The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-12
The EVENING STORY
Cupid in the Blizzard.
(By Cecilv Allenl

| worked together for the good of Ro-
land Baxter.
The Silver-Hess wedding was sched-
uled for Denver. The absent-minded
Mrs. Graves and the relentless bliz-
zard met in Chicago.
Polly Hess had recently moved to
Chicago, and when her brothers
nancee wrote that the wedding would
| occur directly before THANKSGIVING
gay and would she please have a
uucky Irock or leaf-green chiffon cloth
TO wear as maid of honor, Polly in
stantiy decided that Chicago was a
very big city and one in which a new
dressmaker must be sought with dis
| erection.
Upon her musings entered Mrs.
Graves, whose faculty for switching
from one topic of conversation to an
other with lightning rapidity was as
amusing to her friends as it was be-
w1ldering to new acquaintance. Said
| ''Of course, can help you out. My
friend, Mrs. Baxter-you never did
see such clothes. By the way, didn't
Mrs. DAILY look like trump at the
club meeting Thursday? Now Mrs
Baxter, my dear-did you ever hear
worse VIC Al music than we had on
that program? Her address-oh, yes
672 Boulevard. Dear child, however
| did you train your 1ashes to curl like
that?"
An hour later, Roland Baxter, look
| ing into the wonderful violet eyes be-
meath those same curling lashes, i'm
mediately decided that eyes, lashes
and the owner thereof had dropped
straight from heaven.
The Baxter maid was standing in
the private hallway of the Baxter
apartment explaining to Polly Hess
that Mrs. Baxter was not yet up.
Would Miss Hess call later in the day?
Mrs. Baxter expected to be home all
afternoon
nd hi
of the house of Baxter added earnest
| ly: you'll surely find her here about
four. Do come back. She would be
sorry to miss you
Then by eXerting all his will power
he managed to stand perfectly still
and watch the violet-eyed angel take
her departure.
Polly Hess walked through the
sharp November air, feeling oddly be-
wildered.
cit must have been the place, and
| her name is Baxter, but I'm afraid her
| prices are way beyond me. She must
be dreadfully smart and 1 suppose she
| has to go out late to theaters and
things to see the styles, but she ought
| to be up by 10 o'clock. Maybe she has
a good forewoman Anyhow, am
| lovely to be about to buy frockS with
out figuring on the rent the dress
maker makes you help to pay
AT $3.50 Roland Baxter Strolled into
his mothers drawing room. The tea
things were arranged on a convenient
table, but the afternoon lowered and
guests would probably be few. Mrs.
Baxter closed her magazine.
| Anything wrong at the Office, Ro-
| land?" she inquired.
mo, just thought I'd knock Off
it's hideous afternoon downtown, and
pretty women around tea table can
| make you forget the worst weather."
His astute mother was for once
! nonplussed. Roland a willing sacri-
In he 81 o 0f Z oct
| table! And then the maid announced
Miss Hess.
"Oh, dear" mourned Mrs. Baxter as
she laid down her magazine. 81 Won
| der what charity she represents
Polly Hess paused, bewildered, in
the doorway. Then with laugh tinged
with dismay and just little hysteria.
| she cried:
ooh, now know there is some
thing wrong. Please, please forgive
me. I've made such dreadful mis-
take
Mrs. Baxter stood midway between
her chair and her flushed guest.
Perhaps If you would explain"
Eyes. do let me explain. 1 was
looking for. dressmaker, and Mrs.
Mrs. Graves? Do not say another
word. 1 can say it for you. Mrs.
Graves admired a new frock was
for the address of my dressmaker; you
asked her about a dressmaker-and
she gave you my address when she |
thought she was giving you the dress |
makers. That's just like her."
The two women laughed in concert |
and then suddenly paused. Both had |
laughter and realized that Roland had |
risen and was standing, altogether ex- |
pectant in attitude and expression.
My son, Miss - Do tell me your
name and stop for cup of tea, muir
INJURED Mrs. Baxter. eager to relieve the
girls embarrassment. Miss Hess? My |
son. Roland, light the alcohol stove and
ring for some of that strawberry jam /
you love"
Mrs. Baxter meant only to undo the |
mischief by her voluble and inaccur- |
rate friend, but in few minutes she |
was sincerely interested in her charm |
ing if unexpected guest.
They had mutual friends in Denver
and Po1ly'S greatgrandfather and Mrs.
Bakers greatuncle had fought in the
same regiment during the war of 1912.
So it happened that Roland Baxter
was Just wondering whether the am
brosia of the gods and strawberry jam I
sandwiches were interchangeable terms,
when somewhere, far of, soft chime |
struck five times.
With the exquisite flush which was
one of her best points, Polly sPrang to
her feet
you've been so perfectly charming,
Mrs Baxter that I've lost all track of
time and now it must be quite dark. "
Mrs. Baxter was bending her head in
listening attitude.
Roland, that sounds like sleet 1t
must be Storming.
Young Baxter hastened to the win
dow and uttered an exclamation of dis
may.
THE worst ever. You can't think of
going out in it, Miss Hess"
"'Oh, but I must. please telephone Tor |
a cab. Mother will be so anxious.
Baxter rang up the nearest cab sta
whats that7 You Wouldn't