The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-11
The EVENING STORY
Not Announced.
(By Jeanne olive LoIzeaux.)

guests, mostly feminine. Emile Fen
ton gave him her hand and her best
smile. Thomas Townsend at her mu-
slcaIe was better than she had hoped
he seldom bothered himself with
afternoon functions. And this was
small and select-for a purpose, too,
She suddenly had a horrid fear that
he had been interested in Natalie.
Who had said so? She could not re-
member.
me-" he submitted impudently
Yes, l asked YOU because L was
briEg you?
candle light in a broad day. hot house
flowers and hot house ladies'" He
parted her question.
Il shall tell Natalie. You'll be
sorry. Suppose. you move on. You're
quite too big for an ordinary door
way, you know" He laughed and
passed into the dim. fiower-bedecked,
candle-lit parlors, deliberately sought
a chair that seemed able to endure
his weight for the space of an hour,
and then looked about him at the
other guests, who were chattering
with the zest which nothing but the
prospect OF music gives a company.
Presently Maude Borely trailed in
and came briskly over to sit by him.
He did wish there was a time limit
to the kittenish in woman's man
ner but he listened good temperedIy
to her gossip. Gossip. in fact, was
what he came for. He had heard
some rumors about Natalie that had
stirred him to a grim determination.
Natalie Norris is to play" she in
formed him. "She's been abroad
seven years. They say she sleeps with
that violin Of hers. I hear she's aw-
fully pretty, though I haven't seen her
since she was a mere child. Let's see
didn't they live next door to you?"
But I was at school and all 1 seem
to remember is a black-eyed romp
with curls to her knees
He did not say that in his after
college Europe vacation few years
since he had spent a summer in a
German town where she was.
Maude continued: "They say her
mothers DESPERATE because she's re-
fused all sorts of lords and things. Her
playing has taken her to courts. The
girl says she doesn't want anybody,
but if she has to marry at all wants
an American You see they're none
that money-my word!'' She nudged
him excitedly and strained her near
sighted eyes at a fat, half bald, wholly
blase-looking old-young man smirking
Thomas Townsend squared his big
shoulders and looked, too. So his sus-
picions were verified.
"Chris Kirk!" whispered Maude.
d I
years. And they say her mother has
fairly bullied the girl into tacitly ac-
cepting him, though it is not yet an
nounced- Do you know, it's whisper
ed that it is to be announced this after
noon? Emile is a cousin, their only
relative. 1 believe. But it's rather q
pity, isn't it, after all? Money is not
everything she said sentimentally,
land the world knows Christopher
Kirk
I'D love to-kick him." he said
through his teeth.
The man took a seat in front of
them, it being near the piano and the
chairs reserved for the musicians.
The hum and chatter continued till \
a sudden hush made Townsend look
up. His glance fell into the hall where,
coming almost shyly down the wind
ing stairway lovely amber-elad
he saw Natalie Norris with
her violin. The young mans steady
blue eyes looked with 8 sort of hunger
at the girl. She was very pale, and a
set little smile was all that lifted her
face from a Look of tragedy.
She stopped to speak to Emile in
the doorway. Kirk gave a movement,
but Townsend was on his feet, across
stant, offering her his arm. No greet
ing passed between them, but sur
prise marvelously like relief lighted
her face to glowing beauty for an in
a
have gone back to his own place save
that her glanee babe, nay begged him
to stay. He sat down by her.
After this, it was the usual thing
a soprano sang, mostly on the key; |
a tenor sang, mostly off.
The best was for the last, evident |
~. But presently Emile, in a grace |
full little speech. introduced the young |
woman who had been child in their |
midst. The girl rose and bowed |
tuned her instrument and |
tucked it lovingly under her chin.
Then the tragedy left her face, and
Joy came. The audience caught it's
breath at her playing. She bowed
again and again, and was encored till |
she would play no more, but still stood
bowling, with one hand leaning on
he little candle-stand against the
white and was looking at her mother,
who appeared beside Emile in the
doorway waiting, while down the
tairs came Emilie's little girl
1et of little cards, which she was to.
distribute among the guests
As the child reached the door Nat
lie gave a backward movement, al
most Involuntary, that overturned the
with q crash. A wo-
nan screamed, the fame licked at the
heer curtain. up the window, and
here was confusion and a rush. Nat
lime, at the end of her strength.
Tipped toward the floor in dead
amt. but Townsend caught her in
lis arms and bore her to the hall.
Smoke began to pour up the stair
way. and he never knew just how he
-ot to the dressing room, threw some
Tater in the girls face, threatened
nd coaxed her into consciousness and
nally got her into some wraps Many
women had left without their wraps, |
nd below he heard Emile giving or
ers to servants. Natalie's mother
vas weeping and wringing her hands.
nd Kirk was trying to take the girl {
rom Townsend, who simply showed !
i'm aside.