The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-07-03
EUening Story
Tired of lin.
BY H. LOUIS RAYBoLD

BY H LOUIS RAYBOLD
For just two years Marie and Jim
had been engaged and, until the day
before yesterday, they had been quite
happy. The long engagement was
none OF Jim's wishing. Force of cir
cumstances in the shape of an invalid
and absolutely dependent brother had
made it impossible for Jim. just out of
the service when he met Marie. to lay
aside enough to justify the aSsump-
ton of new burdens.
At first they had made plans for a
somewhat indefinite future, but of Iate
1 they had grown-Marie especially-to
] seize the present and let the days to
Icome take care of themselves.
And now, this sunny afternoon when
an advance spring breeze perfumed
the air, they had quarreled.
Marie finally. "only-only I think 1
am tired of you and tired of being
engaged. Yes, it's dreadful to say,
but how much better to find out be-
fore we are unmarried. So here's,
your r-ring!"
stupidity. Jim held out his hand
for the shining bit of jewelry. Then
he Strengthened his shoulders. 'Of
lcourse, dear" he said soberly, Its
worlds better. I'll-Tll try to take
it sensibly. Now, let's go home"
If, after Jim had left Marie, he
wondered if any other man had been
the cause of her detection, he tried to
stifle the suspicion. To be sure, any
girl would have grown weary long ago
of this Inonotonous waiting. And he
offered no happier prospects after
marriage, If marriage could ever be.
Well, his sole duty now lay. with his
brother.
| AS far as Marie was concerned no
other man than Jim had ever claimed
even one tiny thought. Yet there was
another man in the offing-a tall,
sleek not unattractive youth, who had
many times eyed Marie admiringly as
| they assembled together in the elevator
to their respective places of employ
ment. And that man, Bert Rogers,
| had decided to meet Marie. Six days
after Maries engagement to Jim was
broken he accomplished his wish thru
the agency of a fellow stenographer
| of Marie's.
| And on the day after he met Marie
Bert drove her in his small but mile
devouring roadster far up along the
Hudson. There was nothing slow
about Bert.
Marie. left at loose ends of her own
making, found life far more exciting
now than it had been with jim Jim $
money had been limited and had had
to be spent in many ways. Berts ap-
peared to be ample and had but one
| outlet-one good time after another
And just now it pleased him to in
clude Marie.
| Seats at the latest comedy; supper
| at the most exclusive little restau-
rants; hamper picnics on distant
| beaches; midnight dances at softly
| lighted, CLASSY floored dance halls
Marie went the pace and didn't stop to
wonder when-or where-it would all
end.
Arrived the night of the infantry
ball, the one annual extravaganza
she and Jim had permitted them
| selves. Bert tossed tickets for it into
| grassy bluff overlooking the Sandy
mot crazy about it, said Bert in
his blase way, but we might as well
| take it in
| Other years Marie had not fused
unduly about her clothes. Poor old
| Jins->had thought that whatever she
wore outshone the costumes of all the
| others. Bert, Marie realized, was con-
| siderably more critical. Therefore she
drew on her rainy day balance and
| splurged.
Bert's flowers were lavish and
| SNOWY, and, Marie couldn't help but
| think, not nearly as fragrant as the
| modest bunch of violets which had
| always come from Jim. Pinning them
on, she sighed as she gave a final sur
| vey in the mirror. Would Jim ever
| have recognized, in the sophisticated
image which met his gaze, his little
| Marie.
| For some reason or other, nothing
went just right. Bert could not dance
at least, not in that sturdy, swinging
way she had learned to love in Jim.
| Also, she didn't care for the silly COM
| pliments Bert whispered in her ear
| as he held her rather too closely.
Jim never would talk as he danced.
Said he had a single-track mind and
couldn't keep his feet and his tongue
| going at the same time.
| Odd, after all, thought Marie to
herself, to be dancing with the man