The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-05-17
EDening Story
Need of a Man.
BY r. RAY BAKER

Walter Creston accepted one of Mr..
Clare's cigars, bit off the mouth end.
lighted the other and settled himself
in a chair.
you wished to see me?" he in
quired rather lstlessly. There was a
dreamy, discouraged look in his pale
gray eyes. Mr.. Clare's mouth was
curved in a beneficent smile.
YES" returned Mr.. Glare as
wreath of smoke from his cigar
merged with one from Clare's. He
cleared his throat. Its about Ella
Walter appeared suddenly to lose
some of his Lstlessness, and his eyes
showed interest. For a moment he
seemed fired with a new interest in
life, and as he opened his mouth as If
to speak only to sink back again in
the grasp of lethargy, the blaze
burned out.
Yes, it's about Ella" said Mr.. Glare.
You wish to marry her, understand"
the use? Last night 1 asked her for
the fifth time this year and she turned
me down again. Said, as she has said
before, that she felt no need of a man.
She was getting along very well. she
told me, without any masculine person
to look after her, and she could see no
reason for accepting added response
bilities to her cares in the form of me.
Furthermore, she informed me that I
was ineligible, because I had no fixed
purpose in life, and lacked thoro-
ness in everything I undertook. I
guess it's because I've led a rather
easy life, not being obliged to dig for a
living, and as a consequence I've had
a fling at several different businesses
and professions and never got any
where with any of them. I've got to
work now. tho, for the money left
by my father is about played out. I'd
be thoro and make a success Of myself.
too. if only had Ella for an incen-
tive"
did she turn you down cold?"
asked Mr.. Clare. you know, I've
rather favored you for son-in-law.
and frankly I'd like to see you win out.
That's why I asked you up here this
mo; she didn't turn me down cold.
She said, in fact, that she'd probably
marry me when the time came, pro-
vided didn't find some one else in the
meantime, but just now she didn't
want to be bothered with q husband"
ELIAS a queer girl" remarked her
father, knocking a knob of ashes into
a tray. "She's what you might call
whimsical. The stage has to be set
just right before she makes up her
mind to anything, then she makes it
up quickly, does the thing under con-
her decision. Now here's a popular
for you. I'm takin0 Ella with me on
trip to my mines in Montana. We're
leaving next Monday by automobile.
New there are plenty of chances for
psychological moments in the foothills
of the Rockies. You need a trip for
your health, Walter, and you have a
nice big touring car and several friends
who would make jolly companions.
One in. particular I think of-that
1srf.1 l.
dained. I would suggest him for such
trip. Please don't think I'm med
ding and that I'm trying to marry
off my daughter. but I like you.
Walter. and I'd like to see you win out.
This is merely a suggestion, of course.
You will not hurt my feelings by re-
fusing."
With Mr.. Clare and his daughter
went two men. They carried a COM
plete camping paraphernalia, includ
ing tent, but when opportunity Of
fered they made use of deserted
shacks along the route of travel.
As soon as the party entered the
foothills of the mountains some long
hidden chord in Elias nature began to
respond to some strange call sent out
by the peaks of the Rockies that
doomed against the sky. The constant
talk of business by her father and his
companions bored her almost to dis
traction, and she communed with her
self and nature whenever a chance
arose This constant discourse on
money matters seemed to her to be
profaning the sanctity of the wilds.
One night Ella left the shack in
which the party was quartered and
made her way down the rather rough
mountain road, stopping now and then
TO gaze pens1vely at a multitude of
stars that shone from a clear sky.
Down the road she remembered passing
that day quaint little tumble-down
church, and she made this edifice the
goal of her night ramble. Her father
mad cautioned her to remain close to
camp and she had intended to obey;
but the church was farther than she
had thought, and, besides, she was in
pensive mood which took no count
of time or distance.
Finally tiny cross on a decaying
steeple met her eyes, silhouetted
against the sky, and she made for it.
She wanted to enter, but the silence
of the interior repealed her, so she
seated herself on a stone nearby and
let her mind wander.
How long Ella sat there ruminat-
ing she did not know, but suddenly
she came to herself with a start A
to grip her. She glanced at the sky
and saw that the stars had withdrawn
behind a black spread. Only the half
moon stared down co1dly. its face pale
behind a shroud of clouds.
1t was notScold, but Ella shivered
and drew her light shawl tightly about
her neck. Far beneath her, in the
canyon that began a few PAGES from
her feet, wild wall rent the air, the
cry of some prowling animal Then
absolute stiffness prevailed, a weird,
ominous stiffness.
Ella became afraid, altho what
there was to be afraid of she could
not say. She wished her father was
there to put a protecting arm around
her. to make her feel secure against
an unseen peril.
The solitude was terrible, and she
arose from the rock, intending to flee
to camp. But she seemed paralyzed.
1t was simply the grip of the big out
doors night that had fastened on her,