The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-08-18
THE EVENING STORY
Natalie of the Ne,rhborhood Hons,
(By Cecily Allen.)

ny NEWLY <2llcu.J
Nedghborhood House was Natalie's
cnar1ty by inheritance. Her mother
had founded it and had met the de-
nciencies in its exchequer from time to
time. Natalie was not sentimental.
but her mothers pathetic anxiety
about Neighborhood House during her
last illness had touched the girl whose
life had been devoted to the pursuit of
pleasure.
Why Natalie should turn to the
Neighborhood House in her hour of
hurt pride. only Providence could ex-
plain. To her the working girls to-
ward whose comfort, education and
pleasure her checks had contributed,
might as well have been in Persia or
In vague sort Of way she thought
OF them as moles who came out of their
holes at night and blinkingly, even
DULY. enjoyed such pleasure as women
of her kind provided for them.
So when she came upon Maggie
Connolly, face downward in the pill
lows Of q cozy corner on that hot June
Saturday, when all the rest of the
Neighborhood girls had gone picnick-
Ing, she stood looking down upon the
fearful one with strange. brooding
eyes.
MY dear GIRL" she began with that
gentle air Of patronage which is the re-
fined cruelty of the rich toward the
sensitive souls among the poor. what
has happened? Have you hurt your
self? Have you lost your purse?"
Maggie was nothing IL not demo-
cratic. She did not ask Miss Natalie
Burgess who she was or what she was
doing there.
Tom Devery's gone to the beach
with that bleach blonde at the next
you!"
But you must know lots of other
young men who would be glad to take
you to the beach. 1 saw them hanging
on the cars like flies"
Maggie, who had wiped her eyes, now
turned her scornful gaze upon her
wOuld-be comforter.
Il don't want to go with those fell
lows. I want just Tom"
The sudden break in her voice, the
sudden gathering Of mist over her blue
eyes, brought revelation to the petted
daughter Of millions.
"I want just Tom.'
1t was like an echo from the night
before.
Not that she had put 1t into words
to herself that she wanted to see one
Thomas Witherspoon Brainard But
suddenly. like a flash of lightning
across a dark landscape, she saw the
panorama Of her own heart.
She wanted Tom. the other tall.
clean-cut Tom-and she had always
wanted him.
What came between you and
TOMB" she asked.
What came between US? What
comes between every girl like me and
what she wants-trouble! Working
overtime till I'm that ugly you can't
cross your fingers at me, and the two
children sick at home, and mother
taking all I earn-I know she can't
help that-and me so shabby in
IDIo l.
me to the beach, and Tom is that par
ticular. And Polly Maguire-she can
spend all her wages on herself She's
got new organdie that you can see
through to the pink silk slip. OH"
But If she's wearing that to the
beach she is dressed in very poor
TASTE" said Natalie severely. And a
man who will forget you because your
clothes are shabby is really not worth
fretting for
Maggie sat up very straight.
What do you know about wanting
every day in the year, and when he
comes you have an awful time think
ing which one he'd like best, cause
you've got SO many. But when you
haven't one good dress to your name,
and things go wrong at the factory
and we'll, I said few things and he
said some. and he threw me down"
For few moments, Natalie Bur-
| CESS sat quietly stroking the head Of
her newly acquired acquaintance, and
who had once more retired to the
questionable comfort of the cushions.
| Then very gently she said:
Don't cry any more, Maggie. I
guess being thrown down is something
most women have to bear sometime in
their lives. 1t was not a question of
dress with me-and I am quite sure
I had said nothing-we never had
| word-he just left town and never ev-
en- said good-by."
Maggie stared at her. speeches.
with wonder. Hen own troubles were
forgotten. Some man had thrown
down" this radiant creature in soft
gray silk and shimmery plumes!
I'VE are going to my house, Maggie,
and find a dress for you that will quite
outshine Polly's organdie. because it
will be much more appropriate, and
then we are going to the picnic and
you are going to mingle with the
Young people as II Tom Devery did not
| with you, as he surely will, you are go
| ing to meet him half way. Do you
understand"
Talk about Cinderella and the ball!
Her experiences were as nothing when
| compared to Maggie Connolly's trip
that afternoon. The wonderful rows
of clothes-presses which opened
when Miss Burgess maid touched a
button, the many linen frocks from
which it was hard to select just the
| trimmest one for Maggie, and then the
selection of shoes and hat and gloves,
for the two girls were nearly Of one
size.
And at last the spin to the beach in
Miss Burgess car, the routing of Pol
ly Mcguire and the recapture of Tom
LDevery! In her excitement. Maggie al
most forgot her benefactress.
But Natalie did not forget Maggie
and traced her through the Neighbour
hood House to her home.
Maggie's Tom had come back, and
Maggie loved the whole world! So
when Miss Burgess questioned her