The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-26
THE EVENING STORY

(By Jerome Sp1 -gue.)

(By Jerome Sp1 ~gue)
Il want you to understand" said
Mr. Iverson, irritably that 1 can't
afford it. Times are bad-very bad
and you've got enough to wear. When
your mother was young she didn't ex-
pect such things-yOung people were
not pampered then"
He flicked a crumb from his coat
as he finished his harangue, and went
out of the dining room.
Mother demanded the three sis
tiers, explosively, as their father left.
mother, does he really mean that we
can't go?''
He says that you can't have new
dresses said Mrs. Iverson, depre-
And we can't go in our old rags"
famed Gloria. 1T isn't just on our
own account, mother, that we hate
tits because of what people say.
~ esterday we heard a man muir
muir, The misers brood as we
passed. cried Beverly, who was the
beauty.
"Oh, don't Beth expostulated, as
she saw the lines grow deeper in her
mothers face. Mother can't help
it
L know" Beverly was vepentant at
once, L know. but if father only
realized"
You can't make him. dear by hard
words said Mrs Iverson, gently.
He is-so-changed. His heart is
tender underneath the shell-but he
seems to have hardened since he
made his fortune-I wish there was
some way to wake him up"
There is a way" said Gloria sud-
denly. then stopped as they cried
ca gerly, What"
I've got to think it out" was all
she would say when they pressed her
fer an answer.
Three days later Mr.. Iverson was
paid generous dividend on what had
promised to be a losing investment.
He carried a box of candy home to
his invalid wife. 1t was cheap candy,
but Mrs. Iverson rejoiced. Hes
really coming into his own again. she
said to Gloria You should have
known him when he was young, my
dear"
Gloria kissed her tenderly HE
must have been nice to have won you,
dearest she said. but when she went
upstairs to her sisters she remarked
bitterly. Wen probably pay for the
candy by the sacrifice of one vege-
table for tomorrow's dinner
But they were not called upon for
such a sacrifice, for Mr.. Iverson
even added an extra salad by way
of luxury.
Beth was so touched by this unusual
act of thoughtfulness that she begged |
Gloria to desist from the plan which |
that determined young lady had re-
lentlessly formed
1T may have a dreadful effect on |
father" she said.
Don't you worry" said Gloria |
hes got to be walked up. as mother
calls it, and l am going to do it final |
ly and effectually."
The occasion for which the girls 1
had needed new gowns was the an /
nual dinner given for the benefit of /
the towns free library. Here were |
gathered together all of the promin- |
ent citizens. and here came the rich |
~ hill 10 ut y v. rzf h. IA l.
whom Mr.. Iverson loved to meet and !
discuss financial matters with the |
hope of a clew which might bring |
more dollars.
He cared little what his daughters
wore, for no one noticed them, at
least no one in whom he was inter-
ested Their old gowns were surely
good enough for the people of the
town.
But Gloria and Beverly and Beth
loved pretty things. not only for their
own sake, but because of the three
men who had wooed and won them
When Gloria told her plan to her
lover, he was doubtful of its success.
You'll only hurt yourself. dearest"
he said, and you won't cure your
father and what do we want with his
money. anyhow"
Il wish he'd lose every cent of it,"
said Gloria. passionately- He boards
it and boarded it. and doesn't do one
good or beautiful thing with it. He
and it hurts me to see her disappoint-
ed in him.
Beverly crept into Gloria's room on
the night before the annual dinner.
I'm afraid Gloria" she whispered
I'm afraid I won't have the courage
to go through with it
But Beth was not afraid She, like
Gloria was sustained by the thought
that something must be done to bring
happiness to her mother.
land thank goodness. mother isn't
going to be at the dinner" said Clio
ria
There was much rummagfng the next
dav in the attic. There was some gig
cling too. but when Mrs. Iverson asked
asked the cause of the hilarity. Gloria
answered: we are trying to find some
thing to wear, dear mother. .
Mrs. Iverson thought it a little
strange that her daughters were cloak
ed and wrapped up that night when i
they babe her good-by.
ssI.rn sorry you couldn't have the
pretty things she said. but the boys
will like you just as well, I'm sure
Reveriy's lover was as young and
ardent as herself. You're a beauty"
he whispered. $ Beverly threw of her
cloak in the room downstairs and dis .
played her costume. You've got a sort .
of driven from home look that's Won
derful."
Beverly in an old gray gown Of her {
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