The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-02
The EVENING STORY
Her Ruined Chance.
(By Ruth Merwyn.)

"AnuoW ol TIE drawing rooms nearly
knocking over a young man standing
| inside.
Marian Van Horn.''
AT her mothers Mortified tones Mar
ian quickly took in the situation. The
Ladies Research club was holding a
m r In me Van Horn drawing
room. Her mother. as president, sat
poit upright, her face a brilliant scar
let as she glared at her offending
daughter.
Why. marasie. didn't know there
was a soul here" Marian's voice
sounded contrite, but her dark Dyes
danced as she saw the reproving faces.
Professor Craig, let me introduce
% YOU my daughter, Marian Van
she was making an effort at self con-
troll.
Marian gave a start at the youth
fuI appearance of the professor whose
coming had been SO long heralded
| by the Research club. She had
imagined him a gray haired. middle
aged man.
BEG your pardon, Professor Craig,
for nearly bowling you over, but it's
one of my unbreakable rules never to
enter the house by a door if there's
| a window handler
Professor Craig was about to be-
gin his talk on ethnology," calculated
Marian"
But, mamsie. can't. The girls are
waiting for a game of tennis"
Have them come IN, too, Marian
artfully suggested the youngest MEM
Der of the Research club, Aleda Gregg,
whose straw colored hair was tightly
drawn back from her high forehead
and whose pale blue eyes were re-
garding the young professor admir-
| ingly. 'Surely they will be only too
glad to give up a paltry game of ten
mis- to hear Professor Craig lecture
ooh, no. replied Marian. hastily,
they wouldn't care to-
Just thinE of girl choosing
game of tennis to Professor Craig's
lecture murnured Aleda.
Lucky for me that I'm not Re-
search lady" giggled Marian as she
went up stairs
into the house she was unpleasant
ly surprised tc find the young man still
there.
1--WE are to have the great pleas
ure, Marian " explained Mrs. Van
Horn, "of Professor Craig's company
during his lectures here
"Oh," exclaimed the nonplussed
girl, "how-how delightful
Professor Craig gazed admiringly at
Marian, whose scarlet tam was
perched sideways on a mass of dark,
ripping hair
"Are you a tennis fiend, professor %
asked Marian a little disconnected at
the prolonged gaze.
"T've never played tennis, Miss Van
Horn. Somehow I haven't found
time
"Oh, I never stop to find time for
the things I really want to do" ex-
claimed Marian. 81 just take any old
time I happen to have on hand; then,
if my supply runs out, it's the things
don't want to do that are left I'M
done.''
Marian" demonstrated Mrs. Van
Horn.
Honestly. mamsie. it's a splendid
rule Better try it awhile and see if
you don't have heap more fun g. 4
Horn turned appealing to the young
man, that I am not able to persuade
Marian to join our club and probe
deep into the mysteries of life
Marian, "mamsie goes in for the
heavy intellectual, so 1 have to do the
athletic to keep things properly bal
anced. Otherwise the Van Horn fam
lily .C you'd grow lop-si Ln,d
Horn, meeting her daughter few
hours later in the hall. TITS time
to get ready for Professor Craig's
lecture"
But, mamsie, I'm not going.'
mot going? Don't you know it's
the chance of a lifetime? Marian,
your Indifference toward a rare intel
lectual opportunity grieves me beyond
measure
mothers hand ''You ought to have
a daughter like Aleda Gregg. But 1
will go to Professor Craig's lecture to-
night to please you and I'll stay clear
through, no matter how tiresome it
is though it does seem shame to
waste this glorious evening in stuffy
lecture room listening to a spiel on a
subject I don't care a picayune fort"
Marian glanced down the hall. The
door of Professor Craig's room was
open. Clutching her mothers arm she
hurried her away. "Jimminy,'' she
gasped, you don't suppose that the
professor heard, do you?"
Doubtless he did" answered Mrs
Van Horn, 'but it doesn't make any
difference. You ruined your last chance
this afternoon
my chance? What CHANGER"
ITO marry Professor Craig"
But, mother, who under heaven
wants to marry him %
You ough. to. Why, Marian, the
professor is the most intellectual man
the Research club has ever had here. |
Mrs. Gregg tried her best to get him |
at her house but for your sake 1 got
him here
Marian flung out both hands Don't, |
mamsie, for heavens sake, don't fling |
me at the head of every young man |
you see.''
81 WON'T promised Mrs. Van Horn. |
YEARLY. Professor Craig is the only !
man I ever wanted you to marry, and |
I am positive that he will never look |
at you after your refusing to stay to |
his lecture"
AS the evening lecture began, Mar
ian settled back with martyr like air. |
Soon, however. she grew interested, in |
spite of herself. The professor GER
tainly was making the dry facts of |
ethnology sound entertaining bv his |
terse, clear style and by unexpected |
bits of humor.
Conscience stricken at her ungra- |
cious remark about his Spiel" she |
started to tell him how interested |
she had been when Aleda Gregg |
rushed up.
"Oh, Professor Craig she began, |
clasping her thin hands ecstatically, |
your lecture was wonderful"