The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-11-11
The EVENING STORY
Lucien's Attainment.


II he should exchange his cash on
nand-one nickeI-for a cup of coffee
ne would have to dispense with a sun
day morning paper and perhaps miss
the opportunity of finding his long
sought occupation.
With a sigh of self denial he finally
decided to eliminate breakfast. His
mastery over the demands Of a healthy
young appetite met with reward. A
passing man with a paper under his
arm sat down beside Lucien, throwing
the sheets of advertisements to the
ground. These were eagerly appro-
prlate1 by the workseeker, and he
turned to the columns that breed and
destroy so many hopes A careful
column offered nothing new. AS his
| eye fell on the succeeding column he
| had an inspiration.
"I'll bet, he ruminated, there isn't
another man in the city who will look
for job in the female help column"
He began systematic consideration
! of the alphabetically arranged wants:
/ agents, bOOkkeepers, cooks, dressmak-
ers. fur finishers, governesses, house
maids. "A trim, tidy housemaid for
/ few hours work each day. Apply to
Mrs. Edgar Wyndham, Suite c, the
This advertisement held his atten-
! ton by reason of his having brought
with him to the city a letter of recon-
mendation and introduction to Mr..
/ Edgar Wyndham, a prominent corpor-
alton lawyer, who had proved court
eous in expressing his regrets at hav-
ing no opening for a newly hedged at
torney. Other applications had failed
until there seemed to be no place for
him but this bench in the park
He would not return home. for that
would mean acknowledgment to the
| he was engaged that he a failure.
| When he had besought Judge Trent
for the bestowal of his daughters
| hand, he received a curt demand as
! to his plans for maintaining a Wife
Lucien had unfolded his purpose of
opening an Office in his home town.
The judge crushed both plans and
hopes.
lawyer to attain success. You should
go 70 the city. If you find renown, I
may listen to you"
So this was why Lucien was con-
templating the advertisements
Il always did things backward he
reflected, rem mbering one of his
mothers favorite "reminiscences of his
having insisted on beginning at ~ to
learn the alphabet.
In a few nom ents he was ringing
the bell at suite c, feeling that this
was his Omega. He was admitted into
slip of a hall by a fashionably at
81 came to see about the advertise
ment," he began.
yes she encouraged, do you
know of some one ?''
4 wish the position for-myself
For an instant Mrs. Wyndham won
dered if her husband were perpeirat-
ing one of his periodical practical
jokes. A second glance into the seri-
Gus. wan eyes assured her of his sin
certify
Come in, and We will talk about it,
she invited.
You see," she began when he was
seated, this isn't quite the kind of a
position YOU could fill. I simply want
some one to sweep. dust and tidy the
rooms, answer the bell and serve on
the night we receive
Il could do those things more
quickly and thoroughly than house !
maid could, and 1 am experienced in |
serving
What experience have you had"
she asked, bafI1ed as to his station.
Il worked my way through college |
[ waited on tables
surely with a college education you |
should aspire to a different position
from this
4 did aspire. until I got too hun
cry. VIII you give me a trial %
Fortunately for him, Mrs. Wynd- !
ham could remember earlier and less
prosperous days. Recollections of the |
struggle necessary to send her brother |
through college enlisted her sympa- !
Here is my reference" he con-
tinued
She took the letter from him.
Why she exclaimed, cit is ad-
his old professor And could he do
nothing for you -
There is no place. it seems, in this
city for a young attorney"
You may start right in on your du-
ties she said impulsively. You may
bring my breakfast from the cafe
above to me- I always have Sunday
breakfast in my ROOM
When Mr.. Wyndham came home he
learned of the addition to his house
hold with much amusement He was
used to his wife's innovations.
Luciens trial week was most salts
factory. He kept the flat in order
and served with dexterity at Mrs.
Wyndham's card parties. There was
plenty of leisure for him to pursue his
studies.
! AS time went on, his services came
to be in demand by the other occu-
an understudy in almost every kind
Of work. When he had been in serv-
ice two months, the Wyndhams took
their annual flight to the mountains,
leaving Lucien at the flat as caretaker.
The day succeeding their departure
was a holiday and all members of Mr..
Wyndham's law firm were away. Lu-
Glen had been instructed to go to the
office and look over the mail, forward
ing to Mr.. Wyndham all marked per
sonal."
The rooms were deserted. and with
a sigh of renewed ambition at the
sight of all the law books, he sank
into the armchair at an oak table to
indulge in roseate imaginings, and
build his Spanish domain With a
start came the SCATTERING of Dreams
He carefully sorted the letters and re-
directed those to be forwarded. Then
he carefully locked the office and re-
turned to the Navarro. That night
such of the apartment jewellers as had
remained in the city repaired to the
roof to observe the declaration of in !
dependence in the old-fashioned way.
Lucien was engaged to superintend the s
fireworks. He was also to officiate at