The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-09-05
TEE EVENING STORY
An Antique

Did you ever? That bonnet was
old fashioned when Noah went into the
Ark. Miss Alrhea Evans said. nodding
toward the new girl in the choir.
Isabella Strange, her chum and
rival in Eastwood society, giggled and
answered loud enough for the new girl
to hear. You are shockingly ignor-
ant, Leathy. Don't you know there
are people who take pride in their
antiques ?''
Involuntarily it seemed the new girl
put her hand up to the plume which
dropped to touch masses of bright
aggled-nothing indeed about the
hat showed q touch of wear. Bur 1t
was a least thres seasons behind the
style--also very becoming to the wear
er. She was slim and tall. with
sherry wine eyes and a creamy, rose
tinted complexion. In the lips the
roses burned to clear scarlet and there
was an adorable dinple lurking at one
side. Dark brows, delicately arched,
gave an accent to the face-an accent
repeated by the gold lights Of the
abundant brown hair. Thus nature
explained the situation A girl who
looked that way could afford to be old
fashioned, ana two other girls, enor-
mously stylish, but with no looks to
boast, could not help but be. i'll ma
tured.
Benson. the choir leader. a thin man,
perpetuaily scowling, but wholly
on Althea, and said: THE solo2 Have
you practiced it as you promised?
Let's try it first thing.
Althea turned her back to him. Pig!
Does he think I mean to waste my
singing?" she whispered loudly to lsa-
bella. Over her shoulder she added
languidly: Mr.. BensOn-IH sing my
solo Sunday after next. Someone
friends of mine.'' significant emphasis
on the friends, ARE coming specially
to hear me. Until then you must make
out with--the rest
LAS you will. Miss Evans" Benson
said, flush creeping up to his sallow
cheek. But you promised de
pended on the promise. And it is
much to me that the music shall be
even.'
I dare say-but I shan't sing ex-
cept when I feel like it," Althea said
with a touch of insolence.
Her father was head of the vestry,
and she thought she knew Benson
dared not resent anything she might
do.
It t. ok her breath to have him say
firmly: I'm that case=you are quite
useless Music, a great gift, q great
blessing, does not come without work
if you win not work unsparingly you
viii hinder. rather than help. You
should work-for your own sake. You
have voice=oh. yesi But it needs
heart in it. Unless you grow to love
the work you will never get the heart
/ I our singing VIII OC---NAAdb JS0 So
dumbi=like a street piano that one
may play with a crank"
Really This-tflis is beyond endur-
ance,' Althea begun.
Isabella laughed low and unpleasant
" and put her hand over Althea's lips.
Then she called to the choir-naa ster,
who had moved a little way off; Why
don't YOU try Miss Archer?" l.odding
toward the new girl. I'm sure she
looks nusical-she may be an artists-"
-1,-4.- tnNr
..Oh. thank you. I should like to sing
I love it-and have been silent ever
since came-the walls are so thin at
Mrs. Wray's, and 1 should so hate to
disturb any one"
.sYou. What will you care for?" Ben
son asked, seating himself at the small
organ. The girl bent her head softly
saving: Something old-and simple
Something my mother sang, please. Say
Rock of Ages or Coronation "
I'm going. ] hate all that old rub
bish,' AIthea said, marching toward the
door.
Isabella followed her, but paused. her
hand on the knob, to say with a gig
gle, as though speaking to some one
still in the room: You'd better put UP
a sign outside: Antiques to be seen ana
heard herei - Then she ran down the
steps laughing loudly, and as she over
took Althea, caught her arm, shook her
gayly and said: Il think we have set
tied Miss Archer. If she has any sense
at all she won't come again-after this
Whether or no Miss Archer hal sense.
she certainly had a voice. She also
and this was the crown of poor Benson's
1oy-kneW mighty well how to use 1t.
She was withal modest and bidable, CIV
ing herself no airs whatever, albeit two
Sundays of her solos had sufficed to
crowd the church She kept much to
herself. and although frank and friend
" enough. nut by social opportunities
as they came
Mrs. Judge Gray called the very first
Sunday afternoon-a thing she had
never been known to do before She
asked Miss Archer to tea-also to dinner
next week But Miss Archer shook her
head-she was IN Eastwood for rest and
must not let herself be beguiled- Be
sides she had a charming rOom-and the
woods round about were SO enchanting,
she hated TIC stay out of them. She was
very grateful, but Mrs. Gray must ex-
It was the same VITA all the rest
Young or old found her. if they found
her at ALL the soul of graciousness, but
elusive She rode out every morning
and drove every afternoon, always
alone. except for a staid, liveried groom.
The one thing vulnerable about her
washer clothes. Exquisite in choice,
make. fit and material, they were all so
very far from being in fashion. There
fore they bred theories. Nobody really
knew more of Miss Archer than that
she had come to the Wray house with
unimpeachabIe credentials from two of
last seasons star boarders. So there
was some excuse for the romances WOW
en- about her The favOrite one was that
she had been either suddenly bereft of
fortune. or that she had inherited
wardrobe, and thriftily chose to wear it
out unchanged. The fine fit made 9TH
er against that, so much so that the
/ most generally
cented. But Miss Archer could certain
" not have lost all her money. She
was liberal to a fault in her expendi-
lures and reckless in the matter Of tips
to her caddies-indeed, to small boys
generally, whether or no they had rem
dered her q service.
Althea's special friends were delayed.
| 4l,oraeora She in fnrn delaved her re-