The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-07-29
EOening Story
Crossed Wires.
BY LILY wANDEL

dSd4I1SI ln0 nan l-pdPCEs "A IMAM
doesn't borrow from the woman he
loves. 1t was the deadening of the
last little ray of hope.
She rushed upstairs to her bed
room with its great four-poster and
neat oval rag rugs her grandmother
had made, and thrust her fluttering
fingers in the back of the top bureau
drawer for the ten-do1lar bill Rod
ney needed. He had lost the job
that Mr.. Eddington had obtained for
him, walked out of the office because
he coulden't stand it, And Mr.. Ed
dington had said that a live wire
would make good there. She had
pinned her hopes on that, tried to
tell herself that it was only matter
of dollars that prevented Rodney
had told herself with happy tears
that he was a live wire, that he
would make coed!
In the fussy little parlor Rodney
Slouched in the old davenport, his
hands dug in his pockets. a deep
scowl on his forehead, his eyes fixed
vacantly on the little three-cornered
cabinet with its shelves full of
images and vases and knick-knacks.
Shield entered softly. Don't worry,
Rodney. At least this will pay your
room rent and the postage on that
history of Bucks county. And-per-
haps, If I spoke to Mr.. Eddington he
might see that you were given an
other chance"
Hang Mr.. Eddingtoni"
ooh, Rodney, he has been SO kind!"
81 don't like that money air about
him-and he's here all the time.
Guess he's coming tonight, eh?'
In Shiela's heart a song sang dis
mally. IF you cared enough you'd
try again, be a live wire and keep
Mr.. Eddington from marrying mel"
foolish cluttered up three cornered
shelves. He looks so darn pros
porous, too. what's his business,
anyway? I bet he's a crook, that's
what"
Hes spoken of his offices in the
city," answered Shiela quietly. Hes
a very well hammered man and very
well informed, too, Rodney. Last night
he was telling me about cities in Per-
STA and"
"Aw-rats who wants to know
about that?"
I'VE can't all be just Interested in
the history of our own country" MUIR
INJURED Shlela, testify. You know
very well the last magazine wrote you
that the interest of your history was
confined to a very small locality"
Shiela watched him go; the discour-
aged droop of his shoulders, the shiny
back Of his serge coat stabbed her
young, tender heart. She wished that
she did not love him so desperately.
And there had been a time when he
had been writing the history of Bucks
county under the great white lilac bush
that she was sure he loved her, too
She could smell the sweet scent of
the wet iiacS, hear the robins and
see Rodney's enthusiastic smile, but
it was nothing but a memory, an
empty dream. She could not wait
forever, especially when she had sold
the last bond, but grandmother did
not know that.
Poor, dear old grandmother with
a memory that did tricks. tricks,
banked. her hopes on Rodney, too.
You are both so young" she would
counsel gently. 'Just wait, there's
no hurry and we two have enough to
live on; we can wait
Shiela sighed; her heart was heavy
from worry 1t would have been
so nice If Rodney had been a live
wire; life would have been worth
living. AS it was, there was no al
tentative; she must accept Mr.. Edd-
ington, who had been So kind. He
had been calling on her for the past
three months; his intentions were
obvious. Several times he had COM
menced to ask the all-important ques-
ton, but Shiela, panicstricken, had,
by a clever twist in the conversation
prevented him. But he had announced
that this evening he was coming on an
important mission. 1t had been hint
to have Rodney out of the way and
Shiela realized that she could not
forestall the question any longer; be-
sides her own financial affairs cried
for help.
Under the soft yellow glow of the
shaded lamp shade Shiela, in a faded
lavender. dress, ruff1es prin1ly f1uted,
sat in the corner of the davenport.
Her hands were folded loosely in
her lap, she could control them,
but her thoughts were less gov
ernable. She wondered efhere Rod
ney was-he was discouraged, des-
perately detected and he had no one
to turn to; he was alone in his miser-
ably furnished room or trotting the
streets.
chair Mr.. Eddington coughed lightly
to draw. her wandering attention
He was Immediately dressed, from
the brilliantined, scanty locks brushed
carefully over his bald head to the
fawn-colored spats on his patent
leather shoes. His tiny eyes gleam-
ed with unusual intelligence and tho he
was stout he gave the impression OF
being briskly active. He might have
easily been taken for a scholar. had
not certain shrewdness in his feat
ures marked him as business man,
but certainly not as a merchant or
manufacturer.
~"Miss Everett, or may say
with difficulty the girl reused
herself from her thoughts. Again
the great desire to evade the Ques-
ton, again the panicky feeling As
he drew his chair closer and l1aned
forward.
IT do not know If you could have
possibly guessed my purpose in COM
ing here this evening, Shiela. A num-
Der of times I have tried to tell you,
to ask you, but something in the re-
fined, aristocratic atmosphere of this
home"
I'll never would leave tor grand
mother" faltered Shiela looking at
the door and hoping that by some
chance Rodney might come and inter
rupt them.
II do not blame you for that, Shie1a,
tho surely one as lovely as you must
have thought of marriage"
She grew white and red by turns.
That depends" she managed to
answer, depends on