The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-09
EVENING STORY
The Plain Kind.
BY r. RAY BAKER.

BY r. RAY BAKER.
There was no question about it,
Martha Balm was not beautiful
Freekles are not necessarily rocks on
the road of romance. Neither is a
pug nose, nor stringy hair of a rusty
hue. But Martha had them all, and
was not given a part in Cupid's drama.
That is, she had no part in it until
well, this was the way of it:
Perched behind the desk in Eagle
Heights Hotel, Martha watched the
summer lads WOO the summer lassies.
and her little heart, which really was
very big. thumped away unnoticed and
neglected. Perhaps if she had OBJ
tanned a polished personality at a fin
ishing school she might have made
herself interesting to the knights from
the big town; but Martha's father
sufficient for his hotel clerk, specially
since people went there in quest of
the rustic.
Nevertheless. Martha often dreamed
when she sat at the edge of Walloon
Lake in the light of the moon. that
she had knight of her own-some-
times two of them.
Harold Kingsley came to Eagle
Heights for a months recreation from
his literary labors. He was tall and
and he had black hair and deep brown
eyes from which a soul seemed to
shine.
When he came along the beach
Martha was throwing sticks into the
water for a white fox TERROR to chase.
Harold stopped and watched, stand
ing some distance behind the girl, so
she did not become aware of his pres
ence.
"Come on, Knight she admon-
ished, and the dog emerged from the
water holding Jagged stick. which
he dropped at the girls feet. Then
Knight spied Harold and went to him
just as shaking spell seized him.
"Oh, 1 beg your pardon!' Martha
exclaimed, when she turned and saw
Harold brushing drops of water from
his clothes. THAT is. Knight begs
your pardon"
Harold laughed lightly and reach
ing down, patted the terrier regard
less Of the latter's dripping skin.
Don't bother about the apologies"
he demonstrated. IT can dry out
again. Besides. this is not my best
suit. I have another-honest"
From that time they were friends,
the three of them. Nearly every even
ing they were together, walking along
the tanbark paths in the woods or
seated in a secluded nook on the lake
shore.
Sometimes he talked to her of the
big town Id the sights he had seen on
his travels; at other times he read or
recited poetry. AZ
AS the days rolled past their rela-
tons became more intimate, and fire.
quently they talked of personal things,
The man proved Fascinating beyond
Fer most imaginative dreams of
knights. and she held an attraction
for him to which none of the patrons
OF the hotel, whe were bound to no.
tice what went on, could reconcile
themselves, especially the feminine
lelnent, which was in the ma jority
One night Harold gfasped Martha's
hand and told her:
Martha, somehow, I've come to
care for you lott
WHY" she wanted to know. why
do you like me? I know I am not
good looking, and have just loads
He was silent. while he watched a
star blink from afar and wondered
whether people lived on it.
because you are so natural he
finally said. You're not the least
bit artificial, like most girls 1 know.
You are not tainted from contact with
the world. You are just yourself,
and you don't try to be anything else.
And do you know. I'm rather fond
OF freckles, particularly that one on
the end OF your nose"
The next night-it was nearly a
month since his first appearance at
Eagle Heights-his manner was en-
tirely different. He answered her in
monosyllables and appeared wrapped
in thought.
why are you so different tonight ?"
she asked. They walked on and came
to the steps of the hotel veranda be-
fore he answered.: -fs
TIL tell you. Today I received
word that Elizabeth Ross. the girl 1
am engaged to marry, Is coming here
tomorrow She expects to stay sew
eral days, and then 1 am to go back
with her. I hated to tell you"
She left him there on the steps and
| went to her bed, where soon she was
sobbing herself to sleep. He went
| out on the dock and found a bench
and sat smoking his pipe for a full
hour. thinking.
| Elizabeth Ross took the place by
stornls Attired in Clothes that were
the last word in style, she swept
| into the hotel greeted Harold with an
embrace and kiss. and complained
because the best room already was oc-
| cupied and she had to put up with
| the second best
She was pronounced blonde with
| a clear. olive complexion and dreamy
gray eyes She was nearly as tall as
| Harold, and, if anything, simmer
| Watching from behind her desk the
lady clerk had all she could do to keep
the tears away when the newcomer as
pOSSESSlOH
| II hate that girl" said Martha, and
| she meant it SO much she broke the
point of the pen when she jabbed il
i. to the potato that served as a holder
/ Martha's feelings toward Elizabeth
| Ross were not improved by an Incl
dent which took place the day after
! the latter's arrival. Knight. the ter
rier. liked to be friendly with all the
| tuests, and he tried to be with Miss
! Ross when the latter assembled tho
| steps to the eranda after a walk with
Harold along the shore.
Did Miss Ross stoop and pat knight
as he frisked about her? Decidedly
! she did not. Instead. she kicked him
with her dainty foot. and Knight went
| away with his tail between his legs
surprised and mortified.
Came the day when Harold and his
bride-to-be were to leave. Martha had
| her eyes open for a last glimpse OF
| him. and she finally spied him thru