The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-25
THE EVENING STORY
Mary Weaves a Tangled web
(By Helena Smith DAYTON. }

You see. it happened to be my
house!
Good night. Mr.. Dwyer." Her foot
tapped the lower step nervously.
But, Miss Hazleton," 1 protested,
ALLOW me to see you quite to your own
door,
Here L ami waving her muff airily
| toward my house. 1 almost gasped.
isn't there some mistaken" 1 VEN
tured.
Did you imagine lived in a tree,
like Peter Pan? She laughed, doubt
less thinking 1 was awed at the SPLEEN
dor of her abode.
This gave me an idea. Perhaps the
poor child had humble quarters and in
her pride sought to play ruse. Rather
| 1ronical that she should select my
house!
My acquaintance with Mary Halle
ton had consisted of many encounters
| at my cousin Bellies studio. A couple
of Philistines, we often chatted in
Bellies coy corner, drank Bellies tea
and amused ourselves watching Bellies
guests-all alleged celebrities. Indeed,
we talked of everything but Miss Haz-
| Teton. Nor did Belle seem to know
much about the girl, which was not
| strange, for Belle often took up an at
| tractive girl, made her welcome at the
studio and pressed her into service as
a model. Belle, like all extraVagant
persons, has her own ideas on econ
omy
| On this particular evening 1 had
CHANGED upon Miss Hazleton hurrying
through the streets, and had taken it
upon myself to see that she arrived at
her destination in safety. After walk
| ing blocks, often retracing ground, I
was naturally puzzled when she
stopped before my own door and cool
! ly informed me she was home"
had hoped some time to offer 1t to her.
Good night, Mr.. Dwyer. and thanks
for coming so far out of your way"
she said again.
May 1 not see the princess enter
| in safety" 1 asked, thinking this
would bring her into a very small COR
ner indeed.
You are too solicitous, Mr.. Dwyer,'
| she said sweetly. II think 1 will sit on
| the porch few moments-alone-"
Il, too, like to sit on porches," hint
ed.
Come up then" she invited prompt
ly. But you mustn't disturb my"
The sentence trailed off.
I was charmed with her daring. 1
wanted to tell her one might shout
| without fear of disturbing old Martha,
| who was doing" for me until mother
and the servants returned.
sat down on the top step. Listening
| to her clever chatter, 1 advanced theory
after theory to myself to explain her
motives. Even when a possible plot
against the silver spoons suggested
itself, I couldn't judge her harshly. A
lady burglari Well, we've had some
mighty pleasing ones lately-in books
and on the stage. 1 was on the point of
| offering myself as a confederate against
| my own silver when she once more said:
you really must go now, Mr.. Dwyer.''
May 1 come AGAIN." 1 queried.
I'll see you at Bellies" she eluded.
Belle sails for Europe Wednesday"
I reminded.
| Mary looked disnayed.
| 80 1 may come up here instead for
| our usual chat on the arts?''
'No-no-now she cried.
do 1 infer that you wish to drop the
acquaintance-when Belle sails?" per-
sisted.
'.No-oh-nop' w vIoir
Then 1 shall hope to find you here
tomorrow. Much more romantic than
sending in ones card and all that sort
of thing" I explained lamely.
IT love unconventional things"
agreed Mary, suddenly enthusiastic.
1 walked briskly down the street,
stopped at the first shadow, and looked
back. Mary came down the steps and
walked away in the opposite direction.
1 followed at a safe distance, and then
my calculations were upset by seeing
her turn in at the residence of the great
Lombard brothers: She disappeared
very neatly through a basement win
dow All the way home I whistled
Mary Was Housemaid." Next morn
ing I learned the Lombard house had
been robbed.
That evening when joined Mary on
the porch she was confident to the point
of arrogance, perfectly at her ease, and
played the role of hostess with great
aplomb. From my vantage point, how
pathetic seemed all the little airs and
graces she assumed Perhaps the poor
child didn't even have a home! In spite
of almost positive proof, could not be-
lieve her thief Surely there was some
mistake.
My speculations were brought to an
abrupt ending A carriage had whfrled
up. My mother alighted and came
rapidly up the walk. Mary arose, a
little gasp of CONSERVATION escaping
her Her little plot had indeed caught
her in a tangled web. Fearing she
might run away and / should never
see her again, put my hand firmly on
her arm and whispered to leave it all
to me-that I knew everything.
I greeted my mother, and then
placed Mary's hand within hers.
my dear boyl" cried my mother,
and in an instant she took Mary in her
arms. What happened in the next
fifteen minutes have no idea. Moth
ease and delighted. 1t had long been
her wish that I marry, and she had. of
course fallen in love with, Mary at
first sight, accepting my choice with
out question. Finally I got Mary safe
" into a cab. Then she turned to me
with dancing eyes.
ITO think L stole your piazza!" she
eicgIed az never dreamed Mrs.
Brooks was your mother. OF course 1
knew she was away.
was silent. A repenrant, fearful
attitude would have been more in
keeping with the circumstances than
such fiippancy.
TT hope you are not angry,
came muff1ed little voice. "And II
appreciate what you did to save me
from a humiliating position. Please
give me credit for understanding why
you gave your mother the idea that
we"
but we are engaged" 1 interrupt
ed ct was never more serious about