The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-08-29
THE EVENING STORY
The Blue Bowl.

Beverly really knew nothing at all
about old china. but after he saw the
lady Of the blue bowl at the front
gate. with a yellow rose tucked into
her shining brown hair, he became at
once worshiper at the shrine of old
china-and of Clarice.
The ClaiborneS are as poor as
church mice" his landlady informed
him when he asked about the people
who lived in the gray mansion on the
hill. The neighbors round about
here don't think that CIarice and
| her aunt have enough to eat, and yet
| they won't sell thing. And they've
got some old furniture that they could
get most any price for-and their
china-why one man offered old Miss
Claiborne two hundred dollars for a
blue bowl and she wouldn't take It."
"I wonder if / could see IT,"
Beverly asked, thinking of the girl at
the gate.
Maybe" said his landlady, doubt
fully; they don't care to meet many
people. They used to have money, and
now that they haven't the old lady
shuts herself up there and Miss
Clarice doesn't see anybody"
But Beverly was not to be daunted.
and three days later he knocked at the
Claiborne front door.
Clarice answered the knock. She
was even more beautiful than the first
time Beverly had seen her. in a faded
gown OF pink glngham.
Il beg pardon" Beverly said, "but
my Iandlady has told me of a bowl
blue BOWL am interested in old
china, and hoped I might see it."
Clarice looked at him gravely.
TITS not for SALE" she said. "and I
| it. I'll have to ask Aunt Matilda
"Of course" Beverly agreed.
promptly. land If you don't mind,
I'll sit on the porch while L wait and
look at the view. It's wonderful You
must be able to see three states"
I'VE can" Clarice said slowly, land
that's the worst of it,
He looked at her in surprise.
Don't you like the view?" he de-
manded.
IT hate it" she said. vehemently.
worid-and then to be shut up
| here -
Then she blushed hotly.
"Oh. I beg pardon" she said, ST
shouldn't have said that. forgot L was
| speaker to a stranger"
You are not speaking to stranger"
Beverly told her. 'Just think for a
moment that I am a long lost brother
| or the Ancient Mariner, or anybody
! that you'd have a right to tell your
| troubles to. Why feel as If 1 knew
you better than any girl I've ever met,
and yet we have seen each other only
| ten minutes
Clarice sighed. IT feel that way. too"
she admitted, "but-now I'd better go
and ask Aunt Matilda"
| When she came down her cheeks were
| flaming.
"she says you can't see it, she said
mournfully.
"Oh, can'f\I?" Beverly's tone was
stubborn. We'll, shall see it-and you
| as often as I wish"
Clarice shook her head. you don't
| know Aunt Matilda" she said, hope
] lessly.
II know her kind" Beverly stated
II used to read about dragons and
| wicked stepmothers and godmothers in
| my fairy books, and Of beautiful prin-
| cesses shut UP in castles. This will
simply be bringing it up to date. And
while I'm not sure that I will fulfil
all the requirements Of Prince Charm
! ing, I'll do my best"
| Clarice gave him a flashing glance
ooh, I'm sure" she began, and Their
the smile froze, as voice came from
| above.
"Clarice, Clarice,' it said, come VI
| at once"
Its Aunt Matilda" Clarice said IL
| a frightened tone, and vanished.
Beverly bore himself Jaunti1y as hi
| went down the walk What was a mere
aunt to stand in the way of his inten.
tons? He was 50. rich. and he had
waited all these years to find the idea
| woman. And here in this quiet towY
where he had come to rest and to fish
he had discovered her. and he should
marry her in spite of any old aun
dragon.
/ But as the days went on he fount
that IL was not an easy thing to con
quer Aunt Matilda. In the first place
he could not meet her. She was as in
visible as a. witch. and except for he
voice calling Clarice from behind tn,
window curtain whenever Beverly stop
ped at the gate, there was no tangibl,
evidence that she existed at all.
you see, 1t doesn't do a bit Of goot
for you to keep coming" Clarice tolt
him, desperately, one morning, whel
she met him on the way to the post
Office "She always calls me away, ant
then she scolds and scolds. She say
haven't any PRIDE and her lip
quivered.
it wouldn't do
mo" CIarice said, "I couldn't DE-
that--and-you see Aunt Matilda gets
crazier and crazier over her old china
and she ought to sell 1t. We haven
, always enough to eat"
"Oh. by Jove," Beverly said, 81 cam
. have her starving you, you know"
, Clarice grew little pale.
; IT shouldn't have told you" she said
,. but / have thought Of q way for yoJ
, to help
, Beverly gravely.
"OhP'-she looked up quickly
) thought you might write to that mar
who wanted the blue how'll have hi;
address. but wouldn't dare write-ant
d could give you the bowl and yos