The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-11-23
THE EVENING STORY.
The Country Mouse.
(By Temple Bailey.)

went to town to visit her cousin, Mary
Barnes.
Marys brother. Roger. met her at
the station.
MARY is planning no end of things
for you,' he told Felicia, when he had
settled her in the carriage. "She is
going to give luncheon and a tea
and a theater party, and a dance, and
half of her. friends are enlisted to
make you have good time. 1t will
be a lively existence for you, little
GIRL
"Oh." Felicia leaned forward. "I
shall love it. My greatest excitement
for a year has been church social, or
sleigh ride-and I am longing for
society"
MARY spells society with a big
81" Roger told her. "She is a slave
to it, and she needs a rest-she is as
thin as wafer and as pale as paper"
But think what a lovely time she
has" Felicia said, all pink and white
with enthusiasm.
"Humph.'' Roger said, you don't
know when you are well off. little
Felicia"
But Felicia fell on Mary's neck
when she reached the great stone
mansion.
81 can stay two weeks" she said,
"the school board gave me a vacation,
and am going to have the time of
my life"
1LQeeQ you are, mary SAID, ana
carried her away to a delectable bed
room, where rose leaves drifted across
the wall paper.
''I'n get into my kimono and then
we can talk" Felicia said, joyously, as
she opened her little black bag But
Mary shook her head obviously
''The girls are coming for luncheon in
just half hour. There are ten of
them and the table decorations are to
be in pale pink-because that is your
favorite COLOR
What shall I wear?" Felicia asked,
81 have gray gown and a white one
and the white one is for evening"
''The gray will be all right-with a
and liIies-of-the-va1ley. The florists
are doing them that way, now, and
Roger can get you some.''
Roger got the flowers. but the gray
gown was not gorgeous, and besides
Mary's shimmering creation, Felicia
felt depressingly shabby.
But the luncheon was exquisite and
the girls were friendly, and Felicia did |
not have much time to think of her
self, for there was a tea on irnrnedf-
ately after, and she was carried off by
Mary and Roger, wearing a long and
splendid wrap of Mary's for her own
simple, taflormade Jacket was out of
the question.
mo one will notice that it is mine"
Mary assured her, 'in the crush" so |
Felicia feeling very elegant, swept |
the crowded rooms, and talk |
ed as fast as she could to dozens of |
people, and came out, GREATNESS.
wasn't 1t awful?" Roger asked her. /
'I shouldn't have gone a step If 1t |
hadn't been for you.''
TT was delightful." Felicia gurgled,
"the pretty women, the lights the |
music, the ices-and everything"
'Humph," Roger grumbled, and Fe- |
licia made a little face at him, and |
said: You're an unsociable bear Rog-
Roger
waste of good material for you to spend |
your time with such neople, when you
might be talking to me, Felicia"
Felicia ooened her eyes wide at that. !
do you like to talk to me, Roger?" |
she questioned, and Roger laughed and |
said, Yes, but you don't deserve it,"
and Felicia, feeling very much f1atter- |
ed, leaned back in the carriage and |
Mary mapped out the programme for |
the next day.
1--WE will go to the hairdresser's ear
ly-Roger don't you think Felicia will |
look dear with her hair marcelled?"
ct think Felicia looks dear with her |
hair any way"
"O-ooh,'' murmured Felicia from her
corner.
Mary laughed and went on.
There are the Deering luncheon, and |
three teas, and the art exhibit, and
the Colburn's dinner, and box party
after, and then the cotillion."
ooh STOP" Felicia pleaded looking
at her cousin with startled eyes do
you expect me to do all that in one
day, Nary"
'sShe does" Roger asserted, survey
ing his country cousin with melan-
choly eyes, land where. oh, where, in
all that programme will you have
minute to spend with me-
ST am not worrying about that" Fee
going to wear, Mary? What am
going to wear?
There's your white dress" Mary
laid, slowly.
a luncheon and three teas and a thea
ter party and a dance-what are you
going to wear, Mary?"
.'My pale blue broadc1oth will do for
the luncheon and the tea and the view.
Then 1 shall wear white lace to the
dinner and the rest of the evening"
when in alf-that rush, will you find
time to changer" was Rogers ques-
Mary leaned back in the corner of
he carriage. She was very pale, and
here were dark circles around her /
ayes.
ooh, don't know, I don't know"
She said, Sometimes I feel as if were
on treadmill and no one would let
ne stop. Il
Felicia looked at her with startled
why, thought you liked it." she
yasped.
Mary Strengthened up at lnal. /
"Oh when I get into It," she said.
.rying to speak lightly, 'it's not so bad.
But I have felt the strain this winter
awfulIy."
Between rushes that night, Roger
caught Felicia for a moment alone in
he library. MARY is dreadfully blue
ne told her "She broke her engage
nent with Bob Carruth in the summer, |
md she hasn't seen him since And
She misses him."
what did she break it for7s Fee
icia asked
HE wanted her to go south with him