The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-05-24
THE EVENING STORY
Quality,

Nan, hot and freckled and happy,
swung from the links to the lawn, and
threw her clubs with rattle at Vir-
ginia's feet. That blonde rather fret
ful person, drew back her immaculate
white skirt. Nan laughed.
why all the sudden finery? Wear
white flannel, like me. This is not so
beautiful, but it's aualfty-it stands
wear and tear, and it's pleasant-does-
| iti"
Virginia shifted $50 that's your
deffnition of quality. I wonder IL the
new girl is dua1ityi Wonder what in
duced Liza Stanton to ask her to an in
definite house party! who is She
where is she from?"
Nan laughed again.
We'll, you look like wild Indian,
Nan. Better go in for cIingy things
ana We're de We're repose, like this Miss
Leith Story. Go around the corner to
the grape arbor and you'll see the
season for my change of heart and at
tire. She reclines in a. hammock, in
billow of pale blue gown. with tiny
white slipper, tiny white hands, and
an Unframed skin. blue cushion
throws her yellow hair into relief. And
beside her, looking very sentimental
and reading washy verse aloud. sits
| your especial admirer, one Terry Law
renee. The charmer has him in leashi"
Virg1nia's self-control vas not her
helpless, tnathletie females. Get busy
with cold cream and curling irons,
| shed short skirts and trip over draper
lies, and you may get him backl''
You must be feeling the heat"
commented Nan. Your talk is de-
mented! Terry doesn't belong to me-
he's only good neighbor from child
hood. And 1 like to lock at Leith
Story myself believe Mrs. stanton
knew her mother at school. I'm going
| in--it'll take me an hour to get clean -
| Virginia followed, feeling strained
and cross. She stuck her head in at
Mans door a moment.
| Man." she said. don't mind my
cattishness. Perhaps she is quality,
| but somehow she doesn't impress me
50. This heat is making a peeyish
witch out of mel
Nan, after she was gore, thought a
little. From her window she could see
the sharbor, a bit of pale blue, and a.
long, lean, masculine figure draped
over a rustic seat in an adoring atti-
tude. 1t was not like Terry to be r.
dieulous, and she had missed playing
golf with him that aftcfnoor-Jerry
Peters was not very interesting. Was
Terry in love with the rev girl? Put
ting on her fresh white dress, and pill
ing up her soft brown hair in its usual
simplicity, Nan told herself that he
had a right to fall In love as he pleas
ed. But she rather wished she were d
little less freckled, little less alarm
ingly healthful in appearance. Miss
Story's extreme fragility made her feel
Amazoniaii.
At dinner, Terry was ali eyes for
Leith Story Nan laughed with, and
! at, Jerry. Virginia was high-bred and
bored. Mrs. Stanton, when the meal
was over, excused herself for some
! letter-writing. and sent of a rhissive
that read after this manner:
here for IiffIe willis n
straigl1tefi out the tahgle Terry is get
| ting himself into. Against my will I
asked Leith Story here-had to for her
fathers sake-but she's like her faith
er's people. 1 don't know the girl, but
Terry is at her feet And Nan, sweet
and wholesome as ever, seems not even
to see. let alone to rescue him against
his will. Perhaps Leith is only f1irt-
ing-I can't quite make her out, but
don't just care for her. Come down
and see for yourself-I'I meet you at
the Station at any time you mention.
Lovingly, Liza
One morning shortly after, Mrs.
Lawrence appeared casually enough,
apd was warmly welcomed. Nan, the
inothefless, had always loved her sill
lver-haired neighbof, and. Terry was
devoted. The, old gentlewon1an knew
the world and its ways She quietly.
but persistently cultivated Miss Leith
Story, who wes perfectly polite, but
not over-friendly. Terry, in some
vague way, was aware that his time
was being taken up, that he was be-
ing interfered with.
Virginia rather wistfully watched
things as was her wont. She saw Mrs.
Stanton, Terry's mother. Peters, al
ways somebody, about the new girl.
| She herself kept in the background
she would seek no man, not even Ter
| ry, to whom her heart reached out In
spite of herself.
Things went on, quiet oitwardly,
but in q rather strained way. Nan was
much outdoors, often alone in her
canoe on the little lake not far away.
! One morning she went out very early,
before the sun was well up. Round
| ing a little point she came across Ter
| ry in another boat, his arms full of
water lilies, half open. He greeted
| her in the old boy way.
"Hello! Early bird VOC are! I came
out to get Miss Story some lillies-she
doesn't have 'em where she lives
Nan gave glance at the banks, but
Terry answered her glance.
| ..sOh, she isn't with mel l suppose
she's still asleep-she isy't much for
exercise. And Mani hope you won't
oyerdo 1t. Yesterday I saw you out
there in that hot sun on the links,
lbare-headed You'll get runstroke!''
The girl looked at him in puzzle
ment. She had never worn a hat. save
under threat She had lived in the
lsun all her life. And SO had he. This
was Leith Stery,s influence. of Counsel
Another thing-she felt his strained
attitude toward her Fer a moment
he looked at her in the old way, then
suddenly took up his paddle.
''I didn't mean to intrude on YOU"
| he said, and was off before she could
answer that she was very glad he was
there The occurrence, small in itself,
hurt her.
A few days after this in the late