The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-12-10
THE EVENING STORY
Meeting the Chauffeur.
(By Ehe Stevens.l


You are to wear these so the
chauffeur will know you," Elizabeth
Hayden declared laughingly. as she
deposited a great bunch of English
violets in Barbara Vests lap.
"Oh, how exquisite!" Barbara muir
INJURED, burying her face amid the
beauties moment. before fasten-
ing them upon her three seasons old
jacket.
Now don't worry a Bit" Elizabeth
continued, in her brisk. encouraging
tones. you'll manage that children's
party all right. You always were
great in arranging for all sorts of
ridiculous stunts at college. And if
Mrs. Bellingham Forbes takes you up
your future will be assured. Every
body in town will be soliciting your
services Well. goodbye, and good
luck" Elizabeth hurried from the
his final "All aboardi"
Barbara settled back in her seat,
and strove to think over the coming
ordeal calmly; but the exquisite. per-
thoughts to them, instead. 1t had
been SO long since she had been able
to afford violets.
sit was -extravagant for Elizabeth
to buy these for me-" Barbara
thought. remorsefully.a "As for that
about my wearing them so the chauf-
feur would recognize me, it sounded
quite too much like fiction. AT
little country station like Orville I'll
probably be the only passenger. She
for giving them to me, or I wouldn't
accept them"
It had been so good of Elizabeth
to suggest her doing this kind of
work and to help her in making the
start by recommending her untried
abilities to Mrs. Bellingham Forbes so
enthusiastically that that lady de-
sired her services forthwith. Eliza
beth had even attended to all the
necessary arrangements. That was
how she came to be able to play that
little joke about the violets. Eliza
beth had been the only friend on
whom she could depend since her
father had lost his money and died.
1t was especially kind of Elizabeth
to believe in her ability to do any
sort of work successfully, after her
recent failure at school teaching;
though it had not been her fault that
needed it most. But she would make
good now. She must. Bread and
butter must be obtained somehow
| until she-was strong enough to go back
to school teaching.
The tourney to Orville, the station
! three miles from Mrs. Bellingham
Forbes country place, was a short
one, and Barbara found herself leav-
ing the train all too soon.
When she reached the station plat
form she looked about her eagerly
for Mrs. Bellingham Forbes chauf-
feur, who was to meet her.
In a moment her eyes rested upon
a young fellow of athletic build, dis
guised by hideous toggery, who was
standing beside a huge, shining car,
chatting unconcernedly with coun-
| tryman.
Barbara walked toward them.
| She waited impatiently until the
i other man had gone on, then she
stepped up to the begoggled one, and
| inquired sharply, Didn't you see my
violets?"
with laugh. doffing his cap cere-
Then he added in a tone of amaze
ment, 81 beg your pardon. Miss West,
didn't recognize you for the mo-
ment.''
| With a shock of intense surprise,
Barbara saw 1t was Hartwell Eller-
ton, a Harvard man, classmate OF
Elizabeth's brother, whom she had
met frequently during her college
vanished completely out of her life.
Evidently he had been down on his
luck, as well as herself, since leaving
college, else why vas he here In the tn,
| chauffeur? Now that she came to
| think about it, she had really never
known anything about his circum-
stances, but had taken his wealth and
social position for granted from his
appearance.
OF course, a chauffeur received good
| pay, and yet it was scarcely posi-
ton in which she would have expected
to find an ambitious Harvard man
| two years after he had taken his de-
gree. Why, a chauffeur wasn't much
more than. servant coachmani
Then a hot blush of shame rose to
Barbara's cheeks. as she remembered
Forbes wouldn't consider her much