The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-22
THE EVENING STORY.
Alverson's Adventure.
(By Stacy e. Bakery

street. It was unopened and address
ed to Mrs. Martin Won Kruger. 104
Wondermere avenue. His curious
eyes found the number above the
door of the house just opposite. It
was 104.
st have a letter for Mrs. Won Kru-
GER" he explained to the tidy maid
answering the bell. t
"You are expected, SIR" answered
the servant, with a neat little bow.
''This way please"
But" objected Alverson.
Too late! The maid was already on
her way. With a resigned sigh, he
followed.
Mrs. Won Kruger swept gracefully
across the velvet carpet and extend
ed a we'll manicured hand on the ar
tistic level of the young mans chin.
She was a tall, portly dame, middle
aged, and with the confident air of the
successful social leader.
ssI knew you instantly" She smiled
into the face of the surprised Aver
son. INSTANTLY she reiterated, re-
leasing his hand. BE seated, please.
Dollie will be in in moment"
Alverson gave over to the woman
on a convenient stand-unopened.
"You see," continued Mrs. Won
Kruger, you have been so thoroughly
described to me that l have had a
mind picture of you for months. Tall,
broad-shouldered, curly hair. blue
and let me see-good conversational
ist.' Are you a good conversational
ist? You haven't proven that to me-.
Alverson, had he been an ill-bred
youth, might have answered to the
effect that his hostess had so far mo-
nopolized that end of it-but he did
MT. Again. he might have explained
to the lady that she was mistaking
him for someone else-but he didn't
Instead, he smiled and answered.:
81 believe, Mrs. Won Kruger, that
you put me in the position of the
American humorist who was invited
to dine at the house of a certain we'll
known society woman. During the
dinner the hostess eyed him expec-
family, and, finally as the lion show
tiptoed around to his chair and asked
in a well-def1ned stage whisper: When
are you going to begin 2
The lady laughed. You have prov
en- yourself to be the capable youth 1
have been led to expect" she said ap-
preciatively.
Alverson mentally summed up the
situation. Here was he, soap sales
man out of Chicago, exchanging airy
persiflage with a hostess who certain
her visitor was some one expected.
And he was poor enough to sit here
and accept this same hospitality. He
sQufrmed, metaphorically, in his
chair, and ~eursed his own stupidity in
not explaining.
This last mental racking was
brought about by keen glance at the
slim girl who had drawn aside the
portieres that curtained the entrance
to another room, and now stood, a
L. fog L.
vealed in all her dainty loneliness.
'Mr. Alverson, my daughter, Dollie,
you have often heard me speak of the
Alversons of Chicago. This is one of
them" 1
Alverson's heart leaped into his
throat. How did this woman know
him? He had never heard of the Won
Krugers at home, and he was quite
certain that had the family been as
with them as the words of
his hostess seemed to imply he would
at least be familiar with their names. |
But the girl! For the second that
their hands met in brief contact, all
thoughts of this unusual situation
flashed from their mind. She was a
dream! A revelation
Her hair was q mass of threaded |
copper, as finely spun as silk, and her |
eyes were an elusive hazel that baf-
fled description. She had the COM
plexion of the perfect beauty of her
type.
,Alverson sighed as the soft, warm |
hand drew itself from his.
IT am pleased to meet you" He !
heard his voice respond to the intro |
duction as from a distance. His senses |
swan. Magnetism is closely akin to |
hypnotism.
What do you think of New York, |
Mr.. Alverson ?" asked the girl
1t was on the tip of the youths |
tongue to say that the novelty OF |
trip to the metropolis had worn away |
several seasons ago, but he suddenly |
supposed to be a stranger in the city. |
From what I have seen of New |
ork today I am much impressed"
he declared. his mind. as a conscience
easer, reverting to the several SUBJ
stantial orders he had filed.
Mrs. Won Kruger, after several |
conventional phrases, suddenly ex-
cused herself and left the room.
No sooner had the portieres closed
behind her than the girl leaned for
ward in her chair and, with steady !
eye on the youth, asked:
And now I am ready for your ex-
PLANTATION. Who are you, sir ?'
The man gasped at the suddenness
of the question. Surprises were the
order of the evening.
''Why-I-'' he suffered, and then,
with determined effort to brazen 1t
through. What do you mean? You
heard your mothers introduction.
did you not?"
Mother" explained the girl, "is-
er-non compos mentis, and the AL
verson she speaks of has been dead |
FOR thirty years. At the time she was
stricken she was expecting this per-
son to pay her a conventional call and |
she has never gotten beyond that day.
Now, il I may repeat who are you?"
And Alverson explained.
The soap salesman was struck with /
shame as the tale progressed, but the /
serious face of the girl did not show
the contempt at the completion that |
the drummer had believed it would.
Had our regular maid been on
duty" continued the girl, this would |
never have happened. But mothers
little failing has never been explained |
to our new acquisition" She turned /