The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-09-23
EVENING STORY
A Dialogue.
BY DORA NOLAN.

walked in. one arm piled high with
assorted groceries. Barbara Burrows,
washing dishes at the sink, looked up.
you may put them on the table" she
said, and went on with her task.
Alan did as he was told. then
walked half way across the room to-
ward Barbara. As that young lady
seemed absorbed in her toll he Quer-
led, somewhat diffidently, Have a
good time at the dance last night.
| Barbara ?" and received a chilly polite,
Yes, thank you" in reply.
II met Adrian Appleby down by the
| big oak tree; he was on his way
| home.t The boy shifted from one foot
to the other, uneasily. Did you?" the
| girl returned without apparent inter-
est washing the same dish a second
time.
Yes. Seen him this morning ?"
mo" answered Barbara, with just
suspicion of a tremble in her voice.
II say. Bab"-Alan came step
nearer-"why not be honest about it:
You had a rotten time at that dance,
and you know it. was outside, look
ing in" Barbara took her hands from
the dishwater and turned OF him with
flaming cheeks.
what right have you. Alan Mac
Donald. to be spying on me? It's
none of your affair. anyway, whether
l had good time or not!" and the ex-
ceedingly indignant girl again picked
up the platter she had already washed
twice.
"Oh. I know I'm not wanted around
here any more. But you'll never see
your sweet friend again. That's what
l stopped to tell you" Alan grinned
triumphantly. And he boasted of
being an athlete. too-him!"
Barbara did not see the grin, but
something in the contemptuous voice
made her turn again. What do you
mean. Alan?"
81 saw him off on the first train
g1is morning-bid him a kind fare
we'll He's going to spend the rest of
his vacation somewhere else. But ne
won't sport around in that particular
nifty wasp-waist checked suit any
more Oh. he's a sweet-looking thing
now-he isl"
IF you've got anything you want to
tell me / wish you'd get it QUIT
busy" Barbara was striving hard to
appear not at all interested, and scrap
ing more industriously than was ne
cessary at the bottom of kettle.
Il wasn't spying on you. When you
threw me down and accepted the in
vitation of that cad, if I'd had any
sense at all I'd never have wanted to
see you again" Alan paused gloom
lily, then continued: But I'm not tho
only man who has made a fool of him
self over a woman that didn't appre-
ciate him. 1 haven't got such good
clothes as Appleby, and haven't been
to college, either: but if they teach
you there to take a girl to a dance
and then let her sit out most of the
time while you dance with some other
girl because she's dressed more stylish
why. I'm glad 1 didn't go; that's all.
It's a wonder he had the decency to
see you home"
It's a wonder you wouldn't have
the decency to quit trying to rub it
into mel" Barbara flung back. Your
room would be more acceptable than
you company in this kitchen just at
present, anyway
Alan deliberately took his time
;tOh. I just met him down by the big
oak tree after he left you last night,
and took the occasion to tell him
exactly what 1 thought of him-that's
all"
Barbara waited, but as no more de-
tailed explanation seemed to be forth
coming she was forced to lower her
dignity a notch to ask. But why has
he left town? %
This time the girl saw the slow grin
which spread over Alan's countenance.
Adrian Appleby may think he's some
swell, and that he can walk into this
town and take any fellows girl he
wants away from him-and then treat
her like Il tramp and make sighting
remarks about her-but he's got an
other think coming to him when he
thought he could play that trick on
me-and you'll" Again Alan paused
and smiled exultantly. and Barbara,
too interested now to pretend further
indifference, urged: What did he
He called you a country jane
that's what he did. And 1 didn't do
anything much to him but mop up the
ground with him. spoil that kippy
suit and give him black eye. / told
him if he didn't leave town this morn
ing I'd lick him again. He went. all
right" - contemptuously - his kind
never puts up fight"
Barbara took her hands from the
dishwater and began to dry them on
a towel. Alan watching the operation
closely. Then raising her eyes to
Alan's face and dropping them again
quickly she perceived for the first time
that one of the boys hands was
wrapped in a bandage. Alan hadn't
exactly concealed his honorable scars
hut Barbara had not really looked at
him until now
Hastily the overworked towel was
cast away and the girl was at the side
Of her defender solicitously examining
the injured hand. ooh. Alan! Did
Appleby do it? Is 1t hurt badly?"
NO. The cur just dug his teeth into
it ways-it's his idea of fair fight
ing" The boy tried to look very I'M
concerned over the fuss being made
over his scars of battle.
Alan" Barbaras voice was tremu-
lous with the tragedy of youth. 81
don't suppose you'll ever want to come
and see me again-and 1 don't blame
you if you don't. But instead of feeling
Inundated now when 1 go out and
as II everybody knew how Mr.. Apple
bytreated me. and was saying it served
me right for thinking I could go
around with that summer visitor
crowd, 1 feel sort of like-well, like a
princess who has some one to avenge
every insult Thank you Alan"
No knight ever yet fought to gain
his lady's gratitude who was not en-