The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-05-08
Epening Story
FOrthfaring Emily.
BY H. LOUIS RAYBOLD

| Heavens above, how sick L get of
this ride.' and Emily Richmond
frowned in disgust as the crowded
| trolley car lurched along the rails
Week in, week out, morning and
night-hanging on to strap or
wedged in between others as weary as
myself of the daily, deadly round of
lmonotoyi'
Then her brown eyes widened and
the frown lifted as the car came to an
abrupt halt at the drawbridge and
Emily caught glimpse of break
water and sea and sails on far
horizon. 1t was always that way on
the ride to and from the office where
Emily earned good money as skilled
typist. That mOmentary sight of the
sound caught at whatever wanderlust
lived in Emily's city-raised heart
And this morning when she was on
her way to give a decided No to
Peter Williams proposal that she
share his salary as assistant mapager
of Horton & Hastings. the company
distant blue waters particularly ap-
peaied. oh, to get away from it all
To sail and sail and sail
Deep down somewhere in Enaily's
heart a tiny voice whispered, why
not?" Why not take her savings and
fare forth into some strange place and
seek adventure Just once before she
grew too old and settled for romance.
Peter wasn't offering her romance.
No, indeed. Just ordinary, stoIid
matrimony.
The pumping OF the trolley car over
the bridge reused Emily to more than
mere daliying with the interesting
proposition. I'm do itt' she all but
cried aloud. "In do that very thing!"
And probably she herself did not real
ize how much her dread of seeing the
look in Peters face when she refused
him had to do with her mad scheme.
That was how it happened that on
that particular morning the office of
Horton & Hastings was minus its
star typist. Nor did any of the puz-
z.ed force picture Emily as she ac-
tually was-hurrying first of all to the
bank and then to the station; sending
a telephone message or two; buying a
ticket to the neigh boring big city;
and. finally settling back in the train
with a current magazine, a box of
chocolates and a shrug of uncon-
cerned shoulders. Peter felt sure she
was ill, and a kept impatient tabs on
the clock until the noon hour arrived
and he could telephone in privacy to
Emily's boarding house.
Then when he did he turned white
Miss Richmond" said Emily's land
lady acidly, had sent an expressnan
for her trunks, with never word at
the breakfast table about her plansi"
Life for Emily had become interest
ing at last. A modest room in a mod
erately priced hotel; breakfast as late
as she pleased and a varied menu to
choose from; sightseeing tours thru
the shops; matinees and concerts ga
lore. Just what would happen when
the savings of ten years were gone
she did not bother to inquire. Had
she given the matter a thought. she
would doubtless have quieted any Turk
ing doubts by, rejecting that her abil-
ity to earn a living in one city would
stand her in stead in another. But for
the present the passing moment alone
interested her. Even Peter had re-
treated to the background of her mind
Then, oddly enough, so inconsequen-
tial a thing as a heavy downpour
brought the first twinge of regret to
Emily. Shut indoors thru a thrifty
desire to spare new suit she had
recklessly layished half a months sal
airy on, she read steadily for several
hours. Then impulsively she threw
the book across the bed.
Love-love-love! Was there moth
ing else to write about? Wasn't there
anything else worth while in the
world?
An hour later and Emily, driven by
sheer boredom out into the storm,
took refuge from the penetrating chill
of sleety rain in a huge moving pic
ture palace. Settling down in the all
but absolute darkness, she have her
self up to watching, at first half
heatedly, then with more interest. the
picture on the screen. Strange to say,
there was just a reminder of Peter in
the stalwart hero. Absurd tho it was,
under the circumstances Emily's heart
beat trifle faster
The story progressed, the plot thick
ened and resolved, and at last the
heroine melted into the Peter-like
hero's arms. Emily heayed a tiny
sigh. At that momefnt, out of the
darkness at her SIDE, masculine
hand took hold of her arm.
Like flash Emily leaped to her
feet. squeezed past the unpardonably
impudent person at her side with
never a glance and rushed out into the
rain. Then she drew a long breath !
She had heard of strangers attempting
such familiarities but had never sup