The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-10-14
EDening Story
A Useful Brute.
By MARTHA NC. WILLIAMS

A tricksy wind blew up the street,
pIundering' golden naples and setting
fleets of fairy argosies a-sail thru the
sunlit distance. Mischief enough, one
would think, but tricksy winds miss
no chances. This one caught Clare
fairly midship, wrapping her skirts so
close about her that stepping was i'm
possible. In the effort to loose the
clinging things she let go the sheaf
of blossoms so lately rayished from
Miss Penny's garden. The next min
ute dahlias, asters. loose leafed, heavy
headed roses, jewel colored zinnias,
cosmos of rainbow hues. ever bloom
ing honeysuckle sprays. all fell at her
feet, to, be scattered by the wicked
wind all along the pavement.
Lucky I'm here; know you want
me to-well, say things for you" Top
Rainey said behind her. Improperly
he was Sorrel Top-his hair a suffi-
ought to have been wiser than to re-
fuse me yesterday. Top went on Sc
renely. You surely understand 1 can
use language more forcibly than any
other beau you've got
Thank you for nothing. can do
my own swearing in a PINCH" Clare
flung back. Run home, or I may have
to begin" f.
There is a time for all things.
This isn't one for running home
straight Off" Top said rather dis
jointedly. He was half bent, picking
UP the flowers. Lucky for you I'm a
Christian, doing good to them that
despitefully use me. If were not"
go home 1 tell you'll" Clare said SO
low he knew she was murderous-al-
most. If tears came she would be
quite 50. Banter fled from HMM a
twinkling he retrieved the last bios
som, huddfed the mass delicately in
his arm, and said in a voice OF pro-
found respect: TIL take these on to
the church, Miss>Darcy. Who shall I
give them to-Mrs. Angel, or Miss
Gray?"
81 don't care what you do" Clare
burst out, wheeling to run away, but
in the act checked herself, signing,
"Oh, neither-Miss Penny hates both
her garden outshone theirs
'All for sweet charityi" Top bub-
bled, then relapsing into his high
manner: I'm that case, hadn't you
better overlook hating me for half an
hour or SO, and see that your plumber
ings are rightly bestowed?"
Come on" Clare said recklessly
| dartfng past him. He went on-but
SO soberly she was soon yards ahead.
F, At the next corner she stopped short,
saying viciously: Aren't you ridicu-
lous enough without playing footman
Keep up-if you insist upon coming
with me-"
"Oh. certainly-if you invite me"
Top returned with a slow lowering
smile. Once beside her he touched
her bare hand very, very slightly, say
ing half under his breath: Who d
think anything so little and soft could
knock out clean a big hulking brute?'
Dear me. Are you a brute?
never thought you'd admit it," Clare
said Jelly, but with a hint of thawin g
underneath. Top nodded, saying
thoughtfully: ''Brutes after all have
their uses. Consider the elephant.
But for him raging tigers, roaring
lions, leopards and things might rule
the world. Consider. too, the camel
| the only thing before autos that knew
the way across deserts, not stopping
to hunt water. Bears, too-what were
Wall street without 'em? Bulls are
not worth skinning at the present
price of hides
Shut up!" from Clare.
Top went on serenely: "And even
real men now and again justify their
existence-if only by contrast with the
near-Brummells of today"
I Give an example" from Glare, de-
murely. Needless. You have one all
ready to your hand"
There's Roy Gordon" suggested
Top.
Clare with a twinkle.
Top shook his head. "Of a mani
might be- he said. But that-good
Lord, who could be Jealous of a neck
| tie and a silk shirt?''
do you think silk shirts are dread
| fully immoral ?'' Clare asked, the twin
| kle strengthening: And is it the rea-
son you want me to cut Roy dead?"
'No-beeause pitch sticks He's a
! lump of the blacklist, stickiest sort
hardly safe even to let alone" Top
broke out They were on the church
steps-from within came the sound of
\ M ha in L axy
Under cover Of the babblings Clare
said clearly, Troy will take me in his
car to the reception after the wedding
its only five miles from town-bur
Wen go the longest way round, so as
| to get a beautiful ride"
you have a-nice night for it,
Top said, bowling as he handed over
| the flowers. He looked quite as usual
but somehow Glare had a feeling
that his voice had grown suddenly
gray.
1t haunted her all day thru the we'd
ding, despite the medley of flowers,
lights, music, gay garments, gayer
chatter. She might have been maid OF
honor-even were truth told, the bride
| herself, had she so chosen, but had
preferred to stay in the background.
Roy, radiant usher, had seated her
well to the front. Top she could not
see without craning her neck, but she
felt his eyes upon her all thru the
service. Then when she looked for
him, meaning to wave him a gay de-
4 fiance, he had vanished. That aston
ished her; he was no gutter. But
there was no sign of him. She tried
not to think of him-helped to such
oblivion by a sudden darkness of two
minutes duration, which bred much
| merry confusion and many blunder-
| ing encounters. But in spite of it she
was soon seated beside Roy, the soft
| wind in their faces and their lights
making radiant pathways down the
long. white tur1pikes. She scarcely
noted that instead of his roadster Roy
drove a sedan, conspicuously new and
snug, with litter of robes in back.
"a bird-thats what she isl he
said, shifting into high. Nothing in
the county can touch her by a mile.
Just right for an elopement-"
| "Oh. a trial spinl Who's the lucky
LADY," Clare asked, smiling brayely,