The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-19
THE EVENING STOR Y
Beneath the Surface.

| Hallen looked pityingly at the girl.
In spite of the degradation to which
she had sunk, vice had not yet set It's
seal irradicabIy upon her features. The
| blackened eye, only emphasized by the
pitiful little attempt to conceal it by
| the use of powder, was the only stamp
of viciousness, and from between the
| blackened lids the eye seemed to mir
ror an Immaculate soul.
He looked with disgust about the
cheap dance hall. with its blaring
three-piece band, and its little crowds
of merrymakers. There was sordid-
ness about it all that surprised him.
But this girl seemed to have no place
In the picture. Even the simple lines
of her tattered dress bespoke a differ
ent plane of life.
Yet the story she had told shocked
him in its revelation of the depths of
misery to which a woman could sink.
she was scarcely past twenty, but she
had been deserted by her husband, had
lost Der little daughter and had grad
ually sunk into the Slough of Despond.
1t was a tale common enough in city
streets, yet he hated to hear it from
her lips. He wished that it might be,
like his own, a fabrication.
A week before an editor had sent
back story he had offered.
This rings false" the man wrote;
"dig down and get your facts first
hand, and let me see the result. 1
want something like it,
Disguise had been easy-a three
days growth of beard, touseled head,
and a shabby suit. He knew of the
likely to get material. He had in
tended to approach some man, but
somehow he dropped into chair be-
side the girl, and over a few drinks
Che was rather proud of his trick OF
ordering gin and drinking the water
instead of the spirits) they had ex-
changed experiences.
His own experiences were drawn
from his imagination. but here was
story vivid in its directness, terrible in
its unconcerned unwilling of misery
and sin.
won't you let me see you again %
he pleaded. Have you some address ?"
She waved her hand comprehensive
This is mostly my address," she
laughed. The music had not yet gone
out of her voice. and the laugh ap.
pealed to him. I'm most always
here
Hallen rose and slouched out. Il
was a relief to get into the bath. and a
shave was positive luxury. He tum-
bled into bed with a sigh of satisfac-
switched off, no sleep came to his tired
eyelids. He lived again the scene of
the evening, and the girls face haunt
ed him.
She had laughed when he spoke of
uplifting: had secuted the possibility
of reform, and yet he was determined
that he would find her again and in
spite of herself lead her steps again
into the paths from which they had
strayed.
He was at the Odeon again the next
evening but though he sat from early
evening until late in the night, the girl
did not come. The waiter grinned
when he asked concerning her.
II never saw her before. I thought
you brought her in
''But she said she comes in here
every evening"" he persisted.
Well. she don't was the surly re-
tort. 81 guess 1 know what I'm talk
in about and that goes, see!"
There was an intimation in the voice
that Hallen would go if the statement
did not and he subsidized. For a week
he haunted that place and others like
It, but not trace of her could he
find and at last he went back to his
work.
1t seemed almost like sacrilege to
use her story as material; to viviseet
the quivering remains of mispent
raj; perhaps others might read and
profit He worked on it a week before
he sent it off, and then half hoped that
it would be rejected.
On the contrary, he got instead, a
most cordial letter.
'Just what I wanted" declared the
editor. 1--WE another almost as good.
1 am going to run the two together
under the title of Beneath the Sur
face I am sending the check"
Hallen started as he saw the check. |
1t was double rates. but even that did
net atone for his failure to find the
girl. He wished that he might take it |
to her, for It was she. not he, who had
really earned il.
Perhaps, he told himself, it might
be the means of bringing her back to
the things worth while. 1t was, at
least. worth trying. He could scarce
ly wait until evening to set forth In
He made several stops before he
reached the Odeon and it was late |
when he entered the gaudy resort |
With a start, he recognized the girl |
and went toward her.
A heavy-set man was arguing with |
her as he came up. Hallen gathered |
that she had refused to dance with |
him. and he was glad of it Her race
Frightened at his approach, and the |
other man, noticing the welcome, |
skunk away.
II am so glad you came she cried.
as he slipped into a chair. Il wanted
to see you"
he said but no one seemed to remem-
Der you as regular visitor and SO
gave it up.
CT thought you might want to es-
flush rose to her cheek. TT would
have been embarrassing, so said you
could always find me here. Did you
want me for anything particular?
at lust wanted to see you again." he
said. IT was not prepared to admit
hat your case was hopeless.
II am afraid that II have con-
.ession to make" she said. DO you
-emember the other night how you
aid that with a fair start you might
make your way up again. but that no
,ne would take you since you came
rom prison? You said you wanted to
70 out west, you remember"
Hauen nodded and his face turned
ed. He had confessed to being con-
-ict. deprived by that fact of chance
o get ahead ., s,a
ometfling 1 ought to be ashamed Of
nut the tragedy of your life into a