The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-09
A KNOT In The PEARLS.


unmistakabie and generally acknowl-
edged. that can even triumph over a
frock that is not quite fresh or STYLE
of hair dressing that is not altogether
suitable But then. in her case, it was
such charming hair, so bright and so
surely, that he told himself fashionable
dressing. which would have reduced
her head to the level of a repetition
of all the other heads in the room,
would nave been a mistake. a piece OF
vandalism. And as for the dress. that
was, at any rate, simple although of
the kind that is not expensive or even
particularly tastefuD, and he managed
to overlook it. Yet that was something
of feat-to his credit or not, as you
looked at the matter-for he had the
reputation OF being one of the most
fast1dlous men in London. Moreover.
the child-she was only a child, as he
admitted-had absolutely no converse
But then her eyes were dazzling blue
and their gaze had rapt and heaven
searching quality that was unique even
IN MS wide experience. If she could
not, as 1t seemed, use with any fluency
the tongue OF men or of angels Gust
excepting her hesitating oh, yes,
oh. no." and such noncommitting tri-
fles), if she was poor at small talk,
ing. From the first the glance of her
Wide-open, innocent eyes. straying.
sometimes to his from the contempla-
ton of heaven, seemed to bewitch him.
In attentive captivity at her side.
And she was eighteen and badly
dressed. while he owned to thirty-five
and was well known as an accom-
plished man Of the most sensitive
most exquisite taste
The woman wasn't born, his friends
had been in the habit of saying, who
could entirely reach UP to his standard
or perfection; among themselves they
had often pictured her, the nearest
thing possible, the woman he would
surrender to, and she was cultured and
witty, delicately sympathetic, daintIly
beautiful and certainly beautifully
dressed to the last little detail. And it
must be admitted that he had always
so pictured her himself
But while he was a man of ideals he
was also man of great, of recognized,
talents and his world set him up as a
Shining light, 4 man to be quoted and
followed and generally upheld, although
that is not saying that they set him
above laughter, or, at any rate, smiles.
For it is pleasant to smile at an excep-
tiOnally talented or fortunate man; it
is a recompense and even relief to
those less distinguished, and, without
being malicious, there were many who
smiled quite openly and unashamed as
he fingered, every time they met, at the
side of the girl with the heaven-search- |
ing eye.
And all the time he was with her he
thought only of her eyes and his own
But when he was not with her many of
his thoughts circled round the cheap |
row of pearls she invariably wore, and
his mind, attuned to great subjects,
took to itself a holiday and spent it in
wondering why she tied a knot in them. |
Was it of set design or did she really
think they looked better knotted?
There had come into his mind, the first
time he saw her, an old saying, long
forgotten, that a girl knots her pearls
when she wants a love letter. Now, did
this girl of the innocent eyes in this
manner deliberately advertise a want?
And was it simply a love letter she
wanted, as one might covet a rare
curio or, say, a first edition? (He said
first edition). Or was it not, perhaps,
letter from a particular person she
had set her heart on? Some one who
might see the touching little Indication
of readiness to receive a tenderly word
ed epistle; some one who, it was hoped,
would be ready, would be eager to COM
ply. Although this last possibility I'M
dOubtedly put the girl in the better
light, it is noteworthy that it was not
the idea he honestly favored.
He followed the little story further.
For, If the knot was the result of any
thing more than merest accident or
other than a clumsy device for keeping
the bow tightly round her white throat,
then since, as far as he knew, the knot
was never united; also as far as he
knew, she did not get her letter The
,
time it grew to hurting him that she
should even possibly want what he
could so easily have supplied. The
whole question, as childish as she was
and as strangely engrossing haunted
and disturbed his leisure, and one night,
having just left her, he sat down and
wrote her a letter
The bulk of the talents for which
people praised him were in the habit of
emerging from the point of his pen, and
the letter was worthy of his reputation
without being at all above. her power
Of appreciation-even stray CLEAN that
seemed to cast a new light on the path
ways to heaven.
If you like it," he said, there are
more" And he took out the pack,
turning it over.
But if they're mine I would much
rather have them at once she cried.
If they're mine you've no right to keep
them"
To tempt her into pleading for them,
into more laughter. into quite torrent
of teasing and excited speech, he held
out as long as he could. In the end she
went off with her letters
I'm convinced it's some rubbish she
threw at him in parting, land do want
to see just how silly you arel"
VIII you tell me how silly you think
meg" he asked.
IF you're silly-enough,' said she.
OF course he expected an answer
expected it feverishly filled with a boy
ish impatience and unrest he had never
poSSSa III HIS DOyIloOu. w nSn 1t came
it was like her. he told himself; and it
was certainly put in few words, If that
was really like her. and his doubts on
that subject were brand new ones
viii you come and see me?'' she
wrote, naming an hour. OF course he
went-praying the while that he should
find her alone.
And she was alone; so far he quickly
saw the realization of his wish Yet,
for the moment, as he advanced toward
her up the long room, he hardly knew
her-hardly recognized her adorned
beauty, the child of the dowdy frocks,
in the perfectly dressed girl now wait
ing for him with laughter and bushes
chasing each other on her bewildering
face. For the first time in his life he
found nothing to say, and so she was
forced to begin. She seemed not un-