The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-01-10
Epening Story
For Love of Ellen Mary.
BY II. LOUIS RAYBOLD.


it to himself. considerably down in the
mouth. For one thing, the dress goods
ordered parcel post from the huge
mail order house had not arrived for
old Mrs. Bassett; for enother. he was
bringing Joel Sanders, long out of
work from rheumatic fever, another
/ bill from his city landlord; but most
important of all. he had no letter for
| Ellen Mary.
Now, John NJ. Clark was a very
| sympathetic young fellow and the
thought of the disappointment in Ellen
Mary's blue eyes when she ran down
to the letter box to wait for him and
| found that still no letter had come,
was very upSetting. -
Yes, there she was. He could catch
glimpse of her white dress as she
ran lightly down the slope of the lawn
| to the gate. He gave his white horse
! a flick OF the whip, either to get the
business over with or to shorten the
| speak to her.
Ellen Mary had grown up in the
last year. Altho he wasn't very many
years her senior, he could recall her
happy laugh. He had watched the
braids disappear INTO a thick, fluffy
knot at the nape of her neck and her
skirts lengthen decorously.
And since last summer he had OBJ
served that her happy laugh had gone,
city with his white flannels and So
phisticated airs had come to board
with Ellen Mary's aunt while doing q
Ijob of surveying for the state commits
sioner of roads. At the mere remem-
brance of him., john who was ordi-
flicked the patient horse again. this
time so irritably that the animal
turned his head repKoachfully. then
broke into a trot and brought his
driver to the very feet of Ellen Mary.
Nothing doing. Ellen Mary said
John, as brightly as possible. "a
furniture catalogue for your aunt and
a letter from Cousin Emmie." Their,
as the girls lip trembled in spite of
herself, he leaned forward and with
the privilege of a lifetime's acquaint-
ance asked gently, Are you so awful
ly disappointed?''
For a moment 1t looked as if she
were not going to reply. Then she
evaded the issue. "Oh, no. she said
and managed smile. ST just didn't
know but there might be something
for me-not that 1 really expected
anything"
But John knew better and as he
started on his rounds again he shook
his head thoughtfully. i His dealings
with Edward Smith had led him to
the conclusion that he was just the
sort of fellow to enjoy himself in
girRs company when she was around
and then forget her Immediately he
was away.
No doubt he had enjoyed filling this
little unsophisticated country girls
mind with interesting tales showing
what a fine fellow he really was, but
never dreaming, or else careless of the
fact if he did that she was endowing
him with all the attributes of Prince
IL Il
of city fairy land to make her his.
Suddenly an idea occurred to John.
AS postman he could play no games
with letters, but as private individual
he had the same privilege as any man
to take a hand in Strengthening out
another's affairs, which in this case
meant weaving Ellen Mary's thoughts
from the person who so evidently
would never communicate with her
again.
That evening John, much to his
mothers curiosity betook himself to
ing>at his desk and fifteen minutes in
composing 3. short note which ran as
follows:
Dear Ellen Mary" Gle felt
very sure that the Smith person had
used Ellen Mary's first name.0
Il often think happily of my sum
mer with you and your aunt. This is
Yours sincerely,
Edward Smith"
1t was brief and to the point, but
contained no statements which might
in case Edward ever did write cause
any tangles. He had wanted to hint
at the approaching nuptials of the said
Smith, but decided against it as being
too drastic an interference with
another's affairs. The note as it stood
he hoped, would cause Ellen Mary to
realize the finality of the episode,
Having written it, he sealed and ad-
dressed it, and sent it enclosed to his
brother in the city, to be mailed from
there.
The following day John went on his
vacation, which he had postponed until
the fall owing to the inability to OBJ
tain a substitute before.
And it must be confessed that as dis
lance grew between him and Ellen
Mary his heart grew distinctly fonder
even as his fears grew stronger that he
had medd&ed unwarrantably and that
she would, if she learned of it. treat
him with the scorn an interfering sim
pleton deserves.
Fortunately, however. he reflected
as he started out on the first delivery
after his return, she did not know, and
he would be able to tell her after one
look into her clear eyes if she were
stili grieving over the detection of that
worthless youth.
With alternate hope and fear he
made the turn in the road which
would bring him into her sight if she
were watching, altho he doubted very
much, now that her waiting was over
if she would still run down at his COM
ing. Furniture catalogs and letters
from Aunt Emmie, while diverting in
their way, were not worth such great
expectations.
Yes. there she was, by George.
She had letters in her hand, too
it wasn't possible she would reply to
his curt epistle! :
AS he drew up to the box. he
noticed an odd expression on her face
not grief, not anger-yet, what was
it?
well. I'm on the job again." he
said cheerfully-- How many stamps
today ?"
Then he noticed that the envelope
she held out had had thier stamps
Cancelled. He took them wonderingly
from her hand. He saw that one