The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-05-09
The EVENING STORY
The Silver Purse.
(By Temple Bailey.)

1 10y 1Supl6 bdllSy-J
1t was Fate that made Julet's birth
day and that of her prospective moth
| er-in-law come in the same week. It
| is not expected that the course of true
! love will run smooth, and, heretofore,
the love affair of Juliet had had no un-
| even places. She loved her betrothed;
he loved her, and they both loved his
| mother.
Now and then a little jealousy of
| Carriers mother crossed Juliet's mind.
! beautiful in a way that Juliet had
never been and never could be. Juliet
| was pretty and fresh and pink and
| white, while Carriers mother was state
| ly and classic.
| The two women talked of the son and
| lover who was in the far west, and
| planned for his homecoming.
| He will get here in our birthday
| week. the mother said. land we will
| have two cakes; a white one for you
and a gold cake for me. You shall
have white candles and I'll have yell
| low ones, and we will have jonquils
and lilies Of the valley in the middle of
| the table"
| Their disappointment came when
| Carter wrote that he could not get back
| in time FIR the celebration. He sent a
| box with his letter. In 1t was a silver
purse and a set of Browning. The two
| cards told that the purse was for Mrs.
| Crowell, the books for Juliet.
| Juliet eyed the silver purse wistfully.
| She had wanted one for years, and
| Carter knew it. She felt a little hurt
that he should have sent her books OF
course on the fiyleaf he had written
| with love, from Carter"
! She took her books and went home
rather soberly. That night she read
| them and finding certain of the ex-
quiSite love poems, was thrilled and
enraptured. She wrote to Carter and
! told him how lovely it was of him TO
4 sV11r Of hn md 10 a .Af
his low in the words of his favorite
poet.
The next day the two women went
downtown together. Mrs. Crowell wore
| the silver purse. Juliet with her shah
I by pocketbook, and away from the
| glamour of the love passages, again
| felt slightly aggrieved. Why should
| Carter add to his mothers beauty with
| dainty trifles, when that of his sweet
| heart needed enhancing? Moreover ne
had heard her speak Of her love of
pretty things. Yet he had sent her
grave books that must stand on the
shelf
| Mrs. Crowen fingered the silver
| Carter to send me this she said Did
| you like the books, Juliet?"
Juliet answered family. The purse at
close range seemed so desirable and
the books on the shelf were remote
| She wanted something that she could
show the girls, something that would
glitter and swing from silver chain
and add the final touch to her cos
tune. On the way home she still
cherished her sense of grievance. To
quiet her doubts she got out Carriers
letter 1t was written in his usual diff
| ficult scrawl, and she read it slowly. 1t
breathed his love for her and she went
to bed comforted.
But the next day her best girl frien1
came to see her. What did Carter
civ hirf h6a w, Mary
asked.
juliet hesitated. Books she said
at last.
| "Oh." Mary's voice held no en-
thusiasm. IT hope no one will give me
books for my birthday I think man
ought to pick out something personal.
| Did you see the purse he gave his
| mother?"
Juliet sighed YES" she said
"It would have been more appropriate
for you" Mary said. 81 don't see what
an old woman like his mother wants
with a thing like that
The next morning Mrs. Crowen tele-
phoned to Juliet. II have long letter
from Carter" she said, land I can't
read it, my eyes are so bad, and you
known his scrawl, my dear"
.'I'n come up" Juliet promised. this
afternoon and read it for you.
Come TO lunch,'' Mrs. Crowen 1nvi-
ted. and Juliet agreed.
While Mrs. Crowell prepared the
lunch Juliet looked over the letter
Its a little hard to make out" she
called to the older lady in the other
room. ''I'll read it aloud when 1 have
deciphered it,
AS she read a flush came to her
cheeks and light to her eyes, for this
was the letter:
Mother Dear:-I have just received
a note from Juliet. In it she thanks
me for my gift of Browning's poems.
also have letter from you in which
you thank me for a purse Now, as
matter of fact, 1 sent the silver purse
to Juliet and the poems to you-I know
how you love Browning. / am so sorry
that YOU should have been disappointed
because 1 intended you should have the
books you have so long coveted. But
Juliet seems so pleased that hate TO
tell her of her mistake. VIII you buy
yourself the books? I want Juliet to
have pretty things, yet knowing her,
feel that If 1 explain she will feel it
necessary to return the books to you
and to take the silver purse which
would mean so much less to her. Some
day 1 can give her all the trif1es to wear
that she needs, and she has called the
books precious So don't tell her any
thing about 1T. III write again soon and
give you the news; this is simply to
correct my blunder. suppose the cards
were mixed in some way.
Yours always, CARTER
When she had finished Juliet drew
a quick breath He had wanted her
to have the purse, he had remembered
her love of pretty things. The exchange
would be easy. Mrs. Crowell coveted
the books.
At this moment the elder woman
came in with the salad in a silver dish
Ibid he say anything about the purse?"
she asked. at was so lovely of him to
send it to me. Men are so apt to think
that we older women care nothing for
the dainty things of dress / get books,
and books. and books. and practical
things. It's a pleasure now and then
to have something different"
Juliet's breath cam" quickly Sure
| ly Carter would want his mother
saved from disappointment. 1t seemed
to bring her closer to him to think
that she might have a secret with