The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-15
TIE EVENING STOR r
A Practical Wooing.

There could be no doubt about II.
Mrs. Rainsford was agitated. Her
slender white hands Hospitality en-
gagged In making tea for Leonard Grey,
trembled. Her guest, leaning back IN
his chair on the opposite side or the
fireplace, watched this phenomenon
The little social world in which
these TWO figures moved realized that
had it not been for Mrs. Ralnsford
daughter, Ethel. the tall, ciean-cut'
reasonable bachelor, watching his hos
tess with narrowing eyes, would long
ago have married the pretty WldoN
with her Gieuze-lke figure ana her m
dependent fortune, but what II old NOT
know was that Grey was channg unoef
the long delay, and the frequent post
ponements which had marked his pa
tient woolng. But even as he wondered
at the trembling hands, he knew that
the psychological moment for com
ment had not yet arrived
Five minutes later MIS-. tSalnsLoI 1
stirred her tea violently, and raised
tear-filIed eyes to the friendly face
across the fireplace.
Leonard, Ethel has just told me
that she is engaged.
Mr.. Grey set down his tea cup with
a clatter that did not harmonize with
the subdued surroundings and the
waning light in the library.
(which one % he demanded. Harry,
Jack or Teddy?''
Neither" snapped Mrs. Rainsford,
then followed something very like a
groan. 1T is her-her riding master
one Oscar Tremayne. Now, isn't
that name quite enough without the
-er-position the fellow holds"
Handsome, I presume" unused
Grey, unsympathetically. Knows how
to wear English riding clothes, etc.
How did it happen2"
Mrs Rainsford leaned forward con-
.fidentially.
l''I am beginning to believe it was a
plot between this Wretched man and
BettinS-and she has seemed to be
such model governess and cOmpan-
ion, so highly recommended. Well, I
shall take Ethel abroad next month.
Perhaps she viii forget him
More likely, being a clever youth,
Tremayne-WaS that the name Twill
smell a rat, and persuade her TO elope
meanwhile. No, my dear Elizabeth
we must think of some better plan
than that"
what? Do suggest something. Leon
ard-quickly declare I have been so
unstrung all the afternoon, I have not
known what callers said to me. It seem
as If every one must know It and be
plying me-
& Leonard Grey rose slowly and drew
on his gloves deliberately
You and Ethel are to go to the EN-
pire with me tonight. you remember,
anu nave q table dIlGEMdIQ at foner-
rvs. 1 think III step over to the Acad
envy and ask this Tremayne to make the
fourth was going to have Dick
but
Leonard! at the Empire! and sher-
ry'si Oh, really
Mr.. Grey took her hand between his
two broad palms.
MY dear little woman, it is not be-
cause wish to make Mr.. Tremayne's
acquaintance, but because 1 think it is
best"
Ethel stole a furtfve glance from the
stage to the back Of the box. Somehow
she was vaguely relieved that her
mother and not Tremayne was seated
in the front at her side. OF course.
Tremayne was delighted, but somehow
his evening clothes did not fit as we'll
as his riding suit. The invitation had
been rather sudden. Perhaps they had
not been properly pressed-but there
really was an unsightly hump of cloth
over his right shoulder blade She
glanced back at the stage, then turned
to the left Why was Mrs. Van Colt
leveling her glasses at their box in such
a direct fashion? Really. women past
belledom could be. so odious!
The orchestra broke into a rolliclKing
march. The star was about to enter.
Tremayne leanel over her chair.
Makes you think of a canter through
i the park on a frosty morning doesn't
Ethel smiled ana forgot the odious
Mrs Van Colt. Pleasant memories
clustered about those canters through
the park on a frosty morning.
Fine woman, your mother" whis-
pered Tremayne under cover Of the ap-
plause which greeted the star. Never
dreamed she'd take it SO nicely, did
your
Ethel glanced at her mother. What
a darling mother she was, in her black
chiffon with touches of real lace and
frosty pearlsi She was a thorough
bred, was that little mother.
Between the first and second acts a
steady stream of callers came into
their box. No one seemed surprised to
ed If they knew. No That could not
be, for no one offered congratulations.
Between the second and third acts
Tremayne excused himself. There was
a friend on the other side of the house
he wanted to see. In truth, he felt
urgent need of a soothing cigarette.
Dick Van Alystine slipped into the
chair behind Ethel.
mice little girl. you are, Ethel, to
make yourself so pleasant to Grey
ing Caruso? Or a second Whistler :?
or just a common Socialist 2"
EtheI's cheeks burned.
Really, Dick, it seems the correct
thing Tor you boys 10 make Aun OF any
one who works for his living"
Dick whistled softly
so that's the game! You are not
thinking of moving down to one of the
settlement houses are you? Rum
cooking down there, the girls tell me-
Ethel was glad when the curtain
rose on the last act, but there was still
Sherry's to face, and, in the great gold
and white salon, a stream of we'll
groomed, clean cut men passing their
table Each man seemed bent on
stopping for a chat But it was Mrs.
Rainsford who really held court. Ethel
was curiously uncomfortable. The rose
shaded lights on their table did not
soften the hump on Tremayne's Shout
der, mad the sharp edges Of his man
ners under the trying ordeal OF in