The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-10-09
THE EVENING STORY
The One Condition.
(By Martha Cobb Sanford.)

AOl lnfG-GlSnly- SAC CAANo Gil
Enthusiastically. "Its the opportunity |
of a lifetime"
ANY bargains in lace waists? Nell
asked irreleyantly.
Beth laid down the paper IN dis
gust.
she said sternly, land not for the bet
ter. You used to be crazy over fixing
up this little fiat. Now all you think
of is ciothes-and you know we
agreed that clothes shouldn't count
until we got everything we wanted In
the way of household furnishings.
But there's no end to it, Beth"
Nell pleaded. 1.-THE fiat l ooks well
enough. In fact, it's beginning to look
better than we do. it's time we De-
gan to live up to our surroundings:
81 suppose you mean Dick
Wheeler" Beth interrupted, II no
tice he constitutes your surroundings
most OF the time"
Nell ignored the innuendo.
Everything I possess is oid-fash-
Toned and unbecoming." she con-
tinued. i've been awfully patient.
Beth, really have. just love pretty
clothes and I'm going to have some, If
we never have a morris chair. so
there.1f
AS Nell. grew excited, Beth became
calmer.
Considering what close friends we
are, Neil.' she said, quietly, II think
you might tell me the truth"
Whereupon Nell, breaking into
tears, confessed her engagement
st wasn't that / didn't want you
to know" she sobbed, but ! couldn't
Beth ~ sst
Beth pulled herself together
heroically.
1T isn't going to be broken up"
she said. with, determination. "Of
COURSE it won't be the same without
you, Nell, but if you've got courage
enough to commit matrimony after
all we've said against it, why then I
guess I've got courage enough to
carry out my convictions alone. Was
1t lace waists you asked the price off,
This being the way Beth took the
news, 1t was characteristic that she
pursued her original intention of
visiting the furniture sale during
her Monday noon hour.
She had just settled down with an
air of relaxation in a aforementioned
morris chair. sale price $685." when
she was rudely startled out Of it.
This is the only one We have with
green cushions, sir" a salesman de-
clared pompously to some one on his
right, bringing his hand down by way
of emphasis upon the crown OF Beth's
hat
Apologies. greetings and explana-
tons followed, during which the Of
u.
1t was obvious that three made no
| party to this chance meeting.
will business keep you in the city
1 long? inquired Beth. The question in
dicated more courtesy than interest.
/ Gilbert Taylor's eyes twinkled.
at has kept me two years so far"
| he answered soberly.
IT hadn't heard" Beth said rather
coldly. SO.
g And you7'' he asked. There was
no doubt but that hiseAnterest was
genuine.
"Ah, I'm an established household
! err" Beth informed him with no little
show of pride. "A business chum and
| have a little FIAT together. That ex-
plains my monopoly of this morris
chair. We need one or rather, we
want one. But I've Just about decided
to wait until can afford leather cush-
ions. They're so much more aristo-
cratic. don't you think so?"
Gilbert agreed.
! But I'm awfully interested in this
housekeeping experiment of yours.
! Elizabeth" he said earnestly I'm.
thinking of trying something of the
sort myself. You can give me a lot of
| pointers. Take lunch with me, won't
you?"
Elizabeth hesitated. She saw COM
| plications ahead. Nevertheless. be-
cause there was no time to analyZe
possible consequences, she accepted,
1.-THE lace waists" she explained to
| Nell that night, were such wonderful
bargains that got two of them.''
'Twoi" exclaimed Nell. What on
earth did you think I wanted with two
| of them?"
zone is for myself" Beth enlighten-
ed her.
Nell looked such volumes of astonish-
ment that Beth felt obliged to make
further explanation.
I iob
| looked common she said. loftily. ~
shan't get one till l can afford leather
cushions. And, anyway, I've been
| thinking about what you said yester-
/ day-about the flats looking better
than we do. There's some truth in it."
Nell could hardly believe her ears
Beth, who took life so seriously and
spelled Career with a capital letter,
yielding to the temptations of person al
vanity. There must be some compell-
ing reason for it.
Beth's next remark supplied it.
81 think I'll put my waist on tonight.
Nell, II you'll help me. Gilbert Taylor's
coming to CALL
Not the man you refused on account
of your Career?" gasped Nell.
did I ever mention refusing any one
else?"" Beth retorted. bit impatiently.
It's as coy as it can be-" Gilbert ex-
claimed, looking around the artistic
living room. And it's $3.50 home
like" He hesitated for the proper word
to express his feeling. But / can sea
where a leather-cushioned morris chair
would be the browning touch" he
added, laughingly. only what will you
do with it, Beth. without a man in the
family?"
Beth flashed a look Of defiance at
him. 1t reminded Gilbert of the old
days when she had held out SO persist
emily that she had as much right as he
to an independent life OF her own ano
meant to claim it.
Il suppose you have a notion" she
answered him with a fine show of su
periority, that morris chairs, like all
other creature comforts, were invented
for masculine monopoly"
4 1.-The average man is a selfish beast"