The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-10-25
THE EVENING STORY
Their Friyolity.
(By Troy Allison.l

window of the small hotel parlor, her
face full of discomfort. She fingered
the soiled lace curtain unconsciously,
and just as unconsciously frowned at
the group of school girls standing out
side, waiting for the sightseeing auto-9
mobile.
After a week in jamestown with
them. she acknowledged that the quiet,
routine of the school year had its COM
pensations-it could at least be count
ed to follow it's regular groove. on
the other hand, fifty school girls on a
sightseeing expedition, even under the
chaperonage of the music teacher, the
professor of psychology, and two I'M
der teachers couldn't be counted upon
to do anything except break out in
unexpected places. They had man
aged to get scattered all over James
town, and after being safely gathered
on the boat for Washington, half of
them had seen fit to get seasick, the
other half had taken advantage of tho
fact that the chaperones were busy
looking after the ailing, and had got
ten acquainted with everybody on the
/. boat that showed the least inclination
to talk.
Z The professor came hurriedly into
the parlor, folding the morning paper.
I'VE will soon have them where we
can keep an eye on them for at least
two hours Miss Weston. Did you
ever see such overlooking youth and
happiness?'' he looked at the chatter
ing group-then suddenly noticed his
companions woebegone counten-
ance. Anything wrong?" he asked
quickly.
Nothing, except I'm too-young,"
she said despondently.
He put on his glasses and gazed at
her quizzically.
I'm all my research among psychic
phenomena, it's absolutely the first
time L ever heard a woman having
such a thought"
Miss Weston tapped the floor with
| her tan shoe impatiently.
mot in years-1'm painfully near
lforty-perilously near-but that
makes it all the more ridiculous that
I want to act young-the enthusiasm
of those girls has depressed me, am
envious of them. I feel their rever-
ence and respect until it's oppressive.
It doesn't even cross their minds that
1 am not an old woman, and they show
me the exaggerated respect due
teacher and old age. think this
lovely morning has made me restless.
I want to go all over Washington, but
| I want to enjoy it as an individual
| and not have to take my pleasure
with fifty pairs of young eyes gazing at
me with a tomorrow-ye-die-fr
| old-age' expression.
The professor chuckled-
mis- Weston, I'm not going to ask
| by what process you reached the opin-
L
| duction or deduction-it's exactly the
hazy trouble that has been worrying
me. 1t seems like taking ones pleasure
! second hand, or by reflected light. Let's
lose them today and do the town by
| ourselves" he suggested in a tragic
whisper.
do we dare?'' Her voice was eager,
yet doubtful.
"Dare?" Scornfully. Am such an
old fossil because I'm forty-five and a
r oFr a
latent bit of heroism? We are going
TO play we are exactly twenty one years
old today, and to enjoy Washington
from that point of view. I'll go tell
Prof and Mrs. Bingham that they must
do all the chaperoning. That-oh yes!
I'll say-just say, mind you-that you
and I want to go to the Congressional
Library to-er-look UP matter of i'm
portance."
"Our lost YOUTH she suggested, snnil-
ing.
two chaperones-they will at least be so
high up in those automobiles that
there's no danger or street cars running
over them
Miss Weston started to her room
with a secret determination to put on
| her best white linen coat suit and give
a less chaperonish touch to her mar.
They'll not be run over by street
cars" she laughed, but I'm in mortal
terror that two or three of them will
come back enchanted with the mega
phone man.
the thought that they really were going
| to the library It was the only public
building that they had not seen In
previous trips to Washington.
| Where now?" he asked as they came
down the broad steps after a little chat
| in the library cafe, and stood on the
street corner.
"That car says Glen Echo'-it sounds
enticing' she suggested.
The professor was sure that, at tWen-
ty-one he would have felt sentimental
ly inclined toward a spot called Glen
Echo, and he boarded the car enthusi-
astically.
wen chase that echo he said boy
ishly.
aSlang. too?" she queried.
"a mere effervescence of youth" airi-
ly. you mustn't be surprised at any
thing do or say today, my dear laay-
what a holy terror 1 was at twenty
me. too" she began ungrammat-
ically-"turn your head this way
automobile with all the girls just pass
The professor quickly jerked down
| the shade.
horn with a soul for adventure-and as
for hairbreath escapes positively
dote on them,'' and Miss Weston
thought that the professor, at twenty
one his face animated by boyish
gr;n-rnust have been attractive.
II feel" he said as they entered the
Grounds at Glen Echo, 1.-The awakening
of a craving long dormant. That pea
nut stand is attractive, and the Ice
nraan soda is positively Irresistible"
He put a bag of peanuts in his coat
nocIxet for further consideration, and
thew drank the half warm soda, laugh
ing at each other over the tops of the
glasses.