The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-08-05
THE EVENING STORY

(By Blanehe q. Weekes. J

SAID Aunt BeSS as she caught sight
of her niece's downcast face.
The girl did not answer immedi-
ately but continued to gaze over the
sun lit fields. When she did speak
it was in a voice that she streve to
keep from trembling.
Nothing, really. Aunt Bess. The
people over at the hotel asked me to
take part in the tableaux they are
having Saturday night and I told
them I couldn't" She choked over
the last word.
Said you couldn't F'ivahe''l?
What did you say that for?'
had to. They wanted me to be
Marguerite-th pictures are to be
from plays and things like that-and
they said I was to wear white satin,
and of course I knew 1 had to re-
fuse, them
| Couldn't you wear any $780, kind
OF a white dress; your white null"
That wouldn't do at all; the whole
thing is going to be dress show;
they're just too glad to have a chance
to show off their clothes. oh, dear,
it's awful to be poor"
IF they want you to help them,
why wouldn't one of them lend you
dress ?"
them for the world; if they offered,
It might be different, but they didn't.
And there is to be a dance"
Aunt Bess sighed and looked out
into the brilliant sunshine. Neither
spoke. Suddenly the older woman
elasped her hands so tightly that the
knuckles showed white. and her lips
set In a straight line. She looked
once more at the dewneast face:
| then without a word turned and
walked upstairs to her own room. She
paused in front of the great ward
robe for a moment, then flung her.
self on the bed and buried her face
| in the pillows. When she sat
| it was tear stained but resolute. she
drew chair in front of the ward
robe, mounted it and from the ''welP'
at the top drew forth great paste
board box, covered with dust, She
on the floor, the box across her lap,
the tears making big splotehes in
the dust.
Il can't can't look at it again."
she whispered. She laid it on the
floor and walked to the old fashioned
dressing table and looked at her re-
| Election.
I'm DID," she said bitterly. "oids
lThirty-seven this month, An old
maid It's time I had some sense"
had forgetten-but I haven't, All
these years and it still hurtsHTem!
Toni How could you treat me
SOP" Turning away she crept blind
bling pitifully
The sound of music from the great
hotel, under whose shadow rested her
little brown cottage. woke her to the
plain realities of her daily life.
Lunch time she said aloud, "and
haven't done thing this whole
morning"
she poured some water into the
wide basin and bathed her face; then
brushing back the soft curls. so like
L.
the threads of gray, and without a
look toward the box on the floor
went quickly down stairs and out on
the porch.
Eliza BETH"
Yes, Aunt Bess."
Elizabeth, PUN up to my room and
on the floor near the big wardrobe
you'll see a box. It's pretty dusty.
It's been slowed away somewhere for
ten years. ever since we moved
here. And-Whats inside is for you,
For me? Why. Aunt Bess, what
is it?"
Run and see. It's-a surprise for
you"
The box lay where 1t had been
dropped and Elizabeth, kneeling down
united the cords. First there was a
covering of wrapping Te~Ar; then
white tissue paper. and then blue, and
last of all lay soft folds of shining
"
of Amusement she held it up. and
saw it was a dress in the stvIe of
many years ago. Catching 1t up in
her arms, she ran down to the kitch-
making biscuits for the MONDAY |
meal.
Aunt Bess, you're fairy god
mother. Where did you set this love-
" thing?"
time. I'd almost forgotten it," sift- |
ing the flour vigorously. When you |
spoke about the tabIeaux Thought |
it might be some USE
It's Just lovely; 1t looks ike a |
on the floor. sprinkling the linoleum |
with a sudden shower of flour. The |
older woman moved to the door and |
took the broom from behind 1t.
Let me, Aunt Bess- The other
waved her off.
If ever 1 get a girl again. she be-
gan vigorously. III MAKE her prom
Use to stay a year before I engage /
her. I declare I've lost my knaek of
doing things"
Elizabeth looked at her keenIy,
then gathered up the dress again.
II think I'd better run over and
show it to Mrs. Harris and ask her |
If 1t will do she said. She went up
to her aunt and kissed her softly.
Aunt Bess, I'm so happy 1 don't
know what to say. not because can
be in the tableaux, but'-shyly-''A Mr..
Carter is coming down Saturday
night and Sunday" There was a sud
den increase of the pink color in her
cheeks
Mr. Carter who was here last
month ?"
Yes, Aunt Bess, and I did want to
look nice I've always felt so shah
by-not that he cared, but I did"
Aunt Bess nodded. He's nice I
young fellow" she said. Il hope
everything will turn out all right"
Then she kissed the young face.
When the girl had left the room
her aunt stood before the omen door
rhere the ndornus honevsuckle hung