The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-06-04
EVENING STORY
Let's EIOpe.
By R. RAY BAKER.


tervened between Harbor Springs,
northern Michigan town, and. Grand
Rapids, the furniture manufacturing
center of the same state.
Charles had voted for the first time
in his life and Ethelyn had just passed
eighteen, when he decided he had
been single long enough. She agreed
to help him out of his state of unWed-
ded unhappiness. when he broached
the subject to her, and they stayed up
till midnight to discuss the plans-and
they would have continued the discus
sion needless of the fact that there
were things such as clocks, and per-
sons such as fathers and mothers, II
they had not heard Mr.. Ramsden step
out of bed on the floor above and
clear his throat. This brought Charles
out of his semi-trance and he sud
denly recalled that the air outside
was wonderfully invigorating and that
his lungs needed some of it.
The next morning Mr.. Ramsdell
called his daughter into his study and
took the negative and winning side of
the debate: Resolved, That young
lady, just past eighteen, ought to leap
into matrimony with the only young
man she has ever known, especially
when he has no financial prospects
whatever"
Ethelyn argued in vain that she
never could care for any young man
but Charles, and she pleaded tearfully
and at some length, but her father said
he was looking out only for her well
fare when he forbade her going about
with Charles any longer.
About the same time Mrs. Halstead
was having a similar interview with
her son in the house next door; for
the Halsteads and Ramsdells were
neighbors. When Ethelyn was a child
her mother had died, and Mr.. Halstead
had departed from this earth before
his son had mastered vocabulary OF
fifteen words. Ethelyn and Charles
had gone to school together when
they were in the lower grades as well
as in high school, and he had been
graduated only one year ahead OF her
Charles had not made a confidant
of his mother in the matter of his
love affair, but she had kept an eye
on him and intuition, coupled with mis-
long absence from home on that i'm
portant night, told her that the climax
had been reached.
What can you know about love?"
she demanded. you're too young. i
know you are of age and ought to be
just the same I'm going to interfere
for your own sake" f
The young people knew very well
that they could not give each other
up, especially since their affection
seemed to increase 100 per cent, after
-lHSy HSIc SeC1l OlICI oO-
ciety. So they met surreptitiously
when opportunity offered, and when
these opportunities did not come suf-
ficiently frequent of their own accord
they were manufactured.
But Charles was wasting his time,
and he realized it. He had no profess
sion, no business, and if he wished to
marry he must find way to carve
a careerao at least obtain job that
would provide for two. Furthermore,
he felt ashamed, that his mother
should continue supporting him out of
sthe comfortablye but not inexhausti-
Bile sum his father had left her.
At last he decided to leave his home
town and seek his fortune in a larger
city. To his surprise. his mother con-
scented, even encouraged him in the
idea. ~
81 dislike having you leave home,
son. she said, ''but 1 realize it is for
the best My sister will come and
live with me. Yes, it is for the best"
The young people had not aban-
doned their plans for the future. After
once bringing up the subject of mat
,rimony Ethelyn never mentioned her
intentions s to-. her father for Mr..
'Ramsdell's refusal to consent to "any
such nonsense had been firmness
itself. Charles had met like failure
in his attempts to persuade his moth
er that Ethelyn was the girl for him;
so they continued their clandestine
meetings, secretly rejoicing in the risk
and mystery attached to them.
When Charles left home he wrote
regularly three times week to
Ethelyn, and at first he received letter
for letter in reply.
"At least they don't care if we
write he said. That's some gratifi-
cation"
But her answers became less fire.
quent. He continued his three letters
a week, but the replies diminished to
one week and finally one every fort
night. So he cut his correspondence
in. proportion, but he cared none the
less for Ethelyn- His affection, on the
contrary. was increased during their
separation.
Within a ear Charles made good"
in real estate office in Grand Rapids
and decided the time was come when
he could provide for a wife. He was
apprehensive. however, that his sweet
hearts apparent neglect indicated a
lapse in her love.
shes forgotten" he told himself
and referred again to her last letter,
which seemed rather cold"
But Charles was desperate. By an
effort he suppressed the timidity that
gripped him and wrote a letter which,
tho it consisted of only a few lines,
contained volumes. 1t read:
Lets elope, Eth I'm well fixed
now. It's the only way to do it. Come
to Grand Rapids on the 5:45 train
Thursday and we'll do the deed. Let
me know by telegram if you'll come"
The next day he had all he could
do to remain at his work in the office
Every time messenger boy entered
Charles's heart pounded like a pile
driver. Finally a blue-coated lad ap-
preached the desk and Charles signed
with trembling hand. The message
was:
I'll be there"
So they were married and took I'D
their abode in a hotel for a honey
moon OF one week. Charles could not
get away for a trip and Ethelyn agreed
that they had better save their money,
anyhow.
They were considering the dispatch
of a somewhat defiant letter to their
parents when there came a knock at
the door of their room. Charles an
swered il and a bellboy ushered in a