The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-13
THE EVENING STORY
The a1o..se and the Zion.
(By Constance D'Arcy Mackay'l


crossed the wide hotel veranda, who
do you think has Gomez"
Marion Page looked up brightly from
the book she was reading THE King
of Patagonia?' % she suggested
Nonsense Marion. don't be silly
This is really somebody out of the or
binary. A real social lion. I give you
three guesses. Take the first"
But I'm no good at guessing, pro-
tested Marion. You'll have to tell me.
We'll then, hold your breath! It's
Burton Sturgisr'
Burton Sturgisg' repeated Marion
slowly.
Isn't that a sensation?" cried Miss
Seward, sinking into chair at Marion
side with a swish of berunled skirts
Fancy such a great explorer, writer
and statesman as he is choosing to stop
at Windmere for a day! I've always
been taught to suppose that such people
avoided hotels in the height OF the sea-
son, haven't you? But it seems he lived
some place near here when he was
boy, and he wants to stop and see it on
his way through. l suppose famous
people always want to visit the haunts
of their early life, don't they? And Mrs.
Barringt happens to know him.
so she's going to give a tea for him in
ore OF the hotel cottages this after
noon"
"A tea?"
yes, a tea. You might know she'd
Farquhar cottage. believe, and you
are to serve fruit punch"
IT" echoed Marion.
Yes, you. Mrs. Sells told me to tell
you. She was coming to ask you her
self only there isn't time It's nearly
half past 10 now, and you haven't the
faintest idea how much there is to be
done before this afternoon l snoulo
be scurrying about this minute instead
Of sitting here talking. There are oceans
ali
friends; and the cottage to be put IN
order. and the decorations-we'v slmp-
~ robbed the flower beds ana mrs
Sells wants to know If you won't take
the trap this morning and get her some
ferns and trailing vines. There are d
lot I'D the road by Benders-you know
the way. I'd come with you, but l have
to fiji the vases and half a dozen other
things
She skipped down the veranda steps
and then paused w nat are you 81
ing to wear?" she asked.
MERCY" laughed Marion. I haven't
had time to decide"
'sWel. then, 1 hope you'll choose
your gray silk null IT., It's per1e1tfft tls
mouse in it. I'm going to grace the
occasion in pale blue. That's not
pun" And Miss Seward rush ed across
the lawn with the same impetuosity
with which she had arrived
A few moments later Marion drove
hrislx1v along the road, a scissors and
garden knife on the seat beside her.
''To think she unused. that ne
should come today!
For two years past Burton Sturgis
had stood to her for an ideal. nero 70
whom she had meted out gehe1 Dus
share of girlish hero worship ms
hooks occupied favorite corner OF her
hook shelf. and a picture of him, cut
from a current magazine, was tucksu
away in a drawer of her desk She
had known that 1t was possible that
she should some day meet MN. '3'i ~
as soon as this. Indeed, she mig II
have known him before had she MADE
the effort to do so, but Grace SeWaIu ;
description of her as mouse sulleo
ne Pm afraid it doesn't take gray
gown to make me one, either sne
mourned, as she stood cutting tne
vines, the sunlight glinting on her soit
hair. Il m not a bit goOu at SuSiA4He
like the other girls"
IA mere mouse" she repeated TO
herself that afternoon as she sal III q
fern ernbOwered corner of the tiny re-
cepticn room. behind huge cue {. a7e
howl filled with pineapple lemonade
and It's attendant sherDet cups anu
plates Of delicate waters. Beyond IN
the drawing room. was swift OF PINK
and white and blue. mass u Hui ~
gowns and pretty wearers, ana IN the
Center of them the portly figure ana
triumDhant face of Mrs. Barring. on
Sells Beside her, Immaculate III WnlLS
fiannels, stood Burton Sturgis' tan
thin man with commanding prone
and dark hair lightly touched with
Hes just as I imagined he would
be-" murmured Marion, even 10 the
little bored look that settles around
his eyes, and the quick way he mas OF
throwing back his head
Every now and then group or girls
would drift up to her table with little
excIamations and thrills of laughter.
@,lh thank YOU. Miss Page! How cool
and delicious Oh girls, isn't Burton
Stursis fascinating, and aren't his
books too lovely for anything! Let
90 hack and talk to him again" AMI
fha prouD would break away from
Marion and return to the ring that
surrounded the great man. From
time to time Marion caught snatches
of their feminine chatter. Your
charming books Mr.. Sturgis! Adora-
blet Quaint! Delicious."
Presently Mrs Sells broke away
from her circle and waddled UP to
Marion with Burton Sturgis in tow
nreeent Mr.. Sturgis. Mr.. Sturgis Miss
page. See that he has enough,
Marion" and playfully waving her
pudgy hand at them, she went back to
IT Is a thirsty day" said Burton
Sturgis. taking the sherbet cup that
Marion held out to him. DO you think
you could manage to put In another
cherry Miss Page? I'm awfully fond of
them" =
but they're so elusive" laughed
Marion they always seem to slip out
Of the Iadle 1 just think I've caught
one and then it gets away.
IT'S like the small boy and the min
now agreed Burton Sturgis, his bored
look giving place to smile. There!
you've missed it againi" as a refrac-
tory cherry with little splash sank to
the bottom of the bowl.
Il doubt If you do as we'll" cried
- What do you bet?' he said. boyish-
~. =,