The Topeka state journal., 1908-02-01
THE EVENING STORY
Caring a Fad.
(By w. E. Bryant

lBy w. E. Bryant
Being fanciful as well as fashionable,
Miss Hovsy was faddist. This to the
deep sorrow of Dick Fennister. who
barely had time to develop an interest
in one pursuit before Florence Hovey
was off at a new tangent.
Dick had just learned to handle the
abandon the illusive spinning reel in
order to spend his afternoons amid
dim lights anG odors OF incenss. while
a burly Buddhist proclaimed the tenets
OF fasting and modification of the nesh.
to the end that the sos1l might be en-
| abled to quit its earthly tenement and
soar through realms OF space.
And then came Battery. His advent
enabled Dick to resume an intimate
connection between soul and body and
also permitted him to take Florence to
| luncheon occasionally, until Batterly's 8
| artistic notions engulfed Miss Hovey
even more completely than the Hindu
religion had done.
Battery knew the value of what ac-
| tors call dressing the part" and there
was small danger that any one would
ever mistake him for other than what
he was. The black velvet coat, the
straight trimmed high hat and the
pes-top trousers above sharply point
| ed French shoes were all delightfully."-
suggestive of the Latin quarter. Flor
ence discarded shirtwaists and went In
for soft, clinging gowns designed by
Batterly. The phraseology Of the studio
| supplanted the words of affection which
| Dick Fennister had received despite the
| reigns of other fads.
| Things began to look serious, indeed.
| for Fennister, and none knew it better
selfishness. was the sort of man to
attract women, and Dick Fennister
| feared that if he sought to exercise his
rights as a fiance this would serve only
to mark the termination of their en-
gagement and precipitate F'lOrences 3
| serious interest in the artist.
Things went from bad to worse, and
there came the day when Dick called to
| take Florence for a walk, only to find
that she had gone with Battery. Later
| it developed that she had gone to his
studio to pose for her portrait and that
Mrs. Hovey had accompanied them as
| chaperon, but this did not tighten the
situation much.
cort his sitter to the studio, and with
mournful interest Dick watched the trio
pass the club window.
Then there came day when the light
of resolve flashed into his eye, and
with positive cheerfulness he turned
from the spectacle. Harry Fulton.
passing him in the hall, was scandal
| lied to surprise him performing a
dance indicative of solemn joy.
Your own idea?" he asked, when
Dick saw him and subsidized.
"a poor thing admitted Dick. but
my owni 1t is the outward indication
| of the joy that rises within me-
"Its all right them was the sarcas-
| tic resort. 1T seemed rather the out
ward indication of an inward colic.''
| He passed on and Dick headed for the
courtroom. Ten minutes later he quit
| ted the club.
| Mrs. Hovey rather enjoyed the after
noon recommends down the avenue.Bat-
terlys eccentricities, aided by real
| cleverness with the brush, had made him
something of a social lion and she was
proud to have him in leash. She en-
| loved the attention which the artist
attracted, but this afternoon there was
| q new expression on the faces Of those
| whom they met.
| In spite Of the occasional VERY
clever and How original which fell
! from the lips of passersby, there was q
| flash Of 1evity in the eyes of nearly all
Both Mrs. Hovey and Florence anxious
| ly, If secretly, felt various portions Of
| their dress to see if some disarrange-
ment of their toilets had aroused at
| tention.
| But several furtive touches assured
them that all was well and SO they
gave more attention to Batterly, who
reveled in this afternoon parade down
the fashionable thoroughfare with the
arfstocratic matron and her remarkably
handsome daughter at his side. He
| had scorned the suggestion Of car
riage, declaring that the walk cleared
his brain and enabled him to do his
| best work.
| This picture shall be my master
piece" he declared, 'if only am ablo
| to do Justice to the subject. See! Ev-
cry one stares at the beauty I am
| struggling to reproduce upon canvas.
1t shall make s,,anaI me ram6us NOUS. -.n,,na.o
Mrs. Hovey sYou will mako Florence
famous instead"
mo she is already that" replied the
artist. "It needs none to tel that she
is the observed Of all observers. To-
| day 1 notice 1t as never before"
| 'sDo you?-' asked Mrs. Hovey unsas-
lily. ..It does seem to me that we are
attracting unusual attention"
'It is the gown" seid Batterly. com
| placently. 1T is triumph. It is joy
to t@ See ones ideals SO f1ttingly realized"
He glanced with frank pride at the
somewhat conspicuous costume he had
designed for Florence, and which she
was wearing upon the street for the
and even the indirect aattery of curious
chances was as incense to his soul.
They had almost reached the side
street on which Batterly had his stu
rough and dilapidated exterior served
only to heighten the effect OF the lux
| urious furnishings within. Suddenly
Mrs. Hovey gasped and clutched the
artists arm.
| Were it not for the clutch and the
feel of bone and muscle beneath she
could have sworn that Battery was
advancing toward them With his
pompous, deliberate stride. Battery,
too saw the vision and stared.
/ ..It would seem double,'' he said.
| 'sTell me, do you see one who looks like
me?"
'.Two-three," said Mrs. Hovey In
gasps. while her eyes filled with fear
| ut cannot be q delusion, since We