR.. Wilburn, walking in his garden.
strangely detected, saw'a taxi drive up
to the Mckay place and deposit the
gray-haired. Vandyke-bearded one on
the DnTtiCn Nv al
come sight. his memory suddenly told
him that in the long ago Euphemia
loved the lilacs in his garden
Armed with a great bunch of the
lavender and white blossoms. he rang
the bell. Eve led him into the dining
room, separated from the parlor by
folding doors, one of which was ajar
tho one or the red-silk curtains
hid the opening
Aunt Effie has caller in the par