The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-23
TIE EVENING STORY
..AEr. Arfur's'' Christmas GIFT.
FBv Ina Wright Hanson.

which was the putting of Of all Ari- /
minta Eudella's articles Of wearing /
apparel. ana the putting them on |
again. When the last garment had /
been adjusted to her satisfaction. she |
found time to look at mr.. Arfur.'
who sat by the window, a picture of
doldrums. With a regretful glance
at Evangenne Bell, who was yet to
be attended to, the small mother arose
and went over to Mr.. Arfur. Resting
one hand on his knee, she gazed
anxiously into his face.
The young man reused himself and
smiled down at the squarely cut locks,
the great brown eyes and the dimples
of Henrietta.
Have you been bad. Mr.. Arfur?"
she inquired solicitously.
Il don't think I have been so bad
as-the-bad man, Henrietta" he
answered, squeezing her small hand
I've been good as an angel she
remarked modestly, $50 Santa Claus is
going to bwing me anuver dolly in
a tooing cah'
I'm a what. Henrietta?"
"A tooing car she repeated; then,
as Arthur failed to grasp her mean
ing, she exemplified patiently, like
Sister Wose's what she takes you
widing in"
"Oh, l seel A touring car. you
aristocratic baby. No more doll
wagons and go-carts for you, eh?" he
chuckled, then grew gloomy again.
What do you want fob Kwismas %
Something l am afraid I can never
have in all this wide world, Henri
eta" He drew a long breath,
IF you are good, Santa Claus
ITS entirely out of the old fell
lows jurisdiction, my pet
The child gazed at MN curiously.
Its a heart Of fine gold that 1
want Henrietta; and only one person
can give it to me, and if she won't,
grille
rs she a fatwy?'' Henrietta's tone
was reverential, her eyes full of ex-
element.
THE queen of them all
And has a crown on?"
Yes, a crown of her own golden hair,
and her eyes are like brown velvet pan
sizes, and she has the sweetest red lips,
Henrietta; but yesterday I met her and
she hurried by, scarcely speaking; and
this morning on the street ~-o nretended
not to see me, though 1 know she did
and all because-you wouldn't have be-
lieved such a queen of a girl would care
so much because she didn't get the prize
at the masquerade, would you now?"
N.Y. CALCULATED Henrietta, but her
next eager question was cut short by
Mr.. Arthur's springing to his feet. isis
ter Wose" had entered the room, and
Henrietta, knowing from much expert
ence that she was decidedly de trop
when they two were together, went re-
luetantly back to Evangeline Bell and
the fireplace.
Good morning" said Sister Rose.
her tone suggestive of a glare of ice
and furry of snow. Il have an en-
gagement." But she sat down.
"Oh, am sorry; then I will CO." he
said gently, but he also sat down.
In his eyes, honest and gray, was
complexity OF expressions as he watch
ed her trying de Sperately to appear very
a InOEFnd
his eyes-there was no doubt of that
and admiration and approval; and yet
growing wonder that, after all, his idol
could be so human.
4 am sorry that you are angry he
began when the silence was getting
tense. TRY to realize my position, Rose
I sat there, an unwilling 1udge-rny
duty awarding prizes to the best sus-
tanned characters in the masquerade.
Among the maskers was one to whom
my heart went out. A slender little
figure, whose white satin gown, caught
loosely around the waist with a silken
girdle, fell in straight folds to her tiny
feet. Growing her small head were
chrysanthemums, maroon and gold, and
a line of the royal flowers reached from
one sweet bare shoulder to the hem OF
her gown. The Chrysanthemum Girl
was the Ioveliest sight in the room, but
she was not the best sustained charac-
ter, So"
4 hope you don't think I care be
cause YOU awarded the prize to Grace
Hereford 1nterpoSed the girl scorn-
fully. and please don't for a minute
think I am angry at anything; am
only disappointed in you Her voice
quavered a little.
mum Girl of having moods, Arthur
observed, looking at her renectlNely-
"a fellow I know has different names
for her-Moonlight, White Rose,
Laughing Water, gentleness, beauty,
wisdom. The fellow has admired her
when she was gay, and when she was
serious. but never before has he seen
her when she was unreasonable,
The Chrysanthemum Girl shifted.
ssWil you kindly explain r. added
Arthur.
your strength of character" she be-
gan. 1.-THE first time I ever save you
was in a trolley car. You sat oppo-
site me- and when the car turned the
sun shone into your eyes. There was
plenty of room on my side, where
the sun wouldn't have annoyed you,
but instead of changing your seat you
got up and pulled down the curtain.
I thought to myself, There is a man
who Will be master of circumstances,
no matter what they are, and
Rose stopped in confusion, as she
remem bered the other things she had
thought about this finely formed,
handsome young man.
go on, ne Sa4Q, l6anlnB Forward
with great interest. What else did
you thfnk2"
And now to find out that you are
nothing but a chameleon, after ALL
she walled.
"a what" Arthur exclaimed in
amazement.
"a chameleon" she repeated tear
fully IF you are on a brown leaf
you're brown; if on a green tree then
you're green"
ssWell, green acknowledge am.
for bless me if can see what you are
driving at"
s'The other day when auntie was
talking about the sin of wasting your
time in dancing, you said that you
agreed with her that when there was
rrorlz to do folks ought to do il: Won