The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-12
THE EVENING STORY
In the Winter Garden.
(By Temple BaIlev.1


drawn bit from the noise of traffic by
! the width Of the yard in front. The
house next door had yard, too-a
| yard in which a stone cutter had set
| up certain tall monuments and crosses
and other funereal articles of his trade.
It's case of eat, drink and be
merry. for tomorrow We de-" said
Judith Dane as she and Jack Meredith
| took their seats at little table. why
| any man should have chosen to fix up a
/ place like this with an outlook that
suggests the graveyard can't under
| stand
OF the window, Judith" he advised.
| tits CHEEKY enough inside and one
| needn't be on a. search for the grew
| some.'
Judith took off her veil and punched
| the long pin through 1t vindictively.
You'd be grewsome If you were as
blue as am
81 am blue" he said. ST shall always
Judith"
Don't" Judith protested, I'm too
| tired to argue
You needn't argue" he said.
| Judith looked at him reproachfully.
Speaking of tomb stones she muir
INJURED, you knew that Felicia Farms
worth was dead?"
you don't mean lt!''
Yes" Judith's voice was tremulous.
''She took cold when they played at
one-night stands. You know what a
tour like that means, Jack?"
mo wonder you are blue" said Jack
pityingly.
She was my best friend Judith
said.
mot your best friend" Jack remind
ed her softly.
Judith reached out her hand to him.
II don't know what I would do with
out you, Jack" she said.
There was silence after that in which
Jack studied the menu, and Judith's
eyes took in the details of the little
room. It was a CHEEKY place, with an
be only one waiter in charge. He was
little man with a smooth face and a
bald head. His suggestions to Jack
showed nice discrimination and an
the hot soup brought Judith's spirits
up with bound.
IAN hour ago. she said. when
met you I was tired and cold and
hungry, but I did not know 1t. was
too blue to know anything
eff you would let me take care OF
you always he began. but Judith in
terrupted him.
ject,'' she complained.
There couldn't be a better one"
he insisted. why won't you marry
because I don't believe in mar
rage" she said, positively.
1t was at this point that the waiter
came in with the hot oysters bub-
bling in the chatting dish. Judith ex-
claimed over their deliciousness.
''My wife cooked them,' the waiter
explained, his face beaming, sit is a
recipe she brought from down SOUTH
Then he went away and Jack said
to Judith. Ibid YOU see the look in
his eyes as he spoke of his wife? That
is the way I would look If you would
marry me-"
"Jack." Judith said. seriously, cant
you ever get away from that sub
ject?"
"I shall never get away from it"
he said. "until you say, yes"
cheese and cofee.'' Jack said to the
waiter when he came back.
And then he and Judith settled down
to the long. confidential talk. in which
she told Of her troubles on the road.
at found OUT she continued, that I
am not made for an actress. I might |
as well go into somebody's office and
tap typewriter or into somebody's |
kitchen and cook"
Come into my kitchen and cook"
said Jack. Hospitality. Il
He was very serious as he learned |
of the troubles. the hardships of her
winter. ST felt at times" she said. |
sadly. "as if there was nothing left to |
live for.''
''You have no business to feel that
way" Jack said. you are young and
pretty and life Is before you. More
over, you are a woman and you won't
be happy till you have lived the life
that belongs to every woman. You
need a home. Judith, a place where
you can be comfortable and coy and
watch for YOUR husband at night"
Judith sighed. "Women of my tenn
permanent she said. were not made
TO sit at home"
The waiter had come back with the
coffee and crackers and cheese. When
he placed it before him he went over
to the wide window where stood the
bushes that gave the place the name
of winter Garden" and spoke to some
one behind the screen of green.
Presently there stole through the
Spring song" said Judith. why
Jack. that is the touch of an artist
I wonder who is playing?"
The little waiter beamed down on
them, brushing crumbs unnecessarily
from the polished surface of the Ia
BILE. tits my wife" he said with a
deep note of pride in his voice. BE
fore she married me she was a great
Then he went away and Judith
full thing she said. ito think of that
and her talent buried here;
ing oysters and drumming out music
for every customer that comes into this
place.
Il want to see her." Judith said. ct
want to see il she is young and pretty,
or if she is old and ugly-he is such
a commonplace little man-she must
be old and ugly"
But the woman behind the screen was I
not old and ugly. for as Judith rose
and crossed the room. there was
glimpse of white and little inquire
stepped out, little figure in a snowy [
apron that covered her from neck to
hem.
In another moment she would have
oeen gone had NOT Judith stopped her. |