The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-11-09
Eoening Story
Victory From Defeat.
BY FREDERICK HART.

SWathed In the summer Sllp-cOVerS,
was like desert, with only few
human GASES to be seen in it. Oc-
casionally Q velvet footed waiter
would glide in and make a pretense
of arranging the papers on the big
center-ta table or glance at out to see
Iif any one desired his services; other
wise there was no sound except the
buzzing of an impertinent fly that had
somehow found entrance, and a series
of pianissimo snores from a shrouded
corner.
THE SHORES annoyed Billy West
rather more than did the fly The
insect did not bother him particularly
AS long as it stayed at the farther
end Of the room it might buzz as
much as it liked, and welcome; but
| the SHORES got on Billy's nerves. They
were such self-satisfied, complacent
SHORES; they had a rising infection.
as. tho to express "Who are you, any
way, that objects to my snoring?" and
| then a sharp downward decline into q
grunt that sounded very much like
| iii snore where I please-see? ?"
| Billy was growing more and more
nervous under the strain.
y But Billy West was excusable. He
| had seen Hortense Clement only yes
| terday evening, and she had made 1t
| Cledr-Or- at least ne lHOuBIL SnS ndu
| that she would have none of him
for a husband. He had not proposed,
but to him it seemed that her manner
was sufficient answer. She had been
distinctly cold to him all thru the
dance and. to pile Ossa on Pelion, had
been decidedly devoted in her atten-
lions to one oliver Simmons, who was
bald and fat and enormously wealthy.
This was bad enough, but when that
same oliver Simmons intruded him
self on Billy's afternoon silence by
snoring in an Objectionable manner
in the other end of the room it was
trifle too much. Billy did not know
the estimable Mr.. Simmons well
enough to waken him, so he decided
on strategy. He carefully placed a
newspaper near the somnolent ones
head, opened the nearby window, and
waited results. He had not long to
wait; a wandering breeze entered and
blew the newspaper right across Mr.
Simmons's face. With a snort and
gurgle Mr.. Simmons came to con-
sciousness./
'sEr-uh-what the-Oh!" Mr.. Sim
mons did not seem to be pleased a.
his abrupt awakening. He yawned.
stretched himself, and then, while Billy
West was in the midst of chucKle.
rose and crossed the room, seating
himself at Billy's side Billy groaned
mentally and cursed the newspaper
idea for a boomerang. In his mind if
there was anything more annoying
than Mr. Simmons asleep, it was Mr..
Simmons awake. But there was no
lodging the issue. Mr.. Simmons came
and sat down heavily.
Lovely day." said MIR. Simmons,
conversationally.
"Um," agreed Billy.
-. "A little hot, the continued Mr.;
--''Uh @hu," remarked Billy I q.
18th, it may be cooler by evening"
Yes"
Undiscouraged, Mr.. simmons con-
tinued:
Heard the news?"
mo" 100 ---- ..---.-- ..-....----s5. |
I'm engaged"
Billys heart did a double somersault
and stopped beating for gaspy in
slant. Then it raced madly.
rs that so?" he managed to inquire
IN a voice as near normal as he could |
make it.
yep. Popped the question last
night at the dance. and she took me |
without a question. Nice little girl
pretty lucky for me, eh>" with a play /
full dig in the ribs
Billy restrained himself with diff !
ficulty from punching Mr.. Simmons in |
the jaw. He was conscious that his |
face was very red, and he could only |
serving these signs, laughed loudly.
Didn't know you were interested, |
my boy -Ha-ha! The old man beat |
out the yoqngster this time. Ha-ha!" |
And, stilrlaughing, he arose and left |
the club, in blithe unconsciousness that |
he had missed being violently killed !
by about half the thickness of hair
FOR an hour Billy sat motionless |
Then he rose heavily and went to the |
telephone. After the usual DELAYS he |
obtained number and spoke.
Hello! Hello / That you, Hortense? ?"
es-who' is it? Oh, you, Billy! |
Have you heard the news?" |
Poor Billy.
Yes, heard it-this afternoon"
Well, come right out to the house.
l want to talk it over with you.a
agony on agony. She was going to
tel him all about it. how happy she
Mas7-no. she couldn't be happy with /
thaI OLD walrus. Billy ground his
teeth. Then he asserted every ounce
OF courage in his system and said into
the transn.itter:
out" NC rishe
on the way to the house he steeIed
against the coming ordeal. and
, arrtVeo IN somewhat calmer but no
less despairing frame of mind Hor-
tense greeted him in her old manner.
out with her eyes dancing more than |
usual. j
She dragged him into the cool dim T.
4lVlng room and seated herself on the
sora' making him sit beside her. Com
round hep thought Billy, she needn't
rub it in so hardI 1t WAS bad enough /,
TO think OF her marrying old Simmons |,
without her acting as tho she was the
happlest girl in the woodland to him.
Of all people, OF course, he had never
told her, but she might have known.
Hortense was speaking.
isn't it just the best thing you ever /
heard ?" 4
He realized that he had missed the
first part Of her speechsand rallied I
lists perfectly splendid"
splendid? think it's funnyl"
To think of that queer old stupid"
Ye gods,
With his bald hair and his limp"
What on earth
TO think of his getting engaged
and TO Mabel Goodwin. of all peoplen
"Hortenset" Biliy's voice was shalv |