The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-07
THE EVENING STORY
An Earnest Triher.
(By Constance D'Arcy Macka

S. uinner table cast a glow
ACROSS the pale oval of Miss Grayson's
race From under her dark. delicately
arcned DroWs her hazel eyes looked
ness.
The last time we met" he went
on. was at the Van Nestor's tennis
tournament on the 18th of September
MISS Grayson laughed.
what a memory for dates 1 sup
conversation %
Every word. Do you remember
calling me trif1er?"
Did I: Well. 1 recollect your tell
ing me that I was an erratic. head
strong young woman. That was two
months ago, and / don't think either
of us have changed much since"
accept the rebuke," said Ridgely,
meekly.
Isn't it a pity to waste such good
material! Instead of a leader of cotiI-
lions you might be leader of men,
And isn't it a pity to hide yourself
from your friends and stay in that set
tlement, toiling and Shaving %
And enjoying it more than any
thing I've ever done before" supple,
mented Miss Grayson, warmly.
That's all very well. but how am I
ever to catch a glimpse of you? 1 was
just beginning to know you last sum-
mer, and now your time is taken up
morning, noon and night, and you
moment to give me. And
you'll end" he predicted savagely, "by
falling in love with one of the work
ers down there-unless you're already
interested in some one else"
Such frankness merits frankness in
return. I am deeply interested in
some one. But your first surmise was
unknown. I've never even seen him.
Never mind growled Ridgely.
he'll avow himself soon enough when
he's found you've begun to care
We'll, then, he'll have to change his
present tactics" answered Miss Gray
son, lightly. do you know, it's the
most mysterious thing! Each week
through the mail I've been receiving
an envelope filled with paper money.
Inclosed is printed note which says,
IT,"
Strange" murmured Ridge1y.
YES, and there's more
''More?"
'I mean each day there's a bunch of
violets. too. and the same initial on the
card"
The deuce!" said Ridgely. "well.
and what then?''
The flowers continue to come, and the
money continues to come, and though
have no clew as to who E. T. is, I
continue to accept BOTH
How do you know he's a MANI"
What woman would be $3.50 sys-
True. And do you wear the flowers
he sends?"
Sometimes"
Lucky dog! He's to be envied!"
That's SO like you, Mr.. Ridgely. to
think of the flowers first, and forget all
about the money that has made 1t
possible for me to carry out one of my
pet schemes. This week Miss Elliston
and I have rented and renovated a 1
IL Pearl street, and
we're going to live there and run it to i
suit ourselves ara
"Alone?''
why. of course!"
3 ''Well. to say it's madness is made
luate! In that quarter of the city-reg
llar slums! If you had parents"
Il shouldn't be doing it? Probably
not AS 1t is, my friends have expos
Lulated in vain, for am quite capable
Of taking care of myself. And / see
no reason why I shouldn't make ex-
periments, and, do as I please. Be
gether alone. We have a very compe-
tent German servant, Grethen. And
I'm sure the man who sends the money
would be delighted to see to what use
we've put it. We have only been in
the house week, and have an inmate
a piteous case, a little
italian girl whose stepfather, Grinaldo,
forced her to work in a cigar factory, |
though she was so i'll she could scarce
" stand Grinaldo used to beat her If |
Ter earnings didn't please him. If you
could have seen her poor armS-SO |
wasted and pinched black and blue! OF |
course it was a case for the societies, |
out didn't wait for them to interfere. |
took her in myself. / wanted to see |
hose olive cheeks of hers grow round |
ID out and rosy, and those scrawny |
brown hands-do you know, she looks |
is if she'd gained pounds already. Her
yes are beginning to lose their haggard |
ook, and she doesn't duck her head |
Is If she expected a blow.
"And her stepfather?"
"Grinaldo? Oh, he's disappeared We
won't have any more trouble with him,
fancy. There! I've bored you with
alking about myself, but it's going to
md for I am taking the privilege of ex-
,using myself and leaving early. Mrs.
Courtney is a lenient hostess!''
You'll let me put you into your cab?"
laid Ridgely.
"I would if I expected to take one,
out I'm going back to Pearl street via
he friendly street car. 1t drops me
within three blocks of the door,
Three blocksl Oh, say, Miss Gray
on won't you let me-
Thank you, no. I shall be perfectly
Iafe. I've come and gone at my own
rec will for the last week. The people
iown there are too busy ninding their
,wn affairs to interfere with mine"
A few moments later, swathed in
ong dark coat that fitted closely and
lid the folds of her dinner gown, Miss
irayson hailed a crosstown car. 1t
vas a cloudy evening that threatened
ain, and before she reached her des-
nation the storm broke wildly, the
,reat drops falling in gusts against the
ar windows. The corner at which Miss
sreyson alighted was utterly deserted.
Pale CLEANS from half-opened tenement
hutters. and the dim, murSy yellow of
he street lamps were reflected in the
dreaming cutters, and the sidewalks
afY1fa t1Irp n00lc Miss CHr2V90n smashed |
,riskly ahead, looking neither to the
light nor to the left. till she neared her
Iwn abode and turned her head to
dance in the windows. The partition of
What had once been a narrow hall had
,een removed, and the whole was turn |