The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-04-11
THE EVENING STORY
without Introduction.
(Ry c1ariesa Mackie. }

(By Clarissa Mackie.)
Charming escaped from the oall-
dered aimlessly down the softly light
| ed corridor. The alluring strains of
| waltz music arose above the slip OF
feet on the polished floor and the rus
tie of silks and satins.
The ballroom provided so many
| cosy anterooms for quiet talk or hirt-
alton. that the corridor was quite de-
serted. At the farther end. Charming
way hung with dark velvet. A faint
pencil of light shot from between the
hangings and from the opening the
music of the orchestra came softly.
He pushed the curtains aside and,
passing UP a winding stairway, step
ped into a small balcony overhanging
the ballroom. Behind high bank
of palms and oleanders he was screen
ed from the throng below.
Charming looked down on the NOV
ing shimmering crowd below, now
and then picking out a familiar form
as 1t whirled along. His hostess, Mrs.
was dancing with Ellery Bee The
diamonds in her white hair sparkled
with a thousand points of fame as
she nodded and smiled. Her daugh-
tiers. Evelyn and Florence, fasnion-
able prototypes of a fashionable moth
er, waitzed their way under his vision,
flashing and sparkling and very gor-
geoua as to raiment.
It was not until he looked about TOT
chair that Howard Charming dis
covered that he was not alone. Sit
ting among the oleanders, looking
wistfully down into the room below,
was a girl, slender and graceful and
very lovely, with softly tinted cheeks
cupped in slender white hands. Her
gown was of some soft green stun
that melted into the foliage OF the
oleanders and palms. 1t was no
wonder she had been undiscovered
until now.
At the same moment she looked up
and saw him, wave OF crimson
swept her face from brow to chin;
The wide brown eyes had frightened
look, and Charming saw that she was
young.
II am afraid 1 startled you" he
said courteously. ct did not see you
~ thought I was quite alone.
ST did not hear you come in" she
said in a low. embarrassed voice. 1T
did not occur to me that any one
might come here. You need not
at is your retreat by right Of prior
occupancy he said with one OF his
rare smiles. 'I came to get away
from the crowd" He found a chair
The girl turned her small well-poised
head away from him and resumed her
observation Of the dancers.
Charming watched her charming pro-
SO beautiful should voluntarily become
an exile from the gay scene below
Pardon me. but am sure you are
one of Mrs. Bowring's daughters, ne
,entured to say after many minutes
had passed. st am Howard Claiming.
She rurned quickly. Il knew that
II recognized you at once: she col
ored adorably at his surprised glance.
you are very good" he said pug
zled. 1T know 1 could not have for
gotten you If We had met"
I'VE haven't met have seen your
picture" she confessed. rT Ndoaner has
told me all about the ortginals-that Is
how I knew you"
"Then you are Mrs. Bowrlng's daugh-
teri" he esked once more 49,.
friendly smile that went straight to
Channing's hitherto impervious heart.
"I am Mantle youngest ana not SO
cry young at that! I'm not out yer,
little pleasures. Mother would not hear
of NV watching the ball from this bal
cony. After 1t had begun, just SHIP
ped on one of Evelyn's gowns; mao
be discovered. suppose you think
am very decettful." -
moment several highly important
things. One was that he was gao
ball; another. that he had stolen
sZrev 40 the balcony, and again he
was thinking that Nan herself looked
very much AXE a pink oleanaer pioS
som set in the foliage OF her dark
Nov that you are here. you may as
well enjoy the ball. he said hurriedly |
Next to the dancing one ne enjoys sf So some
~ don't have many opportunities TO |
tasta ballroom fare" said Nan mis-
chievousIy; "but. of course. you know
school girls are always hungry, ana J
Know the supper is to be delicious to-
Eve will have our share" said
decidedly. Il VIII return IN
a few minutes. if you will wait. he
was gone then, and Nan looked after
his tail form with growing admiration.
For several years she had been IA
miliar with Howard Channlngs name.
She knew that OF all the eligible men
her clever mother had IN nina as pos
enoe. Charming stood highest In Mrs.
r. was tedious waiting for the two
older girls to marry and make way
stage. She was 20 now. yet Mrs. Bow
ring had postponed the coming out OF
her youngest and most beautiful
daughter until another season
once or twice before this Nan had
watched a similar scene in the ball
room, but the meeting with Howard
Claiming made the present occasion
one not to be forgotten. The music
sweeter than she mad ever
heard IL before, the lights were more /
alIuring, the scent of flowers more ex-
uuisite. and somehow she did not seem
10 care whether she ever came out
''ofncially'' or not. Tonight she lived
for the first time.
Once more the hangings were part
ed and Charming entered. bearing
carefully prepared tray.
Supper is being served now" he
said gayly.