The Topeka state journal., 1919-12-05
Eoening Story
an. L. Va
By JANE OSBORN.

By JANE OSBORN
Hezekiah Kelso thought of her sim
ply as M. L. V. He didn't even con-
lecture as to whether the M. stood
for Margaret or Mary or Muriel or
kMadge; for Hezekiah was not of the
ina ginative or speculative sort. Per-
haps that is why he made such good
salesman for the business which it had
pleased Providence to hand down to
him along with his Biblical name from
his grandfather.
He had seen her alight from a taxi
cab one afternoon when he was leav-
ing a certain mid-western town to
con1e east. A porter followed her-in
fact, two porters followed her. each
one carrying an assortment OF very
pell-bailt luggage.
Hezekiah saw her established in a
chair in the very Pullman car IN which
he had engaged chair, and then paid
the car porter to have his chair, which
was at the end, changed so that he
might sit nearer the charming M. l..
v. Those were the letters on the WELL
built luggage that was slowed away
beside her chair by the station porter
When their ways parted six hours
later Hezekiah had failed to find the
opportunity to speak to M. L. V. THAT
he had hoped might arise. just
before leaving the Pullman at his sta
ton he sought the porter.
THE young lady travels with a good
deal of luggage" he said. rs she an
actress?''
"She no actress she some rich young
lady travels for her own 'musement.
HeZekiah. a few months later,
boarded Pullman at the same mld-
western town. making run toward
the west. And there was M. L. W
as erisply, daintily, demurely loveiy'as
ever.
.Hezekiah had thought he liked fair
or red-haired girls and that he ad-
,1aired the buxom type. NJ. L. " was
of the slight, dark type. You mishl
have called her japanese, because -ner
eyes were a little almond shaped ana
her eomplexiont was clear ana paie ana
her hair was smooth and dark
Straightway Hezekiah revised all MS
formed mediations on the subject OF
his ideal.
Hezekiahs felt detected. He was
quite sure that he would have to make
NJ. L. VS. acquaintance some TIME,
some way.
weaath-and she was obviously a per-
SON of much education, for she had
been reading Rabindranath Tagore
before and she was now deep IN a
French book. even the name OF which
was too much for Hezekiah-wfat
show had he? For the first time Heze-
l1iah felt contempt for the business
that his grandfather had beaueathed
upon him.
She would no doubt like him better
if he were a doctor or a lawyer or q
college professor. He thought for a
moment, not rapidly but intently~
Hezekiah seldom came to quick con-
clusions, but he usually came to wise
ones.
In business he had the reputation
of being as slow as any man in the
field ana as sure. 1t was the sort of
slowness that fascinates you with its
security aud stability.
When Hezekiah had come to tliis
conclusion on this occasion he sum-
moned the porter to him and covertly
handed him a dollar. See here, Ras-
tus," he said, II want you to forget
that I'm a drummer. l want you to
son for wanting that little lady over
there to think 1 am a professor. un-
derstand?" -
And then as he noticed that the lit
tie lady was glancing at him from be-
meath heavily shaded eyes he said
aloud:
"Rastus. be sure and get me the
Atlantic Monthly at the next STOP
Yes. professor said Rastus,
"and If I sees those Harvard profess
sors in the next car lookin' for you
again, professor. I'll just tell them
you are here"
Then Hezekiah, taking care that the
next chair shielded him from the gaze
of NJ. L. v, opened his paper, chiefly
noted for its sporting news, and turned
to the dope sheet.h But even this
failed to absorb his attention. He was
trying to evolve a scheme whereby he
might engage the charming NJ. L. v.
in eonversa tian
Not long after NJ. L. V. arose as if
bent on going to the dining car for
dinner. and Hezekiah followed. At
the door of the car he waited while
NJ. L. V. seated herself at one of the
only three tables that were vacant
Hezekiah beckened the head-waiter
to him and slipped in the palm of his
hand enough silver to win his alleg-
lance. There were a few words in
an undertone and then Hezekiah fol-
lower the waiter down the aisle.
I'm sorry, sir-professor, but these
two vacant tables are SO to speak re-
served. That one is reserved and the
other table wouldn't be safe. There is
something the matter with the chairs
there. I wouldn't hardly want you
to sit there, SO since you are in such
hurry, professor, I am going to ask
this lady here if she will let you sit
at her table. Thank you, ma'am." And
NJ. L. V. with a gracious smile made
Hezekldn Ieel tIat lie was enlITely Wei
come.
There seemed to be 40 awkward
bitches in what followed. Hezekiah
accompanied NJ. L. ". back to the
car where their chairs were located,
and instead of sitting in his own chair
he took one that belonged to a pas
senger who had abandoned his in
favor of the smoker.
They talked about all sorts of things.
but Hezekiah did not mention his
work as professor nor his university
interests, nor did NJ. L. V. say anything
that would indicate undue pride in her
wealth and social position.
Yet he had the vision of the array
Of hatboxes before him and the other
pieces of smart luggage. He recalled
that his sister. who was looked upon
as extremely extravagant, carried
only two trunks and one hatbox in
her travels. Her dressmaker's bills
had been the despair of his tight