The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-12-25
THE EVENING STORY


!
that; it's banal. But it's the only
thing that fits the case"
Nora Melbright resumed the study
of two letters that had come by the
mornings post one was from De
Bancey Crane, the sculptor, the other
from John Wilmington, manufacturer.
Each was proposal of marriage.
The two men were to be over
Christmas guests at her brother-in-
laws nome and each had asked for
sign on Christmas eve to indicate
whether he had been accepted or re-
jected
Its positively uncanny," unused
Miss Melbright, that both of them
should be struck by the same idea at
the same instant. Here we are, an
hour from the city. Delaney could
have run down and stated his case
though l don't know what I'd said if
he had And Jack Wilmington lives
here in Brookhurst. He's been away
for a few days, but he could have
three months"
at least above the herd. Grill had
called Delaney Crane "the most
promising American sculptor" For
the past two years he had been max
ing great strides in his art. Success
had not spoiled him in the ordinary
sense of the term, but, and she sighed.
if he were only not so fond of money!
If only he cared more for sculpture
and less for what it brought him.
There were excuses for him. He had
never, until now, known anything but
poverty. He had scrimped and tOiled
for his high school education, econom-
lied to the last penny to make his way
through college. and had starved for
his art education in Paris. Could he
be blamed for seeing only motor cars
and country houses in each block of
marble?
And Jack Withington-if only he
were not so clumsy His rare forays
into society We're agonizing to With |
ington and embarrassing to his friends. |
An irresponsible smile curved her lips
at the memory of Withington's last
It was at Mrs. Minister'S Mrs |
Millionbucks.' they had privately |
called her. The lady was exhibiting a
vase she had picked up abroad. and of |
which she was very proud one after |
another examined it with murmured |
for Mrs. Minister'S taste |
until it reached Wilmington. Somehow /
it slipped through his fingers and |
tinkled musically into hundreds of
pieces on the polished floor.
She recalled the misery on Jacks
face, and the horred lit is of no conse-
quence," more cutting than a dagger
thrust, from the outraged Mrs Mil
lister.
"If it weren't for Jacks clumsiness
'' said Nora.
OF the two young men, Wilmington
was most in her mind during the week
that followed - the week before
Christmas His deeds spoke for him,
as she made her charity calls.
There was the case of the Biggses.
The husband and father. droopy. dis
couraged young man, seemed always
out of work 1t had been, for some
Tine, Nora's unavoidable duty to pro-
vide them a Christmas dinner.
This year. however, the house was
swept and garnished. and Mrs. BiggS
was singing to the baby. tAbner's at
work" she proudly informed Nora.
He's at Mr.. Withington's factory and
likes it ever so much Mr.. Wilmington
old him not to worry about Christmas
because he always gives his men a
basket with turkey and things. oh.
ven have a fine Christmas dinner this
earl she eXclaimed ed.
Nora braced herself for the next call {
on old Mrs. Slovak. whose son Ben
~ was oftener in trouble than out I
Today, however. the youngster. known
o the police as Benny the Rat" was +
describing gratefully the heat of his
why. Mrs. Slovak.' cried Nora in
Slad surprise Il thought Benny was 9
IN iafI?" completed the woman in
Ter broken English. 'He was. But r
asst night Mr. Wilmington sent bail and !
-ot him out
THE Rat himself, whose furtive eyes +
larbored most frequently fear or the lust +
# stealing, looked up briefly with quite
new expression. Hes a good guy" he
aid.
"The Gang gathered the day before t
christmas for its annual frolic. There
we're Sam Wallace. the illustrator, t
Delaney Crane. Wilmington. the Cam t
ron girls. Mr.. and Mrs Tommy Mullane.
his year they were guests of the Catlins r
nd Nora at Brookhurst. n
Christmas eve was the big time: things
appened so satisfying then First there r.
7as the joy of arriving: then the noble =
inner and the Christmas tree-not to |
lention 1.-The Jinx.
1.-The ink was the big feature of the n
eunion. Tt peculiar institution X
king different form each year It II
light be a song. set to popular air
poem or a satirical story. or even
ainting. But it always must be clever
nd illustrate the foibles of some member
( the group.
Nora's secret misgivings proved ground +;
.ss She had dreaded the coming of
hristmas eve. She feared the two young d
zen would watch her owlishly for sign or
)len D.
Delaney Crane had been elected to -
The Jinx. and there was "
cen anticipation when dinner had been
cared away and brown paper parcel q
laced before him. With a mischfevous II
nile he cut the cords. stripped of the
aper and pushed The Jinx'' forward ri
to public view. ts
There was immediate shout Of an &c