The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-25
THE EVENING STORY
Lisbeth's Lesson.
(By Lester Rose,

-.SSieu uer ungerS, Dent and al
most distorted by constant work with
Tue needle. The sharp-eyed forewo-
| man hurried toward her.
| SO you have it done at ?" she
asked. I was beginning to think that
you never would get it done.'
hurried all l could said Lisbeth
patiently. There is an awful lot of
stitches in that dress, Miss Brady,,
All the more need for working
| quickly snapped the forewoman.
MRS. Cryder has telephned three
| times since O'clock
| AS she spoke she was RAPIDLY ex-
amining the work, but even her critical
| glance could discover no defect. and
with last deft touch she shook out
the neavy folds and prepared it for
packing, while Lisbeth hurried off to
the little cupboard, by courtesy term
ed a dresslngroom. and exchanged her
working clothes for the neat street
dress.
Iommy Ransom was coming to take
ner to dance and she must have
time to primp before she could make
ner one well-worn party dress pre-
seneaple: She had reached the door
when Miss Brady's shrill voice arrest
| ed her steps.
You'll have to take this home" she
1 deciared. Il told Sally to wait for it.
put mere she's gone. I suppose she'll
that she never heard me. That girl is
| the daughter of Ananias.,,
MISS Brady extracted the pencil that
was stuck through her back hair and
| wrote an address on the box; then she
searched her pocketbook for a dime.
something in Lisbeth's face caught her
attention.
Tn sorry if you're going out this
evening"" she said more kindly. "But
you know what Mrs. Cryder is, and if
l sent it up by messenger boy he'd
stop TO play craps or something. Were
you going out?''
Lisbeth nodded. IA friends going
to take me to Dance" she explained
simply. Il guess I'll be In time,
though" she added hopefully.
Miss Brady caught up a bow of rib
to the girl.
Pin that in your hair when you
DRESS" She said kindly. It'll look fine
against your black hair. Perhaps your
oeau'H pop when he sees how fine you
are
1T won't do no good" commended
Lisbeth. He did pop. I don't want
to marry man who can't make a
nome Tor me. I'd have to keep on
working If I marry Tommy
There's worse things than work, +"
reminded Miss Brady as she helped
Lisbeth through the door with the box.
Inc cars were crowded with home
goers as Lisbeth came out up the
had lightened the gloom upon her
usually pretty face, and as she chung
to strap and sought to protect the
precious box from injury she gave
rein to her imagination.
Mrs. Cryder, for whom the dress was
intended, was one of Mile Celeste's
best customers. Lisbeth knew her well
"a proud, pale lady, whose dresses
were the envy of the entire shop. The
slris sedrched the society columns Of
the papers for reports of parties at
Whlch she was q guest and took a
half personal pride In the descriptions
OF her elaborate costumes.
y was MRS. Cryder who had given
Lispeth her dislike for the life she led.
The girl had once helped Miss Brady
with lifting and Mrs. Cryder hao
pegulled the time in chat with a friend
VINO accompanied her, ignoring the
two women who were working on the
gown.
Lisbeth had gone back to the work.
room with new ideas in her foolish
little head. Mrs. Cryder had bewailed
the rate In store for friend who had
married man with only $4,000
Iommy with his So day had sudden
ly become an undesirable sutton
ilsoeth gave rein to her fancy now
as the car sped uptown. She wished
that she might be like Mrs. Cryder.
There would be no dress to deliver
when she wanted to go to ball, and
she could go to balls every night in
the week If she so desired and to the
| opeIdS ana QlnnerS.
The dinners in particular anneaIed 70
ner. Her stomach was crying aloud
the fact that two slices of bread and
butter and a thin wedge Of cake was
scarcely satisfying luncheon prepara-
ion Tor delayed dinner. Hunger
added to Lisbeth's gloom.
Her dissatisfaction with her lot in
creased as she entered the Cryder
) nome and was escorted to the lady
apartments. The hurried maid re-
| 6A
packed the dress. It lay on the bed
simmer of pale green and silver as
Mrs. Cryder entered.
Her face was wan and white save
where red mark crossed one cheek.
The grande dame was lost in the wo-
, | man and Marie had to help her mis-
. tress to chair and battle her face
| with cologne, while Lisbeth finished
| the unpacking.
''Was there an accident?" whispered
Lisbeth as Mrs. Cryder tottered into
the dressing room, and Marie came to-
ward the dress again.
can accident of marriage" explain
ed Marie with a shrug of her fragile
: shoulders that bespoke her beloved
Paris. ut is evident that monsieur is
drunk again. All. well! Madame
married for the money. With it she
has to take monsieur, for unfortunate
ly, he can not drink himself to death,
though he tries hard, poor man.
II suppose that she will not need
the dress after ALL suggested Lisbeth
as she smoothed out the shimmery
folds.
But yes" insisted Marie. well or
i'll one must be seen at the ball or else
one is not fashionable. Poor madame.
Truly she works more hard than you
or I, who have not appearances to
keep up. The dress is charming,
madamoiselle, it will not be that you
need watt
With a nod she dismissed Lisbeth,
who hurried down the stairway. The
downtown cars were less crowded and
Lisbeth found a seat. With her hands
tucked into her pockets, the right
cIutching the dainty bow Miss Brady
!. had given her, Lisbeth again was lost