The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-11-17
The EVENING STORY
24aidens Three.
(By Virginia Blair

Bett, who was watching the WINDOW
Here comes Sara, carrying huge
bundle
If we should write home" said
Anne, who was looking over her shout
der. that the fastidious Sara Wool
worth had walked through the streets
of London with such a burden, they
would think it wasn't true"
wei. We shall write 1t" said Betti
succinctly. Il wouldn't let them know
now you two dear things are econo-
mlzlng SO that 1 can stay for any
thing in the world"
Delighted" said Anna lightly, and
leaned down to kiss BETH, who was
little and dark.
sara came up the stairs two at a
time.
such feast" she cried radiantly.
4 found a bargain in the bake shop.
Hall a freshly roasted chicken with
lots of gravy"
I'VE mustn't be too extravagant, %
said Anne.
wei. I'm simply starved" sara
said, "and besides I've had great luck.
Look here"
She unrolled the large parcel and
displayed several rolls of paper-all
the materials for hower-making.
Il stopped at the parish house on
my way home" she said, ito ask the
ladies If they couldn't sell some of my
water colors at their fair. They were
talking about decorations. They
couldn't afford flesh flowers, so I sug-
gested Rose Festival with paper
roses everywhere And they said they
would pay me for my work, and they
were so pleased that they called in the
curate, Mr. Griffith, and oh, girls-yOu
should see him!"
The others demanded. WHY"
He's different from most of the men
Ea~ Cs1- "a cir nh
and, if 1 were at all romantic, should
say that in a poor London curate I
had met my fate
Betti exulted. Il knew it would
happen some day. You've always
scorned the men who loved you, and
now it's your turn
Sara sighed. II wish it were. But
am perfectly sure he never thinks
of a woman. His mind seems TO be
on his poor and his parish. He didn't
talk of anything else"
Some day he'll talk about you"
Betti prophesied. "They all do
mo such luck Sara mourned.
After supper, while the girls were
deep in their pretty task, there came
a knock at the door.
rs Miss Woolworth here % asked a
deep voice, and Sara flushed as Betti
in tall gentleman in clerical
garb.
you see we are busy with our roses,
Mr.. Griffith" said the radiant Sara.
'"Fhey are beautiful" he said. but
came over because you told me that
one Of your friends might sing for
US.
"Oh, yes, BETH sings said sara.
Would you mind?' he asked Betti. /
1--WE will be glad to pay you modest
sum-
Anything will do" said Betti hon
sstly: I'VE are awfulIy hard up"
He smiled. 'Then Wen consider it |
settled.
When he went away Betti and Anne !
fell on Sara's neck. Hes perfectly !
ovely,' they said; you have our bless
ng."
sara shook them off Hes too fine
% talk about in that way. Usually |
lon't mind your teasing. but this is diff
erent"
And it was thus that Sara Wool
worth, conqueror of hearts, fell in love
It first sight with a London curatel
The night of the festival the three
urls wore gowns of crepe paper
sara went as a yellow rose Betti as a I
'lnk one. and Anne in white.
The ladies received them enthusiasts
ically. The decorations were lovely.
hey declared. Sara's curate said the
anne thing, and added, II feel as if
we're in dreamland.'
Sara sighed softly.
He looked down at her quickly
Are things going hard with you?' he
sked. You must pardon me If
eem curious-but life for you must
e q strugg1e-you three girls alone
With only music and painting to sup
ort you"
We've went hungry one night"
he faltered.
ooh your poor little thing" he said
0 tenderly that Sara was conscience
tricken.
Il just felt too small for words"
he confessed afterward to the girls
He thinks I'm poor, and it is so bliss
III to know that he likes me for my
elf Oh, I wonder what he will say
hen he finds out"
you needn't tell him until you are
larried, Anne began. and then Sara's {
'rath swept down upon her.
ooh" she said. TT think you are
readful. Anne. He hasn't said a word
Its in his heart" Anne assured her
entity.
It was not long after that Griffith
poke of his love to Sara Il want 7
OIL, dear" he said at isn't much {
lat 1 have to offer=I could not have
sked you if I hadn't felt I could !
lake life a bit easier for you
And Sara whispered back. ct love
ou." And wondered how she should ( Il
yer tell him the truth. III
But she had no chance to tell him, II
II the next morning there came chug- II
ng up 10 the snaDDy mousse where
he girls lived a grand and gorgeous
lotor. In it were two young men d
I'd a gray-bearded gentleman. One of
e younger men Jumped out ard asked n
1estions of the laDdlady. Then he
tlIed back to the other occupants OF =.
lie car. They're herei" And presently 4
lree excited gentlemen went clamor-
e UP the steps and shouted when
ara opened the door. We've found
1u.
Explanations followed: there were n
ips downstairs to the car, and pres
stIy the little table was heaped with
N erican Beauty roses. boxes of candy II
ampers of fruit At last the gray
sarded gentleman said. NOW get on Y