The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-07-31
THE EVENING STORY
The Yellow Dress.
CBy S. B .Hackley.)

(6y >. b .Hackley)
May I see the gown
1t was the sweetest of voices that spoke,
and the brown eyes that looked inquir-
ingly at the saleswoman of a clothing bu-
reau in large eastern city matched the
voice.
The saleswoman led the way to room
filled with clothing and held upon her
fingers a truly, beautiful gown. 1t was
OF yellow sat- of the heavy kind that
stands alone Ind glistens like cloth of
The girl reverently touched the shining
the It tb is mfa rag she cried; Just
1t was donated by a wealthy woman.
whose daughter had worn it once and
for some reason took a dislike to it, ex-
planned the salesWoman
rich fold. to her face studying its effect
on her clear brunette complexion. How
Il wonder myself" remarked the sales
woman as she took from her customer
the St required for the exquisite creation.
the girl gratefully. for saving it for me
You have made me perfectly happy?
Leslie Reading was young in years for
the the Prot P4TofeSsorshfip he held in the College
very handsome, very grave in demeanor
and afraid of women.
w aa man In Gny ctT hd of w the
brown eyes. had a cluster of scalps at
en- victims to her charms and offered her
their hearts and their names. Moreover,
Il was out in the Blue Bubble this
cousin, land just by the college yard 1
saw some one particularly interesting.
Yoq must find out who he is, Mort
hung on A!ma's jeweled belt. but the fact
Still at your old tricks, Alma! How
was the fellow dreSSed?
oh, Morton, don't ask me about his
the color of Fanchette's hideI And his
eyes-deep blue and distracted looking.
You hadn't dropped your handker-
chief" surmised Morton.
The Wind-there really was a wind
twisted my scarf around his feet and
he restored It to me. You must find
Any distinctive featture?" questioned
Alma wrinkled her forehead No
but, Mort, he had d SatChel with a tiny
wood handled something.
"Geologist's hammer hazarded Ellis.
Next afternoon Mort announced that
Alma's scarf rescuer was Leslie Read
a degree over his work and a frequenter
of the Wander road.
"Oh, Mort Alma greeted him that
evening, I came up on Prof. Reading on
the Wanden road! He explained so many
things I've always wanted to know
my reception next week.
Reading had always held an old-fash-
toned idea that love was something. to
be spoken of only after lengthy acquaint-
ance. nor did his idea, much to Alma'S
Determined before the summer vaca-
ton, to make his tongue tell what his
eyes had already eloquentIy told, Alma
began to treat him with an uncertain
tenderness that convinced him that she
I never dreamed that you would ask
me to marry you, she lightly told him,
when at the great June reception at the
7 he Ike in roy
How could you think I cared for
'How could I think of it?" Reading
asked when he at length understood
AIma's mirror, after the reception that
evening, reflect, alluring creature in
her splendid yellow satin gown, but he
had not been sufficiently affected by the
glamour of her beauty as to beseech her
to change her mind. VeXed and dls sap,
worn.
Iege town had never had a concert to
equal the one. now in progress.
Isn't she beautiful The instructor
who had thrown up a professorship in an
eastern city for this humble place heard
this breathed as he sat listening with
downcast eyes
OH"
Leslie looked up There behind the
footlights stood girl with masses of
red-brown hair waved simply back from
charming grace might have been Alma
Laurens's June reception gown, thought
Reading. And was it not?
Madeline Coyle did not like the staring
to which she was subjected, but there was
something in the evidently unconscious
gaze of a pair of solemn blue eyes that
followed her during the next day at the
hotel that made her heart beat quicker.
Long acquaintance is not necessary to
love. Madeline knew this very soon, and
she began to find it hard to sing before
evening. 1t was a series of concerts tEat
was being sung in the college town.
And Reading knew before the week
end that the heart he had believed dead
was alive and in the keeping of the young
singer. who wore Alma Dauren'S dress!
On Saturday he came upon Madeline
walking on the river bank.
Il want to speak to you, Miss Coyle,
he said hastily. will you listen a mo-
professor who stares, what have. you
to say?'' she asked, in attempted light
ness.
Reading flushed painfully. did I
stare? It is small wonder, when you
when you wear the very costume another
woman wore when she trampled on my
heart-a woman who, for the fun OF
making me propose marriage, made me
believe she loved me. I-I-may l ask
Il had not means to buy new cos
tune the girl said simply, so pur-
chased it from a clothing bureau
II did not know there was a woman
in the world beautiful" said Reading
after a moment. Madeline, what would