The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-02-11
THE EVENING STORY
Her New Perspective.
(By Lulu Johnson.)

already gathered at the end OF the
pier to wave farewells cut short on
the deck through the fear of being
carried of and others were troopinT
| down the gangplank
Now and then q couple of cabin
stewards rushed up the gangway
bearing me steamer trunks and par
GELS OF some belated arrival, and from
| the pier the sharp exhaust of the
donkey engines punctuated the fare
wells as the busy drums coiled and
unco1led the ropes by which the last
OF the hold luggage was being rushed
ship.
Busy little tugs pufred about the
end of the pier to assist in turning
the huge bulk of the steamer. and a
man IN rowboat padded about the
stern to be on hand in case of an
To Nella Wynn the scene was de-
cidedly novel. Only the day before she
nao arrived in New York from her
inland home for the purpose of EN-
barking, and for the first time she had
reailzed what a steamer really was
NV sne could scarcely believe that
presently this great black vessel Womb
Snp aoWn the bay ana so out to the
Droao ocean beyond the sight OF land
FOR time she was absorbed in watch
ing the crowds. but the very presence
OF this crush of humanity preeentIv
began to weigh upon her spirits.
1t had been hard to raise the funds
seno ner abroad. 50 none Of the
FAMILY had been able to accompany
her 70 New York. She had no ac-
aualnlances In the city. and she was
absolutely alone in this mob of leave
takers There was no one to stand on
| the edge of the pier and wave fare
| wen, no one to give her a friendly
iareweil kiss. She was even more
| alone than the little crowd of return
ing emigrants huddled on the lower
deck forward.
Back IN Cressville 1t mad seemed a
great thing to be going to Paris To
STUDY music. Now that the venture
was 1a1riy under way, only pride pre-
vented Nella from turning back The
bigness Of the city and the yastness
OF the sea made her feel how small
ana utterly insignificant she was
she wanted to lay her head on her
motner's shoulder and be petted into
| contentment again.
Quietly she moved from tba ,or+
TO the starboard side of the shin.
Wnere she could watch the loading of
| cargo steamer from a lighter. She
trled TO forget that on the port side
| were men and women who were to be
| ner associates for a few DAYS. saving
| good-by to their frfends while She
| fought back the tears of lonesome-
ness.
| Then slowly the big ship began to
! sup out of her berth, the hoarse
Mnaseies sounding an alarm to the
IN m1ostream and one of the tugs had
pressed her nose against the tower
| ing black side of the ship and hepun
| 10 pant ana labor as slowly the stern
was pushed upstream, while the sister
tug forced the bow in the lIarectton
| of the Narrows.
Then the engines took on a more
s!eady beat, and the noise of the
shouting on the pier grew fainter I'M
III IL could no longer be heard, The
voyage was beguni
Nella waited on deck until tba 1.s+
rant trace of land disappeared. then
she stumbled with tear-blindeff ayas
tnrough the narrow gangways to the
lutte cabin which she occupied a1ona
one threw herself upon rne cushioned
seat that formed one side of the
narrow compartment and gave bersaIs
up to her grief
Even as child her dream had
oeen musical career and she had
saved toward this end. Her parents.
too, had pinched and denied rhar,
| selves that her ambition might he
gratihed, and now that she was at
last on her way to Paris. loneliness
beat down ambition and she could
only sob miserably as she Thought
hind. oe-
The departure with no kindly word oe |
Iarewel had been the last drop in her
cup OF unhappiness, and now she could
see the familiar railroad station AT |
s S,ussvi.le, Win It's yellow. shed-like |
structure and unsheltered platform. and
her friends standing there TO wave tha
last farewell. 1t had been so different
from the boat few hours before and |
she wished herself back with her par
ents ana the girls and-Harry TemnIa |
She could still see Temples hurt 1noL
when he received her gentle mo, 70
his proposal. He had always sought TO |
oppose her career, contendfns that she |
would be far happier in her own home
than as choir singer or platform star
She had hated him for his APPARENT dis
belief In her powers and her refusal had |
been promptly given. She was sure thai
If he asked her now she would gladly
apandon her career and go back to |
Crossville with him. but Harry was with |
the rest of the dear ones nearly a thou. |
sand miles away.
There was gentle tapping on the |
door and she rose to admit the stew |
ardess.
There's a gentleman who would like
to see you on deck" she said with a |
touch Of accent. HE is Monsieur Tenn
pie. and he asks that he may have the |
pleasure Of your society"
Temper gasped Ne1la- "A tall |
manf"
with a light mustache and such |
handsome gray eyes" assented the |
stewardess, mindful Of the generous tin |
and seeming a romance. HE is on the |
port side Of the upper deck Permit me |
to assist mademoiselle with her toilet" |
Without waiting for reply, the woman |
bathed the girls swollen eyelids and |
removed traces Of tears from the cheeks |
smoothing the hair and refreshing the |
crumpled bows on the hat, which had |
been tossed into the berth with never
a thought of the ribbons.
Nella emerged from the gangway to |
find Temple pacing the deck Impatient |
ly. He hurried toward her as she ap- |
peared and led her to q cozy corner. |
where two steamer chairs were placed |
close together.
IT am content that you are here That |
is enough for me-" she said shy1y But |