The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-07-09
EVENING STORY
The Girl With Red Hair.
By IZOLA FORESTER

All the way out to Glendale on the
train, Winifred ran over in her mind
the delightful surprise she would
spring on Olive. 1t had been hard to
keep from 'phoning her at the station.
but just one glimpse OF her face when
she opened the door would be worth
it all.
1t had been nearly four months
since she had left Glendale Before
that, there had been five years of life
spent there with Olive after her early
widowhood. Neither of them ever
confessed what a relief that widow
hood had been after Chester's deliher-
ate bullying and worrying every one
in the family half sick.
Olive always said she was glad there
were no children where there had
passed restfully, until Winifred's ap-
pointment at Washington and she had
gone away.
Lewis had beep- the only person who
objected. He had told her plainly he
thought her duty lay in staying with
her sister, and Winifred Mad laughed
at him, big and awkward in his golf
toys, as they finished the last two
holes on the Fox Hill course.
i've stayed with her five years,
Lewis, and I'm twenty. Don't you
think I'm ever going out on my own.
so to speak?'
she needs you here. She's depen-
dent on your companionship," an
swered Lewis doggedly. And it isn't
right or necessary for you to get Out
and hustle. Win"
But 1 want, to-" protested Winifred.
IT love it here, but 1 want to do some
~, ale he n
derstand?"
But he had kept his own point of
view, and only Danny seemed to get
her idea rightly. Danny was nearer
her own age, anyway, and not at all
You know what Chester says
about you, Win" he told her teasing
". says any girl with red hair is
totally unreliable and prone to tenn
peramental fits Is your hair very
red?"
1T is chestnut" answered Winifred
calmly. IF Lewis doesn't like it he
may glance in the opposite direction
whenever he is in my vicinity. Do
you blame me for going, Dan?"
II do not he sang out cordially.
I'm going away myself. Government
aviation service after the war. Fine
stuff. Maybe I'll drop in on you at
Washington some day and say hello.
He had dropped in, too, several
times, and it had seemed as If two or
three months of service had set the
boy up as no other training could
have done. He was better looking
than Chester and more companion
able, she decided. Then he had gone
away to one of the southern stations,
and Winifred found herself lonely.
Olive had only mentioned him once
in her letters to her. He had been
transferred. and might go to some of
the islands.
As the train drew up to the little
stone station, Winifred leaned for
ward from the platform, wishing sud-
| denly some one was there to meet
her. She took one of the little jitney
ears up to the bungalow, 1t was 1880
| by the depot clock. Olive would be
asleep. She rested her head a bit
cloth cushions and smiled. 1t would
be such fun to see her eyes brighten
when she came to the door.
She sent the car back at the curb
| and went up the veranda steps. There
was no light in the house and she
rang the bell lightly so as not to
alarm the maids or Olive. No answer
/ came, and all at once she felt there
| was something wrong. Il was clear
and cold. with full moon riding high
| in a cloudless night sky.
She sat down in the top step to
ponder on just which window would
! be the best to break into, when there
came the hum of a moter on the
| street and a car came swinging leis-
urely along. Somebody was leaning
hack at the wheel singing. She knew
| Dams voice instantly, and sent out
glad hail to him.
Great Scot! why don't you let peo-
pie know you're coming" he eX-
claimed joyfully. as he bounded up
| the steps to her side 1.-THE honey
moon pair have been on their way two
days now. Olive didn't want to tell
you for fear it would disturb your
plans for the spring"
ais Olive married % she demanded
He nodded with grin of amuse-
ment ct her manner.
! I'VE all said you'd be wild. That's
why she didn't tell you. She's married
| old Chester. Ches was sweet on you
last year wasn't he. Win? Did you
throw him down? I'll bet YOU did
| Anyway. they're happily married and
Better come home to mother, tho, and
be warmed IN. The furnace has been
! out two days"
| But wini.-ed felt distinctly Offend
| ed. No. she would so straight back
to WASHINGTON. she said coldlv. If
Olive and Chester did not care to no
tify her of Their wedding she would
not stay in Glendale at all.
They're not going to live here. I'm
going to-" said Dan deliberately. I've
always liked this place. Don't you re-
member. Win. and Chester's going to
stay south awhile and then live in
town. so I've taken over the bunga-
| low"
For club house," asked wini-
! fred.
For self and wife" he told her
| I'm % in June, Win. and it's time
settled down. Do you like Wash
ineton better than this:
It was so perfectly absurd, Wini-
fred told herself. the two OF them
! sitting there on the bungalow steps
cold and hungry and romancing. But
the fire in Danny's eyes was not de-
pendent on any earthly means. It
had caught some of the stars own
glory as he bent toward her.
! IL rn..nr iarad "a stn-.. ,.,l. l,,r--