The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-08-10
TIE EVENING STORY
The Success of the seanson.


it was not to cigars that he alluded.
knew very we'll what he meant. Miss
Archer='sthe beautiful Miss Archer
people called her-had made an en-
gagement to go driving with me and
walking with Carstairs. and had brok-
en- ootn to go sailing with Holworthy-
mis- without so much as a word to
either of US. Il tell you I've had
enough Carstairs went on shes
led all six of US a lively dance this
summer, and It's time it ended. Look
at the way she treats young HolWorthy.
He's daft about her. and she knows
II. and she takes positive joy in leading
him on and then making him miser-
able and ridiculous. I tell you, Billy,
the girl has no heart. She'll take
everything she can get from fellow
and then" Carstairs gave his ci-
gar-end quick toss over the porch
rail.
But you" began.
"Oh, know!' he cried. i've been
a fool like the restl H1ore than the
rest, perhaps. That's why I'm going
to be the first to break away. There
are other girls here besides Miss Arch
er-girls who've never tasted success,
who don't know what a good time
really means. That's the kind of
girl I'm looking for, and when she's
found III show Miss Archer some
things she hasn't learned. Are you
with me, Billy p
Il am answered. But who's the
grip
Il don't know yet" said Carstairs.
As a matter of fact it was Miss Arch
er who discovered her for US the fol-
lowing morning as we sat watching
game of tennis. Look" she said,
with a tilt of her white lace parasol.
Our eyes followed hers. Standing a
little apart from the gay chattering
group that fringed the edge of the
court was a pale girl, with lack-luster
eyes and carelessly knotted hair. De-
lection was in every line or her droop-
what a dowd." laughed Miss
Archer.
L beg to differ" drawied Carstairs.
His tone was velvet with a flick of
steel beneath. I looked at him and
that the war was on Miss Archer
looked at him, too-a sudden lifting of
dropping lids over pantherish brown
eyes. Then she continued talking as
If he had not spoken.
IT'S all right" said Carstairs to me
a while later. i've just been intro
duced, and her names Cameron-Isa-
bel Cameron. She's going driving with
me this afternoon
I was on the porch when they re-
turned. I looked at the girl curl
ously. She seemed to have changed
was gone. The wind had whipped
delicate color into her cheeks. She
seemed less spiritless, less dropping.
Usually the six of US who had fol-
lowed Miss Archer to Bar Harbor
spent the evening at dagger's points
with each other, but this night, by a
kind of common understanding we
gathered round Miss Cameron. At
first she seemed a bit frightened. Her
eyes were wide and frightened, like
a chtlds, as we came up one by one
and asked her to go sailing or autoing.
Then her shyness wore off, and she
listened with amusement to some of
Holworthy's college yarns. In fact, we
all laughed a good deal. and Miss
Archer retired at an earlier hour than
usual.
In the days that followed Miss Cam
eron was never allowed an idle mo-
ment. One of US six fellows was al
ways lowering about her-due, as I
thought at the time. to Carstair's clever
management. There was to be
dance at the hotel, and late one night
when we had the porch to ourselves
we fell to discussing it.
II believe III ask Miss Cameron,
remarked Carstairs in what he took to
be an off-hand manner.
Look here" I argued, that's not
fair. You went to the picnic with
her yesterday. It's my turn now
1T may interest you to know" OBJ
served Holworthy from the shadows
behind US, that I've already asked
her.
1.-THE deuce you have!" cried Car
stairs
Hold on, Kid" I said severely.
You know you're just taking her as
a matter of pique, while I'm in dead
earnest
''Dead earnesti" cried Holworthy
hotly. Listen to him. Great heav-
earnest too? Don't you suppose
that
IF you shout so LOUD" said Car
stairs soothingly, you'll rouse the
house" Holworthy replied that he
didn't care if he did. That he didn't
was in love with Miss Cameron. On
top of his infatuation for Miss Archer
1t did seem a bit sudden, but some
hoow neither Carstasrs nor I had q
word to say.
For my part I sat staring into the
moonlight. and wondering how the
whole thing had come about And yet
II was not so strange after all, for
triumph is the most magical cosmetic
in the world. A touch of It. and Miss
Cameron had bloomed like a rose. The
nieht of the dance she was simply
radiant. Unconsciously she had as
sumed the manner Of success mot ar
rogant, for she was never that, but
sureness a poise that was unmistak
able. She was easily the belle of the
evening Miss Archer was completely
distanced.
'Jovel'' cried a fellow at my elbow
when he first caught sight of her, Il
must have a dance"
Dance" replied scornfullys why,
her card was filed hours ago. It was
all I could do to get an extra"
Indeed it became apparent that II
we even wished to walk or ride with
Miss Cameron we would have to make
our dates ahead. and I considered my
self fortunate when I heard her casu-
ally mention that while the mornings
were so fine she liked to take soli-
tary stroll by the sea and watch the
sunrise. Next evening left word that
was to be called at 5 q. m.