The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-09-16
THE EVENING STORY
Her Lesson in Loving.
(By Louise Olney.

her mother sighed at the change in
her daughter, Anne Morton went to
her room and locked the door Throw
ing aside her lace cloak, she tuurned
on all the lights and, tall and graceful
in her clinging yellow gown, studied
herself in the mirror.
Richard Hunter had not asked for
a single dance, but had devoted him
self to Mollie Pierce. Anne began to
realize that this had been the order
of things for some time. Morris
Trevor, also, had not come near And
only a year ago, before she had
broken her engagement with Richard,
there had not been dances enough to
satisfy her admirers. Surely, at TWEEN
ty-seven, woman has not lost the
power to attract? Was she becoming
a wallfloWer?
The mirror was reassuring. Her
fine brown eyes were large and clear,
her heavy dark hair perfectly arrang-
ed, her oval face and small head GER
tainly distinguished. She smiled rue
fully, and a dimple deepened in her
cheek. But when her face fell to re-
pose she noted critically that she
looked bored, almost unhappy, the
corners of her mouth dropped and
two cross little lines showed between
her eyes.
Anne began to take stock of her
self. Tonight she had actually sat out
three dances with the-chaperones.
She faced the fact that her friends
were becoming fewer, that the men
called less often, invited her less Of
ten to share their pleasures. THE
girls no longer dropped in to gossip
Of clothes and merry markings and
beaux- Yes; even in the family, things
loving, was also-patient. Harry,
with the frankness of fourteen, re
marked when she was irritated with
him, that she was becoming cross
old maid. Jean assumed condescend-
ing younger sister airs.
She was quite sure that it was
Richards place to make the first
move toward reconciliation, even
though she admitted to herself that
the fault had been mostly hers. AT
last she went to bed and cried her
self to sleep. But she awoke early, so
much earlier than usual that as she
lay thinking, it came to her that not
for months had she really seen her
father, nor for months had he break
tasted with the family! On impulse
she rose, took a cold plunge and
dressed for the street. She had nearly
finished when the rising bell rang.
She stood nervously adjusting her
collar at the mirror, little sensitive
about going down lest some member
of the family might comment on her
that she looked positively cross-it
made her seem old. She, by an ef-
fort made herself smile, and the dim
pie again showed itself. Then she
started for the door just in time to
encounter Harry, who was coming
with an old gong to awaken her. Yes
terday she would have complained TO
her mother; today she laughed, as he
scampered back to his room to finish
dressing.
When she heard the breakfast bell
she started slowly down stairs, and as
she reached the lower hall she caught
her own name spoken by her mother
in an anxious tone. Involuntarily she
paused. Her father replied
Don't worry, mother, Anne needs
a lesson in loving. She will have to
suffer till she. finds out that n p wo-
man is loved and sought unless she is
She will not be her
Did attractive self till she stops being
bored and sarcastic and is pleased and
and shows that she is. She
IS getting selfish, and nothing but
thinking of others will do her any
good"
"But, Fred" her mothers voice
"Richard never came near
ner last night, nor Morris, nor Henry
Parker. Do you suppose they resent
1er treatment of Richard? And she is
never about when our older friends
,all, and never up in the morning.
Has it occurred to you that Richard
nay have shown her he wanted to
Or6dk WITH n0I anu lIldI SIG Is uIl-
happy about it? Last night he was
10 devoted to Molly Pierce!''
Nonsense! Richard simply had a
'eal mans self respect. She dismissed
lin for nothing, and I don't blame
him for not crawling back like a
whipped puppy Perhaps he is getting |
in Molly-a live young fell |
ow is not going to let the caprice of
me woman spoil life for him. He did |
.are-he told me so himself when it
irst happened that he was all cut up |
bout it, but that she would have to |
all him back herself. She hasn't done |
%. Well-there is nobody like him
-es, another cup, dear, please" Anne !
led softly back to her room her |
heeks and. eyes ablaze, fury in her |
leart. How dared they! How dared
hey discuss her affairs-and side !
With Richard? Then it came upon her
hat these two dear persons, the dear
st in the world. loved her, and had a
light to say to each other what they
bought about their own child.
And they were right-that was the
worst of it. What should she do? At
er a moments hesitation she went |
uietly down and took her place at
he table, bidding them good morn
ng as if nothing had occurred Harry
nd Jean came chasing each other
own the hall to join the family, and
hen everybody seemed to begin talk
ng and laughing. In spite of herself
Lnne became interested. She laughed,
nd at her good nature Harry offered
D play golf with her-supreme con-
ascension on his part. She accepted.
Then, as her father left his seat,
he followed another impulse; she Of
cred to walk to the office with him
Or the exercise. His eyes widened a
tile with surprise, but they started
IF joyfully, together. father and tall
aughter, arm in arm. through the
risp autumn air, the full mile down
own. 1t was a good mile, and the air
tung a red stain into her cheek.
Leaving her father at his office,
ne started back. remembering her
date" on the links with her brother.
he had an hour yet and was minded
} wander off by herself and think.
t art she was still furious-and a