The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-02-15
EDening Story
st. Valentine Victorious,
BY RUBY DOUGLAS

Ne-DSeH PSYCHOLOGY,
began Peggy, with her wisest express
sion, land I've just decided that will
not follow the impulses of the crowd
any longer. hate to be just a sheep!''
Tom Walker looked at her patient
! ly. $50 you're in one of those high
brow moods, are you, this morning,
Not at all. Tom Walker" retorted
| Peggy, her firm little chin in air.
And. besides. do you know what some
one says q. highbrow is?''
Tom pleaded ignorance.
"a man educated beyond his inteli
| gence. And do you mean to say that
am that?'
Tom shook his head ooh, no-dear
me, no, Peggy. Your intelligence sur
passes anything possible in the way
of education"
Peggy smiled and was somewhat
f'But your remark must have been.
apropos of some thought. Peggy.
| What was it?''
| <Oh-eng Engagement rings and Christ
mas presents and perfunctory kisses
and all the things every one is adj
| dicted to- 1 hate to do things that
every one else is doing. Do you OBJ
serve that 1 am exposing my ears
shamefully?. Well, that isn't being
DO Tom looked at the pink ear ana
was glad it was not covered. STILL;
I think you have not told me the con-
crete thought that prompted your re-
mark. You are still beating about the
| bush. Out with it, Peggy"
Il was thinking of valentines and
| of how every one-every lover and
every child and every sentimental per-
son in the world-will be sending
valentine to some one, And L was
| hoping no one would send me one
she added, looking at him quizzically.
Tom laughed. We'll, don't worry
Peggy shall desist I shall not
send you lace-paper heart with a
| love verse Within shall not send you
a bunch of Yiolets with my heart tied
to the box. Don't worry. You shall
not be of the mob this time"
| Now, way down deep in her heart,
| far deeper down than had penetrated
/ this fad for the study of psychology
! had always received valentines. She
| had looked eagerly for the postman
on the morning of February IA. Now,
it came to her suddenly, that tho she
| had risen far above being so foolish
as to have to receive a token on this
| st. Valentines day, it always did seem
pleasant to open heart-shaped boxes
of candy and pretty punches of
flowers.
| The day dawned crispIy and the
| postman did not so much as look at
| the mail box at the garden gate. Peggy
| cid see him coming, and tho she as
| suned a careless, indifferent air, she
did observe his passing her box with
out so much as a look. Every time
| the bell rang she thought it might be
| the florist, tho she did not admit this
to herself. Evening found her little
| blue. She had not even had a teIe-
| phone message from Tom. 1t was the
! first Valentines day in her life on
which she had not received some sort
| of gift.
! When Tom arrived she admitted him
| with her usual CHEEKY smile, but in
her hand she held, open as if she had
| Deen studying, a volume of DR.. LIE
! Bon's psychology.
! "Cold-awfuTly cold, Peggy. You're
/ lucky to be sitting by a comfy fire
and not have to go out to some silly
party or other the way every one else
IS tonight said Tom as he put down
| his coat and hat.
That was another of Peggy's in
nermost grievances today. Tom had
not asked her to go to the valentine
| mop at the club. Everyone was going
and the girls had all been discussing
| their frocks-and their beaux Peggy
| had just held aloof and seemed bored.
1T is good night to stay in, Tom"
| she said, not too convincingly, the
young man thought. Without the aid
| of books, he was able reasonably ac-
curately, to analyze Peggy's moods.
An unusual silence had fallen be-
tween the two. The logs cracked on
the hearth. The wind whistled about
| the easement windows. The big clock,
! licked.
Il see you are. still enjoying your
studies. Peggy Tom observed after
a bit.
ooh, I'm just crazy about it. I am
| thinking of going to Doctor Burton
to have him tell me what I am best
suited for in the world. He is a mar
velous psychologist and can tell at a
glance what you are, suited for in the
| world" Peggy said, her eyes begin
ming to dance.
IT ran tell you with my eyes shut"
Tom ventured.
''Oh-Tom, you are always so frivo-
lous. I know what you think all wom-
en- are best suited for. But am an
individual. I will not be herded with
Hear Hear" Knocked Tom
Peggy did not seem to have her
usual spontaneous enthusiasm for the
subject in hand. Tom saw it.
Those flowers a valentine?" he
asked, glancing at a bowl of roses on
a table in the far corner of the room.
Indeed not. Mothers friend, Mrs.
armstrong had a party this afternoon
and gave mother a bunch of the floral
decorations to bring home with her."
There was a touch of asperity in
Peggy's tone at the mention of valen-
tine.
"Oh, of course, I forgot for the mo-
ment that you could not accept any
thing so common as a valentine. I'm
sorry
Tom. you annoy me with your sar-
casm." Peggy told him. pouting.
Tom arose and deliberately sat
down close beside her on the great
couch. "And you amuse me by your
effort to be an individualist all of a
sudden. Peggy