The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-04-13
TIE EVENING STORY


were DOSltlOnS IN life that she would
nave found less trying than that Of
only child OF a popular minister. she
loved the dear old rectory with its
shabby furniture, she had grown up
reehng that the beautiful grey stone
cnurch with the stained glass windows
was part OF the family possessions
but while these things helped make
the condition pleasanter, they did not
keep her from wanting the things that
other girls had, and to do the things
that other girls did.
CHRISTMAS after Christmas her Inns
had quivered when she had received
from one to a dozen handsome Bibles
from the friends in her fathers con
gregauon- Her mother had a sense of
numOr, and when Esther on her TWEEN
ueth birthday, received Bible number
lhlrty-seven, she laughed and told her
daughter that for Christmas she would
BUY her an adjustable extension book
case-Ihere seemed nothing else that
she needed quite so much
The girls face seemed half divided
petWeen desire to laugh and to cry.
don teSee why they think I don't
want a trinket occasionally fan
bracelet, or something a little bit frivo-
lous, mamma, she said. Il have nine
teen Madonnas hanging in my room.
ana nave received, at various times.
copy of almost every religious pic
lure ever printed OF course I like them
-put L wish I could be considered as
a mere girl some time, and not a part
of st. Johns church."
she had, as little girl cheerfully
given up the dancing LESSONS that she
wanted. She was never invited To card
parties because each and every hostess
felt tiny bit doubtful as to whether
IL would be suitable to extend such in
vitation to her.
Even the dinner parties and Ice
cream festivals had failed to be par
t1cularly interesting to her-for if there
were curate or a theological student
among the guests she was sure to
have him assigned to her AS a school
glrl she had stolen furtive glances at
the college boys who wore their hair
long and played footban-there was
something fascinating in the jolly way
they Iaughed-and she had wished that
her hostess would understand that she
would like, occasionally, the grilish fri
volity of eating a philopena with a
football youth. But they never did
understand and she continued to dis
cuss with ourates the last Sundays
sermon. or a new plan for decorating
the church next Easter
There had, however, been one glorious
period of freedon-she had spent two
years at a boarding school, had played
basketball as hilariously as any girl on
the team, had eaten welsh rarebits,
cooked at Midnight behind covered
transoms and chinked doors, with the
same temerity shown by the girls who
had lawyers or doctors for fathers
And best of all-she had become ac-
QuaInted with vivacious Elise Bourland,
whose mother was French and whose
father considered life worth living, and
the world a jolly place to live in.
Contrary to the idea that like seeks
hke-the two girls. so different, had
formed fast friendship.
When Dick Bourland, who practised
law in a city neighboring the school,
paid his weekly visits to his sister, he
pronounced demure little Esther Blake
altogether charming. At the close of
school he told her so-and finding that
she admitted having exactly the same
opinion Of him, he had taken the long
journey to reach the little South Caro-
Ina town and state the case to the res
tor
Dicks mother had, upon the an
nouncement of the engagement, written
a nice little note and invited the girl
to come for a visit that she might get
acquainted with her future relatives
The girl stood in the library ny the
window watching the rain that had
been steadily pouring all the forenoon,
puckering her forehead in anxious plan
nings of the possibilities of the case
I really don't see how I can 60
mamma she said, finally 1T IS i'm
possible for papa to afford it now.
Her mother tapped her pen medita-
lively against the inkstand and tried
to help her plan.
rate. you know. my dear-that helps
some, and you could alter my new grey
crepe and make it look youthful enough
for calling dress. Then you have
your white commencement dress.
There's a small foundation, you ree to
begin with"
Esther came over and sat on stool
by her mothers knee.
I can't help wanting his people to
think I'm nice-and for him to be
n 0f mo r7d 70r1sf
you, motherkins?''
Mrs. Blake patted her on the back.
and her eyes grew misty.
Yes, yes, dearie, understand per-
fectly-but I also remember that Dick
loved my girl for herself-when she
didn't have half the pretty clothes the
other girls were able to afford. That's
the thing to keep in mind, little daugk-
ter
Esther kissed her impulsively. you
are the best kind of a comforter. moth
er-mine. Come. let's look over the rem
nants OF our wardrobe and see II we
can't accomplish some of those Won
derful things one reads about on the
some evening dress out of an old lace
curtain, or a dressing sacque out of a
silk handkerchief trimmed with your
fathers old neckties plated into tiny
edgings.
Mrs. Blake laughed. and followed her
up stairs. They soon had the girls bed
covered with odds and ends ransacked
from both Wardrobes.
Esther finally sat down, an oid-fash-
toned lavender and white delaine dress
that had belonged to her mothers
more youthful days lying in her lap.
81 really can make UP a lovely little
evening dress out of this she exulted.
II wonder it's not been made over long
ago"
Mrs. Blake did not tell her she had
kept it packed away in lavender and
tender memories because it was the
dress she had worn as bride the first
Sunday at st. Johns when she came to
the then strange town.
q can manage with the dresses=but
1 don't see how anything less than a
miracle could produce the shoes and
gloves that ought to go with them. One
could perhaps find a recipe for a pair