The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-06-27

afternoon on. Why not their mistress?
I'm having the time of my life
| The white-coated lad studied his
stunningly gowned customers with
profound interest. Never before had q
young woman asked him to put hve
cents worth more Of ice cream into
her soda. Then she had asked her
| companion. now entering into the
spirit of the thing, whether she would
have more soda or more Ice cream.
She might spend Ave cents more!
| Gee" said the boy as he dipped out
| the extra cream, they act like two
| kids on q lark"
! AS they sailed forth once more, Eli
nor clutched her companions arm.
Lets make an afternoon of 1t, Miss
| Greenleaf. I've never. never ridden In
| the subway-please.'
| Something in the girls tones made
Miss Greenleaf turn suddenly reckless.
I'VE will we will" And then she
| added under her breath IF lose my
place for it,
| In the subway Ennor turned tribe
| serious. The noise, the confusion, the
| shouts OF the guards, the crowding OF
the mob bound for q ball game, the
| flashing white pillars beyond the open
windows. And this was how the girls
who worked for their living rode back
and forth each day! She thought OF
her trap and her runabout, her vic
toria and her touring car-and then she
/
her. A man had risen instantly on
her entrance and she had sunk behind
| a row OF newspapers. But there were
other women, older women.more plain
ly dressed women and more tired look
ing women who swung from straps.
She leaned forward and peered
| around the screen Of afternoon papers.
Oh, that tired looking woman with
gray hair and arms filled with bum
dies. who clutched desperately at a
Let, NJ xya1 fov,n Hly
movement OF the car. Elinor half rose
in her place to offer the tired woman
her seat, and then she sank back. Be
hind the screening newspaper direct
ly in front Of the tired woman she had
caught sight of a face, a face she knew
l-Reginald Schuyler's.
And that man behind the paper was
the real Reginald Schuyler. who could
sit behind a paper while a tired wo-
man swayed before him!
Elinor did not reason consecutively
or logically. She had simply a vague
feeling that If ever she became less
radiant, less charming than she was
today, Reginald Schuyler was not the
man who would forgive her defects
Reginald Schuyler would be a delight
full companion SO long as no sacrifice
was demanded OF him.
1t was a subdued Elinor who. few
stations further along. signaled to
Miss Greenleaf that she had had
enough of the subway. She slipped out
of the car in dread fear that Schuyler
might lay down his paper and see her
Once more in the fresh air, she bade
Miss Greenleaf hail a passing taxicab
Miss Greenleaf laid the girls sudden
quiet to the foul air in the subway and
berated herself for yielding to heI
charges nonsensical scheme.
That evening, James Regan felt that
never before had he fully appreciated
his daughters beauty and charm. She
was so wondrous tender and womanly
as they sat alone in his den"
Daddy" she whispered, her arms
crossed on his knee. her face uplifted
to his. Daddy" she repeated very
softly, IF 1 was to ask you to buy the
crown jewels of Patrovia or some 9TH
er tiny kingdom. for me to wear. you'd
get them, wouldn't your"
Her father nodded and smiled down
on her.
And IL wanted to buy a prince and
a palace I could have them -
Regan frowned. He hated monarch
ical institutions. Then he smiled and
patted her head. II guess. yes-sure,'
he said.
Il Or a new sort Of orchid-and you'd
send to the heart of Africa for It,"
Now what are you driving at. Ell
nor, girl" demanded her father, his
shrewd eyes twinkling.
Elinor flushed beautifully and grip
ped both his hands in hers.
Such a little thing, Daddy-and II
will cost you just five cents"
4 The old man turned serious.
"Out with 1t, darling"
T-want-you-to telephone Jack
Boardman to spend the weekend with
us at Grey Towers"
| For a few seconds silence reigned In
the high-ceiled room. Then Regain laid
his hand tenderly on her bright hair.
"Elinor-if you want that more thar
anything in the world"
He hesitated and the girl said softly
,l-"More than anything In all the world
Daddy"
The man flung back his shoulders
and said firmly:
Then I'll phone him now-before
change my mind"
For Jack Boardman was-the other
J man!-(Copyrighted, 1908. by Associ-
ated Literary Press.)