The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-06-30
THE EVENING STORY

(By Lulu Johnson.)

| III eau lpS way through the alSleS OF
the museums would have imagined
that the serious faced young woman
who acted as guide was the rich Miss
Moultaire. Indeed. judging from the
brilliancy OF appearance. the other
girls looked far more the social star
than did the lady of millions in her
severely tailored dress and quiet hat.
To Brookdeld,~ wandering among
the antiques on the lower floor. Irma
Moultafre looked q teacher conduct
ing her fashionable charges on one OF
their prescribed educational tours. To
him the f1nery of the girls was real:
| and the costly. tailored gown of their
self-appointed guide. simple and I'M
pretentious garment.
He could not realize that the elegant
perfection of cut and cloth was the
envy OF every girl in the settlement
class. The girls would have laughed
aloud in their glee could they have
read in Brookfeld's thoughts the pity
that he felt for their beloved leader.
This was the regular Saturday out
ing of the Settlement club. and Irma
took great delight in plotting the girls
| to the museums and galleries. where
she hoped real works of art in time
| would give them a truer sense OF
| artistic values.
| Every week she planned something
for the girls, winding up with a little
1
| the luncheon, the girls endured the
art lectures, so both they and Irma
were happy.
They paused before a case contain
ing an Aztec collection. The labels
| were on the opposite side Of the case,
| where Brookfield-who did not re-
quire labels-was standing. Antique
| ties were not Irma Moultaire's forte.
and when she innocently ascribed the
collection to the Egyptian section,
1 Prank6aIS INT x-ifh =
ton.
Miss Moultaire, seeing that enthu-
siasm and not a desire to open
| filtration with her charges was his
motive, courteously acknowledged the
correction. and Brookfleld. mounting
his hobby, rode 1t hard and fast.
He had the trick of interesting his
| hearers, and Miss Moultafre. finding
that the girls really were absorbed in
his little lecture. thankfully retreated
into the background.
She, too. found the chat interest
ing, and was very sorry when the
| last case was reached and they found
themselves at the foot of the stair
way leading to the art galleries.
| Here is where I shall prove use
less he said to Irma with a smile. II
| thank you very much for letting me
run on as you have. 1 love the col
lection. I was one Of the exploration
party that dug it up"
I'VE should-and do-thank YOU"
disclaimed Irma. ct am sorry that
time. I should be glad to hear the
rest"
why not?" he suggested. 1T am
here almost every afternoon"
Irma shook her head. smilingly, as
the little party went up the stairs.
leaving Brookfeld looking after
them; but couple of weeks later
she found herself in the vicinity Of
| the museum and with a little spare
time on her hands in the intervals of
her social duties.
! Brookfield was leaning over one OF
the cases which an attendant had
| opened for him. but at Irma's ap-
| proach he closed the case and hur-
| ried toward her.
You did find time to come" he
cried.
at have half an hour to spare"
was the smiling explanation. IT
thought you might be here / wanted
to ask you If you could give a lee
ture to my class on the exploration
work"
with pleasure" was the prompt
answer. IF you will give me the
address and name the day, I shall
come with pleasure"
Irma named an evening and gave
the address Of the Settlement house.
Then they looked over the collection
and the girl marveled at the breadth
of his information. His specially
was the Aztecs. He knew the entire
field, and there was genuine en-
thusiasm about Tom Brookfeld which
compelled reciprocal interest.
Almost before she realized 1t, the
closing time had come and she had
spent two hours in his company. She
had sent away her carriage, intending
to walk home from the museum, so she
permitted him to walk beside her.
O n N of tn
fields fad she was beginning to take
an interest in Tom Brookfleld himself.
She found him well worth her interest
by comparison with the idle men Of
her own set. Irma admired action, and
though Brookf1eld had only just passed
thirty he had been a worker for half |
lis lifetime. |
He had not become a monomaniac |
on his hobby. but he was a good gen. |
eral talker, and though they met only |
museum. a real friendship soon sprang |
up between them. Irma had a feeling |
that to invite him to her home would |
spoil it all, and his dense ignorance Of
the fashionable and affluent Miss Moul- |
taire was not lifted.
He believed her to be a teacher in a |
fashionable school who gave part Of |
her time to Settlement work. and they 4
met on plane Of equality which was 1
refreshing to the woman after the for
tune-hunt1ng she had so often 10 en-
dure.
One afternoon late in the spring /
Brookfeld came to meet the class and
escort them to a private view OF a col
lege collection. They had acquired
some of his enthusiasm and he had OBJ
tanned private views OF many collec-
lions for them.
Today he came with a beaming face.
and all the afternoon his high spirits
were apparent. He never shared the
little luncheons which wound up the
expeditions. but today he detained
Miss Moultaire for moment.
There is something I would like to
saw" he pleaded. May I walk home
with you, or do you have to go with
the girls?"