The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-07-07
THE EVENING STORY
Mans Experiment.
(By Cecily Allen.l


tenn are rotten to the core!" announc-
ed Nan. leaning forward in the great
wicker chair to watch the progress of
the little Italian across the velvety
lawn.
Her brother Bob sank even moro
deeply in his own cushioned chair and
tstudied the smoke curling upward
from the tip of his very good cigar.
II told Uncle Henry this would be
the inevitable result of sending you
to western coed college. The social
system here is quite good enough for
me-"
| Mans broad forehead was puckered
in thoughtful frown.
Now take that young italian fore
man of yours, for instance! What
puts him in a different class from
you? The fact that his father had not
enough money to feed his big family
and your father had too much money
for the good of his two children"
| Really" remarked Bob with eyes
dancing. ST never noticed any COM
plants from you about superfiuity of
cash."
| Give that man a Fifth avenue tall
or. valet and a motor car and he
would pass muster in our set, should
er to shoulder with you"
| II don't know about that" pursued
Bob. HE might eat with his knife"
mot after he had been told it was
\ wrong" said Nan with conviction.
| Suppose he were wearing corduroys
| for shooting instead of digging exca-
vations. Suppose he wore shirt sleeves
| on tennis court or the links instead
of in your employ. He would be a
gentleman. one of your equals. He
would look not a whit different from
what he does today, but we would ac-
cept him socially. where today we re-
gard him as our inferior
Bob cast amused glances at cor
ner in the porch roof where two birds
| were busily building a nest among the
| vines. And this Is the modern wo-
mantle effect of the higher educa-
| tion," he murmured.
| 1t might have been the birds, COO
| ing and contented. or it might have
1 just been the love of mischief which
some men never outgrow. even when,
like Robert Darnton. they can count
iron-gray hairs by the score above
| each temple. At any rate he sat up
very suddenly and determinedly and
regarded his sister quite seriously.
| Have you the courage of your con-
victions? Are you willing to put your
| theory to the test? Will you let me
invite my foreman here as an equal,
provided, of course, that I secure the
| stipulated Fifth avenue tailoring, the
| man and the MOTOR"
| Good gracious, Bob, you move to
suddenly" suggested Nan.
| mo time like the present, and 1 in
4 ci WI
| cial system should prove its rotten
ness when she has the opportunity. I
Will invite my foreman here as
| guest. will agree that he is properly
coached for his part lit would not be
| fair to turn him loose on our unsus-
pecting guests without some training)
and then 1 will wager you a diamond
| sunburst against crocheted tie that
you ask me to put him out of the
| house before the week is up
| Mans glance travelled once more
| across the expanse of green lawn. The
| 1.-the figure of the Italian was just dis
| appearing behind a clump of shrub
berry. Well, in appearance at least, he
could do the house of Darnton no dis
| credit. Anyhow, why should a girl
| who was planning settlement work for
| the fall shrink at the thought of hav-
| ing one ease" in her home for a few
days? She would have to live among
them-in the fall!
|
| lovely, changeable expression with ap-
preciative eyes.
| LET him comet! she answered
| with assumed nonchalance, and there
was no denying it-something of
pleasure that she was to meet again
brown eyes. Standing on the lower
step Of the porch, he had looked
veritable young god. "Only you are
not to tell him that the idea, the
theory. is mime
| So did Vincenzo Pantozi join the in
| nermost circle of the social set graced
\ by the Darntons. Came also a rakish
yellow racer of foreign make. man
| versed in all the mysteries of the tall
| oring world, and a wardrobe which
was a credit at least to Bob Darnton's
generosity.
1 On one point Vincenzo stood firm.
! He must be permitted to leave the
house every morning in time to Join
| his workmen who were building the
| marvellous Italian garden at the lower
end Of the estate. If the fair chate-
laine often shared his early breakfast
her zeal as a sociological student was
| to her command.
Barring a few times when Vincenzo
gripped the wrong table utensil in his
nervousness or dropped his spoon or
fork, he did very we'll at table and
there was no need of dread on the
part of his hostess when the elaborate
weekend dinner was scheduled.
TT is marvellous what initiative Great
ures we all are" she observed mentally,
one morning. She had ordered the early
breakfast served on the side porch and
the scent of honeysuckle was all over.
And then vincenzo. looking up. caught
something-he did not know Just what
in her calm gray eyes, and promptly
proceeded to upset a squat pitcher OF
cream.
Every night Vincenzo came in from the
embryonic Italian gardens to be shaved
and dressed nv the stOlid EngiiSlman pro-
vided by his host.
If there were no guests for the evening
Bob went a-calling on his neighbOrs and
the fair chatelaine found herself spinning
in the moonlight beside the pseudo owner
of the rakish yellow car, who was taking
takes to water.