The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-08-13
IBy Graham Boyd.l


Nell noticed the girl as the car came
to a stop. She was undeniably pretty.
though her clothes were a little too
pronounced in color and cut. and her
hat was distinctly loud" The white
parasol. however. softened the high col
oring of clothes and complexion, and
moved the man in the seat ahead to
the audible reflection that she was a
peach"
There was a trifing delay to the car
ahead and Nell was about to turn her
attention to- the trouble when Vance
Joslin dropped lightly from the rear
end of the car and approached the
girl.
For an instant she seemed to resent
h. address, but as he spoke her man
ner changed, and a moment later they
moved of up the street together. The
man in front remarked to his compan-
ion that the Johnny had his nerve
with him."
The vulgarity of the remark empha-
sized the shock Nell had felt when she
had seen Vance speak. and with a
from that side of the car that she
might not see them as the car. now in
motion again, overlook them.
She had not seen Vance board the
car, and she was certain that he had
not seen her, else he would have made
his way to her side. They had been
engaged just three days. Only that
morning he had told her over the teie-
phone how sorry he was that a busl-
ness engagement prevented him from rom
asking her to lunch. and yet he had
apparently left the car to
take this girl to lunch.
Nell had meant to stop on at the
little restaurant where she had so Of
ten lunched with Vance. He would
probably take his client there, and he
would have a chance at least to tpeak
to her; and when one is but newly en-
gagged even word and look are
worth the while. Now she decided that
she did not want any lunch. She only
wanted to get home and have good
cry.
But she was not permitted to enjoy
this luxury, for at the transfer corner
she ran into a party of her old school
chums. The solitaire told its own
story and Nell was carried of to a
fashionable restaurant. there to be the
guest of honor at an impromptu ban
quet.
AS she entered she gave start.
for though Vance was sitting with his
back toward her she had no difficulty
in recognizing him, and the girl was
| unmistakable. While she had been
chatting with the girls he had prob
ably passed them. His order had
been given.
She led the way to table at the
other side of the room that she might
not be compelled to recognize him.
but the precaution was needless.
When the girls were leaving the place
Vance and his guest were still OBJ
| sorbed in each other. Vance was
drinking coffee and the girl was con-
| Stunning highly colored cordials. Nell
| led the way from the place thankful
| that none of the other girls knew
Vance.
The luncheon had been an ordeal
for her. She wished that she had
slipped off the ring when the first i'm
pulse came to her to do so. Then
humiliation of accepting a celebration
lunch at which she sat and planned
the letter which she should write to
accompany the ring. AS it was. the
pletely and hurrying home she wrote
the fateful letter, then took to her
bed. She was crying her heart out in
comfortable feminine fashion when
her mother opened the door.
Vance Is downstairs and wants to
see you.'' she said. gently. 81 told him
that you were ill. but he insisted on
seeing you just a moment
I'm see him." said Nell. with sud
den determination. Tell him / will
| be right down.
She sprang from the bed and began
to dress. While lying there she had
thought of many things to say that
were even more bitter than the things
present mood she wanted to hurt him
| as much as he had hurt her. She
wanted to taunt him with his choice,
and to see him shrink from her
description of the girl as seen through
a woman's eyes. The anticipation
gave her strength, and with head
proudly erect and shoulders militantly
braced back. she entered the parlor.
Joslin came forward eagerly.
"It was good of you to see me-" he
soI ,fx-.s NH,
mother said that you were too ill to
receive any one"
II had a headache" she explained
listlessly. keeping the table between
| them that he might not kiss her.
Probably he had kissed that other girl.
ITS too bad about the poor head"
cried Vance. Il wanted you to come
to dinner with me. We will go to the
Trocadero and have just the best we
can find. or We'll go to the Alhambra.
il you prefer that. The music is better
there but the cooking is not as good"
For a moment Nell could only stare
dumbly. He wanted to take her to the
Trocadero. where he had taken that
impossible. Probably his conscience
smote him and he wanted to compro-
mise with it.
II don't think that care to 20 to the
Trocadero,'' she said, adding meaning
ly: Il was there this afternoon for
lunch. I met some Of the girls and
| they insisted upon my going with
them"
Then we'll go to the Alhambra," he
offered. What time did you have
lunch?''
about O'clock" answered Nell.
watching his face closely for signs of
confusion. Instead he merely gave a
whistle of surprise.
II was there about them The declared
| in mild establishment.
st saw you"
II don't blame you for not speaking"
he said with a short laugh. But why
didn't you send the waiter for me? I
would have come over to your table"
| "It seemed a pity to disturb you"
| retorted Nell You two seemed so