The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-12-19
THE EVENING STORY
In the workaday world.
(By Dorothy DougIas.l

! InWar0Iy, Anne frowned; Outwardly,
she smiled and followed Clarice into
the tiny kitchen adjoining the studio.
Il knew you would not mind help
ing me with the doughnuts," Clarice
was saying.
But that was exactly what Anne did
mind. If it was not doughnuts with
which she was called upon to help
iClarice, it was any one of a thousand
things. And Anne could not spare the
time from her work When she had
taken the tiny studio with Clarice,
Anne had supposed that Clarice would
be as busy as she, herself. Instead
of that, it seemed as if there was a
continual diversity of Interruptions.
Il simply will have to take desk
room in some office" Anne told her
self as she followed Clarice. my lit
erary agency will be a thing of the
past if I get no time to work" Anne
smiled whimsically at the remem-
brance of her slim pocketbook and
resolved to look for desk room that
very day. 81 will join the worlka-
day world in earnest she decided
while she turned over the doughnuts
in the boiling lard for Clarice.
So it was that later in the day Anne
found herself going up in the elevator
to inspect not only desk room that
had been advertised, but also the
desk.
When Cyril Blake looked up from
his correspondence to see Anne stand
/
| he was a broker or a lawyer.
You have desk room to let?" Anne
inquired in a very dignified tone. She
did not smile. She only glanced
quickly about and approved of both
Cyril Blake and his sunshiny office.
| Blake not only approved, but felt
| instantly that he could not possibly
continue his well started business as
manufacturers agent if Anne re-
fused to share his office. He tried
- IL, LII. Il Is--I,4
pect of so lovely an adornment to his
small office. In consequence his man
ner was impersonaI enough to satisfy
Anne.
''Then will see to having my name
put on the door," Anne said by way
/ of leaVe-taking.
Il will be glad to attend to that for
you," Blake suggested.
81 am going right out to do it,
thank you," Anne said.
So it was that the name Anne War
rington, literary agent, appeared on
the door beneath that of Cyril Blake,
manufacturers agent.
Blake confessed to himself when
he entered the office the next morn
ing that he rather liked the two
names, and when, he stepped within
he realized that Anne was going to
make a tremendous difference in
things.
The young woman nodded in a
good morning.
"Why will women always use pink
blotting paper instead of green or
red?" he questioned himself, and cast
a glance at Anne as she arranged her
ultra-feminine desk appointments.
Blake smiled. "She considers herself
very trim and businesslike in that
tailored suit and hat, but that pink
bow beneath her chin contradicts the
entire effect
Blake opened his mail, but the very
faintest odor of white rose scent made
him draw a deeper breath than was
his wont.
During the day he found time to
steal many glances at Anne as she
clicked away on her machine or made
entries in a large book. He won
dered constantly how any one of so
dainty makeup had found courage
to enter the hustle and hustle of BUSH !
ness. Yet her agency seemed to :
prosper, for scarcely an editor turned
down her appeal for an interview.
mo wonder" thought Blake, and
sighed, for he felt in his heart that
he was going to love Anne Warning
ton.
During the following weeks he
tried vain1y to secure at least a per-
sonal smile. But Anne only smiled
her reserved yet strangely sweet
smile that she might offer to the
elevator man.
Gradually Blake began to feel that /
he slept only that he might awaken
to go down to his office and find
Anne with all her pink blotters and
scent and adorable bows waiting for
him. When he went out to see GUS
toners or to get his lunch he hur-
ried back always with the thought of
Anne's golden head, silhouetted
against his office window. drawing |
him on.
Blake was grateful that his bust
boy was visible in the near future, yet
he knew that any boy would mar the
harmony of his office with only Anne
to share it.
On the way down one morning three
or four weeks after the renting of his
desk room, Blake purchased a cluster
of pink roses.
ct will put them on her DESK he
decided. perhaps she will smile at
me-
He waited then for Anne's arrival.
When she came there was the usual
smile and Blake watched the most
delicate color sweep across her
cheeks when she saw the roses on
her desk.
Anne said nothing, but when Blake
returned from a business appointment
he frowned inwardly-
and Anne was clicking her machine as
if roses had never grown.
Business is business" thought
Blake and smiled grimly.
After that it was Blake who nodded
curtly when Anne said good morning,
and it was Anne who wondered why
she felt hurt.
sT don't care" she told herself with
a little wistful smile.
eff I had kept his roses he might
disturb me as much as C1arice."
Anne tried not to admit that Blake
had already disturbed her heart to
the extent of having made her take