The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-11-12
The EVENING STORY
On Both Sides.
(By w. F. Bryan.)

Ted BARRON as Nella Fenway came out
on the broad piazza.
The girl glanced over the well-kept
lawn, past the road and so across the
fields to the cool dark of the woods be-
yond.
Pretty she repeated scornfully.
It's just the loveliest thing I ever saw.
1t looks almost like the country"
Almost" echoed BARRON. 1T say,
that's bit rough on fellow. Slicherly
guaranteed that it would be the real
thing
That's just the trouble" she explain
cd. You just go to the man and tell
MN you want to give a barn dance
regardless Of expense. Your jack-o'-
lanterns are carved by an artist and
they are Illuminated by electric lights
instead of candles. You dance in the
barn. but the dancing floor you laid
down costs more than some of the reai
barns themselves, and the band you
imported from town will play the same
music that we are going to have all
winter and by the same men,
wanted to have the BEST" he said
a little sulkily as he turned away. A
nttle hand rested upon his arm for a
brief instant. though he felt the i'm
press long after 1t had been removed
1t Is the best-your best she said.
But it's not real farm dance any
HlOTC tudn tnlS Is a real IarTn, IGO. II s
all play and a pretense. We were to
wear print dresses and Rita Farnum Is
upstairs getting into a decollete null
gown trimmed with real lace. That's
her idea of the way farmers daugh-
ter dresses"
Ted glanced approvingly at the SIM
pie little print frock that suited SO we'll
the fresh, rounded figure and the
piquant face above.
1T is useless to paint the nly-until
- {1xrf t. f<<51 l. l.
laugh. when Rita Farnum gets to
heaven and she finds her angelic robe Is
not to her liking, she will search the
other place for dressmaker to fix it
over. All dressmakers will go to-the
other place. he added.
That's the feminine belief" assent
ed Nella. with a ripping laugh that
reminded Ted of the song of birds in
the early morning.
"That's where they ought to CO." he
growled. Even eternal torture will
not atone their crimes against art and
nature in the way they fix over the
human form to make it conform to
the dresses they have built on those
wire models"
How about the way you have made
this farm over into toy? That is just
as BAD
whats the matter with the
farm" demanded BARRON. tits one
OF the show places of the county. You
thing against it,
"I am disappointed" explained the
girl. "You see Dad does not like to be
reminded of those times WIENER"
Before they found coal On his farm
and he got into society?" completed
Ted. who knew the story of Joel Fen
ways sudden rise to riches and his
avoidance of any reference
to his country life.
''Well, Dad has hated the country
CT, I,y1f lit I,o 10
been my first visit to a farm since the
old days. I was like a little girl prom
ised a new toy when L heard j was to
be one of the house party for the barn
it's not the same" she
added wistfully. "You are wearing
overalls and a cotton shirt. but you've
got your society manner on, Ted
The arrival of hay wagon loaded
with guests from a nearby farm"
closed the argument. Others of the |
and Nella was free to wander to the |
side porch.
From a society point of view. the |
were perfect. At the |
field, in which lay the great yellow |
pumpkins cut into jack-o-lanterns and |
lighted by electricity, as were those
that lined the front lawn. At the rear
was the huge barn lighted by arc
lights hung in great japanese lanterns.
On the polished surface of the spe-
cially laid dancing floor. On the lawn
we're scores of small tables served by
negro walters looking oddly unhappy
N their overalls, which for the night
their usual service clothes.
Yes 1t was all perfect, but Nella smil-
ID a little sadly to herself as she recall
ID the anticipations which the invita-
ion had aroused. She still loved their
Id farm, but her stepmother would
lever permit her to go to the coun-
ry 1t was something she was sup
,osed to forget.
Ted's fashionable farm" had been a
.reat disappointment to her. 1t was all
o unreal so insincere and most of all,
he was disappointed in the dance st.
elf She made herself comfortable in
ne corner of the dark porch, where the
music came but family to her ears and
vhen she was not liable to Interrupt
ion.
For an hour she sat huddled in q
ustic chair that had cost as much as a
yhole parlor suit in real farm houses.
dice that he recalled herself to the
resent.
"I've been looking for you every
here" he announced as he came tow" ,
I'd her. 1.-THE ball is making a great
it. Every one says 1t is the best Of
he season, and as reward, Bess says I
nat I may have leave of absence for
alf an hour"
our SlSlOI IIdhco a SAloA illAAA6 AOo-
sss," said Nella with an approving I
mile ''It must be a great relief to
ave some one to take from your shoul- 1
ers the burden of the entertaining" e
you bet,' declared Ted with more
ervor than elegance. This dance will
over a multitude of social debts. But
ome, let's get out of this and into the
cal country. It lies just across the
pad We can sit over there with the
cal rustics and imagine that we are n
nviously looking on and listening to
he music" t
nd, 1aughingly, they stole across the I
pad to where a little knot of the real
arnners had gathered to watch the :,
In Ted found a seal for her on i