The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-09
TIE EVENING STORY
An Undeserved Reward.
(By Marina Mcc,n1lno1.wi1Iae-


dlsconsolately into a peIting shower
ny the description anybody there
ABOUT would know Avis Lee Yet nret-
~ girls were plentier than bIackber-
res res IN the village. None of them,
however, had quite such hair. such
starry eyes. contours and coIoring SO
enchanting as had Avis. She was,
1urther, so slender she looked tall
Wltnout being so, moreover light on
ner feet, and plant as a rush. Add
that she was proud as poverty enforces
the we'll born to be, and there is set
forth some account of her and her
general estate.
Except for the poverty the shower
would not have mattered In car
or carriage. she could go to the An
stey party without hurt to her tenn
per or frocks. The frock was most
vulnerable-sheer and white Aunt
Bah had spent weeks on it, doing all
manner of the handwork. The re-
suit was ravishing-a creation, truly,
that Savored of Paris. This in spite
or the fact that all the stuff for it
mad come out of the chest in the gar
ret-lace and lawn, that had lain there
in lavender since the happy days when
the Lees led everything in the county.
Avis felt it was distinctly hard lines.
event of the summer "a piazza pic
MIC, Mrs. Anstey had announced, de-
claring she wanted to give her friends
fresh air, flowers, greenery, swings,
hammocks and the inestimable privi-
lege OF eating from their hands, with
out the concomitants of slugs, bugs,
sunburned noses, ruined frocks and
tempors. Her big house had piazzas
all around-they were duly screened
and sheltered by gay awnings. Hedges
of hollyhocks rose up against the
ScreenS-inside there were hanging
baskets, tail plants in tubs, and low
pots of bold blossoms, from the era
of snowballs to the days of dahlias
1ofn r1av he
NUNS.
Avis sighed deeply. Everybody
would be there, .andgespecially George
Gray. If only there were a telephone
indulge in the unprecedented extrava-
gance of a cab. I'VE are the only
gentlefolk too poor to have a phone,''
she thought bitterly.
Ellen Ware, who lived just across
the road, had both phone and a motor
car of her own. Avis almost brought
herself to the pitch of sending black
Luce over to ask leave to call the cab.
But she knew If she did Ellen would
take it as a hint for seat in the
motor. And she could not subject her
self to that. The Wares were well
enough in their way, and often did
kind things for people-but they were
new to society. Wealth had come to
them from an uncle long forgotten.
And, truth to say, Avis had more than
once rather patronized them-by way
of making them understand their un-
likeness to their new environment. |
She had been instantly ashamed of
the patronage, being at heart real
gentlewoman- But regrets recall moth |
ing. She turned slowly about. look |
ing at herself for the dozenth time in |
the mantel mirror and signing again. |
The clock struck 3@the exact hour OF /
assembly, She caught the burning of
a car outside-Ellen Ware would be |
just too late to escape the imputation
of over eagerness. She was learning
fast In the beginning the Wares had |
been always a few minutes ahead of
time, She would not go to the win
dow, but Aunt Bah, peering through |
a rift in the curtains, called hushedly:
ELLEN has started-all alone. 1 won
der if her mother isn't going?"
at don't know. 1 do know who isn't
going. Your niece Avis the girl an
sWered bitterly.
Until now she had a faint, unac-
hope that Ellen might of
fer to take her. The car had passed
the turn; in five minutes at the utmost
it would be inside the Anstey grounds,
with it's mistress, serene, uncrushed,
smiling defiance of wind and weather
I'm sorry, honey" Aunt Bah muir
dow. After all our trouble to have
you look nice, it's a pity this rain
spoils your pleasure"
'I hate the frock. I hate myself
my poverty, my good looks
Avis burst out, clinch-
ing her hands hard Aunt Bah
sighed again. Before she could speak
Avis ran on wildly: ELLEN Ware has
so much, so much-why should it be?
Z m as young as she isl want things
more-and when have a chance for
scrap of joy-things turn this way.
[ hate her-almost. lit wouldn't
be so hard-if she were not right here
under my nose"
Outside the burning motor sound
ed again. Aunt Bah peered cautious
" out. ELLEN must have forgotten
she said. IT'S the Ware
car-and she is still in it can just
barely see her-the rain is so hard"
Avis rushed toward the stair. 81
-hink I'll go to bed, and cry-as I
lid when I was five she said over
her shoulder. But with her foot upon
he first step she stopped short.
1.-The car is coming here Aunt
Bah cried breathlessly.
A minute later Ellen was calling
rom the entrance T.: "Oh, Miss Bar
oara-if Avis has not gone yet ask
her would she mind taking me I'M
Ter her wing? Mother has a head
lche-and it scares me still to think
# facing all those people without
ler.''
I'D say you were an angel-if :
lngels ever came in automobiles
Avis cried, darling out on the small
oortico which sheltered the open
ront door.
Ellen had the car door Hospitality ,
'pen. Put on rafncoat," she said !
That dress ia too