The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-12-16
The EVENING STORY
Settlement in Fun.
by Lulu johnston


by Lulu Johnston.l
Dick Staley. perched on furniture
crate, looked disconsolately at Billy
Blaine, who was regarding the wall
paper and trying hard not to laugh.
in spite of Blaine's efforts, the witch
ing corners Of his mouth curved up
ward, and as he met Staleys eye he ex-
ploded in roar of laughter which
served only to deepen Staley's gloom.
Laugh, confound your growled Sta
ley. It's funny to you! It's not so
funny to me. I've got to get this place
settled in five days, and upon my soul
don't know what to do first"
The first step is easy" chuckled
Blaine. Get man in to scrape the
walls. The paper is the worst / ever
saw
''It looked all right in the book" said
Staley defensively. "It was the pref
test thing in the whole book of sam
pIes.''
1T may be all right in a sample %
admitted Blaine. with another glance
at the lowered monstrosity, but there
is only one square yard of the sam
pie. 1t looks different, Dick, when you
have roomful Of it,
II know it, admitted Staley, but
that doesn't help matters. 1t only
serves to make them worse. 1 wanted
to surprise the matter by bringing her
to her own home instead of taking her
to a hotel. She hates to give up her
old home and I wanted to make the
change as easy as possible"
The smile died from Blaine's face at
the allusion to Mrs. Staley. He was
Dicks chum and he knew how tenderly
Dick loved the gentle-faced woman
who, within the month, had lost both
husband and daughter. Now she was
coming to live with Dick, and for weeks
he had planned to take an apartment
that she might not feel too keenly the
loss of the home that had been hers
since marriage.
''rll tell you what Wen do. Dick"
for some lunch. I'll phone Nell for one
of those professional fixers for you. She
knows crackerjack; a girl who used
to move in good society and whose
what's what and how to do it, and Nell
will get her to do it for YOU
Dick patted his chum on the back
while his eyes glistened. Nell Blaine
was the most accomplished matron of
his acquaintance. She would extricate
him from his trouble. Together they
left the apartment. and while Staley
ordered lunch, Billy Blaine hung over
the telephone in the restaurant.
She'll bring her over tonight at
eight reported Billy, as he took his
seat. Eat with a good appetite and
consider yourself settled already"
Billy's words restored confidence, and
when Dick Staley met Marion Wad-
leigh that evening his last doubt van
ished. The girl did not laugh at his
bIunders, nor even at the wall paper.
She listened with sympathy and took
from her chatelaine the tablets on
which to make notes of what she want
ed. With increasing admiration Staley
her through the various rooms.
noting the quick, businesslike way in
which she condoned his errors and ap-
proved his successes.
81 can do it over in four days" she
said brisk1y, when she had shut up her
book and returned to the
parlor where Nell Blaine, Bi1ly's sister
in-law, still sat in rapt admiration of
the garish wall paper. Suppose, Mr..
StaIey, that you drop in here Friday
afternoon. Then you can suggest any
last changes you wish made, and the
place will be ready for your mother
Saturday evening. Shall I get you a
also?"
Can you?" Staley had heard of the
problem and he had worried
greatly. This businesslike girl offered
even to take that trouble off his hands.
He was rapidly coming to regard Mar
on Wadleigh as a tailor-made angel. |
He dropped in the next morning on
ais way to the office and found a paper |
hanging crew already installed, re-
moving the paper that had proved so
Disappointing. Marion was there in |
Bingham apron even more becoming |
han the cloth costume of the night be- |
ore, and DICKS heart beat faster In L
answer to her greeting.
There was something "homey" in her |
appearance that appealed strongly to |
he man who for years had enjoyed but |
In occasional glimpse of home in va
,ation time. The soft dark hair was |
vas flushed with exertion, but the
heightened color only added to her
beauty and the cap did not shadow the
ender light in the brown eyes.
III L
n a whirl. Ever since he had come to
he city he had sunk himself in work. /
Fortune had come his way rapidly and
Ip to the present he had found work
IL sufficient Now he began to real
re that the years had been lonely.
Marion was not at the house when he
ropped in the following morning, nor
i'd he see her again until Friday af-
ernoon, when he went to make his final
Inspection of her work.
Dick gasped as he entered the apart
nent. In place of the gaudy paper the
walls were now covered with quiet
ones and the Powered carpets had been
for rugs whose soft tints
arm onized with the new paper. In
tead of the solid office-like furniture
vere lighter and more tasteful pieces,
nd the whole apartment suggested q
eminine presence. ----
Best of all, Marion wadleigh was |
here. The print dress had been ex-
hanged for an afternoon costume, and I
Immediately Dick decided that after all |
print dress was not the most becom- ,
lg costume which Marion could wear,
aough that had been his impression :
nce he had seen her last.
Quietly she moved about the place, :
living an account of her expenditures,
nd Dick followed, hearing only the
ch voice, full tones, without caring
hat she said. At last the tour of the 8
ooms was ended and she returned to
he parlor.