The Topeka state journal., 1909-03-08
The EVENING STORY
Cupid and Conversation.

tonight" she said. my! You can't
see out of the windows. There's no
sense in freezing this room to let the
heat go in there"
She knelt down before the battered
| sheet-iron stove, and ran the poker
vigorously through the red-hot Goals
within: You can set in here tonight.
Dena," she went on ''For myself 1
prefer this room any day to the par
lor"
Dena listlessly swept UP the ashes
and did other trivial things as her
mother directed. The room had the
shabby, much-used look which no
amount of care could transform into
cheer or even homeliness.
Dena felt it anew each time she re-
turned to it after her absences as a
district school teacher. If she could
have bought new carpet and chair
or two, and stove with isinglass and
nickel. she might have made it look
to her liking, but her mother would
not allow it.
Beauty in Mrs. Naughton.s eyes was
of trivial consequence, indeed, al
though there were times when she re-
gretted volubly her daughters lack
of it.
Mrs. Naughton unfolded her skirt
and smoothed out an imaginary
crease. You better set the teakettle
on, Dena. And stir up the kitchen
hre. It hain't quite supper hour yet,
time"
Dena hurried from the room. There
were tears in her eyes and her face
looked flushed and wistful. What
was the use of it all. she thought Bit
terly as she filled the tea kettle.
Had she not dressed obedient to
her mothers bidding these four Sat
urday nights in succession in the fool
1sh hope that he might come? She
set the tea kettle on. stirred the fire
and went upstairs.
In the second drawer of the bureau
lay the pink albatross waist folded in
white tissue paper and sprinkled with
rose leaves gathered the summer be-
fore from La France rose bush that
grew in the yard
She had worn it four times vain1y
and twice not in vain-those two prec-
ious evenings when he had really
come. She would not put it on to-
night, no matter what her mother
said. She could not bear to sit an
other evening In it waiting and listen
ing to every football with hope and
longing and ultimate despair.
A sob burst from her and she flung
herself upon the bed with her hands
over her face. But she did not cry.
She dared not. It would not do for
her mother to see her tears or to
suspect that she cared poignantIy.
Why could not her mother see that
he would not come again and cease
torturing her with expectations? Her
little first romance was over almost
she knew what had ended it.
It shamed her to think of it, but
after all she could not blame him.
And she could not blame her mother,
either, foolishly ignorant of the ruin
she had wrought.
Dena was twenty-four years old and
she had never had lover. For six
years she had taught steadily without
growing very tired when he came. |
He was the son Of the people with |
whom she boarded and he had been |
away long time.
Dena liked him instinctively. She |
had never seen any one she liked so |
we'll. So strong and thoroughly self
reliant he looked in the week that was
left to her before her school closed:
They became good friends and he told
her when she went away that he
would come to see her
The doctor told Dena when she
went home that she must rest for the
remainder of the winter Her mother
grumbled openly. She did not like to
see the girl idle; but she became rec
onciled to it when she discovered that
Dena had an admirer.
1t was her belief that every girl
should marry before she was twenty
five, and in Dena's case there was lit
tie time to lose. She set about hurry
ing up this possible match. h
The first evening Dick came it was
she and not Dena who entertained
paused. She gave him Dena's exact
history from her first tooth to that
lay. Dena sat by and heard with
Nick in an embarrassment of silence
that she could hardly have broken had
she been permitted. &
Never had her mother been so volu- !
Die with that destructive Volub1l1ty
which wearies and sickens. At inter- :
Tals she glanced at Dicks puzzled, I
amused face and clasped her hands r
harder to keep from crying out. :
All that week her mother discussed
1er prospects and gave the advice her
own experiences warranted Once i
Oena cried in agony: lr
But can't you see that he may not $
sven think of marrying me?" and fell a
hereafter into fearful silence. IN
But the following Saturday evening 1
1e came again, and again Mrs. Naugh- r
on sat in the room and talked every S
minute. Dick and Dena parted with q
,ut having said half a dozen words to T
Zach other.
But this time Dick looked neither
puzzled nor amused. His eyes narrow
ID speculatively as he watched Mrs.
Taughton. :
When at last he went away Dena h
Knew of a certainty that he would =
.vening her mother made her take up /.
Ter role and play it through. She had h
o dress and sit and wait. L
Tonight she would not-she would II
lot. For once in her life she would h
.ssert independence. Ii
Now run up and get ready" her Il
mother commanded as they rose from Il
he table. "I'll do the Dishes" la
Dena turned and faced her desper- v
.tely. I'm not going to change my ii
ress," she said, breathlessly. lc
"You amt? Do you want him to
ee you in your common clothes?"
HE won't see me-"
''What do you mean? What ails
ou?" Mrs. Naughton was astonish-
d.
Dena turned weari1y away. 81 mean
hat he won't come again-ever," she c
aid and escaped upstairs to her room.
ars Naughton looked after her. her =