The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-06-28
THE REVOLT OF
VERA SANDERSON
BY JANE PHELPS
BY JANE PHELPS


BY JANE PHELPS
EAVESDROPPING- A TELE-
PHONE MESSAGE.
CHAPTER 5s.
"wilI YOU be down tonight" Mar
saret asked Keith as he left US Mon
day morning.
mo, not until Friday"
He had told me he would remain IN
town the entire week, so I was pre-
pared for his answer
ssI don't know what Alice and l Will
do without YOU" she said, ignoring me
in her reply as If did not exist.
"Oh, you'n get along all right! Then
you'll have Vera now. The three OF
Won can have all sorts of good times.
Margaret made no answer, ana /!
said nothing. But felt had scored
because of Keith's quick bringing IN
of NV name. Yet a few moments
after I returned from the stauon -
had walked there with Keith) over.
heard remark that spoiled most %
my day.
gossip about people carelessly WIN
doors ajar? And why Will people
mention names If they do?
had stopped in the hall to look
over the mail lying on the STAND. II
had come during NIX absence to the
station. and thought that perhaps
til ere might be some word from Satne
as to fathers condition. The DOOR 70
the reception room was ajars I heare
Margaret say: - Il
ssYou see what her coming has done
driven Keith away. He would nave
come down every night II shes nao sbs
manned away. can't see what shs
came for. she's blind or she wouio
see he cares nothing for her.
Then Mrs. De Isles husky voice:
"I think you exaggerate, Margaret
concede it doesn't look as II he were
every night, hasn't he? But perhaps
he feels he has neglected his work ana
must not keep it up. I'm terrible sor-
nv. We have had such jolly times to-
eether. I expect our sailing days are
oyer-unless we take her along
knew ! was the -her reterreo ~
at tell you, Alice, Keith cares MOTH
ing for her How he ever came TO
marry her I can't imagine. She's not
his sort at ALL" y
"You mean she's not your sort !
never saw such a brother and sister,
never saw such devotion. You should
have let him marry me, Margaret.
then nerhaps YOU would have saved
Yourself as well as me trouble. l Inn
agine you and I would always nit II
off fairly we'll"
.I don't understand. Let him marry
you?"
proof but that time he took me down
to see his father and mother. My! II
is ages ago-and you were there.
knew you made him promise not 70
marry me-"
me. Until Alice commenced to 81 ak
of herself no thought of the undign1-
, fled eavesdropping was guilty OF en-
tered my mind. had been too inter-
| ested hearing about Keith and myself
Now I moved slowly up the stairs q
bit ashamed, but more than a oil
chagrined.
cided to remain in town because had
returned, that he was going to re-
main away to be rid OF my society
| She had said I had driven him away
| Suppose it were true!
| I recalled how II. ed Keith had look
| ed when he met met at the train. How
! frankly he had chatted With me al
the way down to the country place;
how he had told me OF what he had
done, sailing, golfing, and the like; ano
| tried to extract W. comfort coulo
from the fact that he had not tried II
any way to deceive me. But 1t was
cold comfort.
"You see what her coming has done
Driven Keith away"-this remark Of
Margaret's fairly screeched at me. Try
as I would to forget it. It REQUIRED
every few minutes. Finally I coulc
endure it no longer. and I called him
on the long distance telephone.
Keith, don't be angry. but wouit
you have come down tonight and thu
/ other nights this week IL I had re
manned away?"
i ST don't understand what you ar
talking about, Vera, told you I wa
tired out with the. commuting-tha
all the rest I got on Saturday ant
Sunday did me no good because o
those daily trips. Your coming ha,
nothing to do with my decision.
am very busy. Is that sil?"
Eyes, and thank you for being 81
| nice when you are busy" He hal
! not been particularly pleasant as t
manner and voice, but his careful ex
PLANTATION had made me feel mucl
better.
Aren't you ev, going to get thr1
. with the phone?" Margaret asked.
had not heard her come into the hal
where the telephe Is installed.
ct have just finished"
) She tried to get Keith. but he ha
: just gone out
IF you hadn't been on the phon
l so long 1 should have caught Kim,
she grumbled.
> (Tomorrow-Irene adds fuel to the
> fired