The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-07-06
THE REVOLT OF
VERA SANDERSON
KEITH FAILS TO MEET VERA.
BY JANE PHELPS


The moment 1 reached New York
felt depressed, and with no particular
reason. I had been quite happy, even
in my sorrow, to know that should
soon be with Keith, and this feeling
of oppression worried me. Had some
thing happened to him? But no, the
very day left had heard from him,
just short note saying he would meet
me.
When the train pulled in at the sta
toni was almost the first one out. AS
I hurriedly followed the porter car
rying my bag thru the gate, 1 looked
anxiously. expectantly about. But did
not see Keith. I tried to be sensible,
altho my heart was pounding with
something very like fear. He might
have been detained in some way; bust
ness or the heavy traffic might have
delayed him.
tipped the porter, and stood Quiet
ly waiting beside my bag. The train
emptied. Gradually the crowd about
the gate dispersed. In the great sta
ton that moment before seemed filled
with surging humanity. I was practi-
cally alone.
A moment longer I waited. then
picking up my bag found my way to
the telephone.
In reply to my questions Il had
called his office) the telephone oper-
ator said:
"Mr. Sanderson has not been in to-
day"
This is Mrs Sanderson," told her.
| "He isn't i'll, is hep"
mo, Mrs. Sanderson. He telephoned
this morning that he would be late,
that his sister was ILL.,"
Have you heard again?" asked.
mo. Not since morning"
THANK you." I said and my hand
trem bled as I replaced the receiver.
He had known I was coming, had
| written he would meet me, then after
I had been away two long weeks he
let me come without keeping his word
I didn't believe Margaret was i'll, and
| in my disappointment 1 said so aloud
Then my common sense told me tc
wait and see, that Keith had been very
kind to me and to my family-ii
wasn't fair to Judge him until I knew
| But in spite of my good resolutions
could not keep my mind from dwelling
! upon the worst side-the fact of his
failure to meet me.
All the way down to the country
kept thinking: Why didn't he leave
word at the office for me. He NIGH
| have known I would call him AND
why he couldn't have left Margare
with Mrs. De Lisle long enough t.
meet me? Tears came into my eyes
but deterninedly winked them back
Keith hated tears. I wouldn't let hin
see me with red eyes. He would be a
| the station surely.
| But he wasn't! There was no one
| there to meet me. I left my checl
with the baggage master. then hurried
| up the cool shady street to the house
1t was very warm day. and in spit
of the shade was perspiring becaus
of my haste.
On the piazza sat Margaret ant
| Keith, talking. Margaret in a bi.
| chair dToeqad n 1i1hf
Keith jumped up and kissed me, theI
said:
1.-THE train was a little ahead o.
time. I intended to be at the station
He looked at his watch while Mar
garet said languidly:
| t'How-de-do, Vera? Was it hot OF
the train ?"
made no answer. I was looking a
| Keith.
Either it was ahead of time or mi
watch is slow. You got my wire didn'
| you, dear?" he took my bag.
what wire?" Something made M
look at Margaret. A slow flush crep
over her face at my keen regard.
81 sent you a wire saying 1 woult
not meet you in town, for you to COM
right down.
ct got no such wire, and I was ter
ribly disappointed. I waited the long
| est time in the station. Then I tele
phoned your office. They said. YOU
had called up that you would not b
in, so I came on down."
Where do you suppose that tele
gram went? You sent it to Vera a
I asked you to- didn't you, Mar
garrett"
"Oh. Keith You must not bIam
me. I meant to send it right away
| but Alice called me and 1 forgot al
about 1t until half an hour ago whel
saw 1t lying on my desk. I hav'
been feeling so ill. it is no wonder
forgot a little thing like that. vers
isn't a baby. She is old enough Il
| travel alone"
| I gave her one look that told her
understood. Then I followed Keiti
| who was carrying my bag upstairs
i fairly seething with anger. VIVA