The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-04-20
Eoening Story
Checkers and Lightning Smiles
BY CORONA REMINGTON.

BY CORONA REMINGTON.
"I1l never get over it'll never get.
over it, What's the use of trying to
cure me?F
Corinne Benton turned her young
face to the wall and INDUCED in an
other delicious bout of weeping. Doc
tor Westover sat patiently at her bed
side until the storm was over. Then
he tried to reason with her.
I'm older than you are, my child,
and my experience has proved that
most young people run onto the shoals
jim their first love affair, and ordinar--
lilly they get over it with surprising
rapidly.
'.As TO trying to cure you. you have
nothing the matter but little attack
of perves, and a few months of good
hard work will straighten them out,
so tomorrow we're/going to see about
taking a business course. I've talked
it all over with your parents and they
kapproYe most heartily
-Corinne tried to petrify the doctor
with one horrible lookout if he was
in the least affected he showed no
signs, and minute later gave his pa
tient hearty handshake and left the
room whistling. Indeed, SO unimpress-
ed did he appear that the girl began
to fear that her features had failed to
register the unspeakable disgust she
had felt for anyone so hopeIessly Zip
pant and heartless. She must be de-
she decided
"All ready!'' said the doctor to
Corinne q few days later. Were go
! ing down, to start that business course
this morning. X have a young protege
that graduates in medicine this June:
He'll he needing an efficient girl
around the office, so fIll engage you
right now for him. Let's get busy.
you're a perfect brute, and 1 just
| hate youi' Corinne found the energy
to stamp her foot with emphasis
'I guess<I can bear up under that,
ton said the doctor with Hnruffled
good nautre.
It was a hard fight. but Westover
! finally won, and as the days went by
Corinne was disguised to notice the re-
turn OF color to her cheeks AT any
rate she thought she would never get
over the love tragedy. even if going out
| in the open did make her look healthy
again-diseased bodies are durable but
never. a crushed soul! AS she i'm
proved. Doctor Westover saw less and
less of his pretty, impetuous little
patient. Occasionally he would run
across her at the postoffice or on the
street, and the change he noted from
time to time was always gratifying.
You're looking fins." he would tell
her heartily.
| But III never get over it." she
would always reply. Tn>never love
another man."
! The doctor would smile to himself as
he passed on, but Corinne knew moth
| ing of this-old folks have a right to
| keep a few secrets to themselves.
With June came the jealous young
Doctor Mann and the girl was duly in
! stalled. He was a big six-foot man
| who dressed well, spoke, rapidly and
had a lightning smile which he flashed
with frequency and impartiality on all
| living things. He loved life, he loved
| people and he was possessed of a keen
/ sympathy
| Naturally. the patients did not flock
/. to his doors Immediately and both the
young people had plenty of time on
| Their hands. Corinne read a geat deal
and dabbled at fancy work, but the
doctor had read himself almost into a
| frenzy for six long years and fancy
work was not in his line, so things
were decidedly slow for him.
! Il say. Miss Benton" he exclaimed
d! one morning. appearing from the inner
! office. ITS dull as blazes today.
/ Couldn't we go into my consulting
room and have a game of checkers ?'
| He looked almost sheepish and very
| boyish as he stood before Corinne.
| Il guess So" she answered. rising
But III never forget him." she de-
clared loyalty to herself as she glanced
at the lightning smile
They played checkers great deal
that summer. those two. To be sure.
! his practice grew steadily, but there
were still many hours untitled and
became more acute the more he
played. 1t even reached fine point
where they would get so absorbed that
they would fail to keep an ear open for
day they kept Mrs. Connington Flash
erby waiting nearly an hour. as she
testify informed them when they final
ly appeared.
/ my dear madam" the doctor said
suavely. I'm sorry that you had to
portant matter"
/ That same evening-it was Decem-
Der then-Doctor Westover ran right
into his little ex-patient as he started
homeward. Hello there!" he greeted.
Haven't seen you in a coons age.
How are you getting along with
MANN"
.Oh. all right; but I'll never forget
him" she ended in her usual way.
| Forget whom ?" asked the doctor.
You know" replied the girl. in an
injured tone.
"Oh. that other chap" said West
over. appearing to remember. That
a fact-Ill have to give Mann a hint.
because 1 believe he's beginning to
care for you. and it'd be a darn
rainbow"
NO. no, Don't you ever dare" ex-
claimed the girl tenseiy.
why not I'd like to know?"
! "Because-because it's none of his
business she ended weakly.
"Oh, all right" said Doctor West
over, as he smiled to himself in the
1 dark.
4 Copyright. 1920, bv the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.b
ii ~. q,