The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-01-11
TIE EVENING STORY
At the Swing.

(By Martha McCullOch-W1l llan1S.)
Cloud mountains in the west, mar
gined with fiery gold, flung long aeria
shadows athwart the sky. There was
the smell of new rain. though the tur1
under foot was dustdry. A shower
had come within sight across the
meadows, then veered away southerly
Amy was glad it had veered- Hell
white frock, crisp and sheer, would
have wilted in the damp of 1t. The
| rain had been too slight to do more
than freshen the ART still came
warm to the cheek, but without the
sting that had marked midday breezes
At O'Clock of a midsummer after
noon, roses droop on the stalk, but
rose cheeks are at their fairest. Amy
proved the fact she knew she had new
er looked better-therefore she was
gay and proud. The Carlyns. mother
and son, We're coming to an early tea
1t was their first approach to soclab1l-
| ity Ever since they moved into the
old Earle place they had held them
selves distantly toward the country
side.
That had not suited Amy, yet she
had given no sign of her dissatisfac-
ton. She was born mbitious-Lenox
CarIyn was Just the sort Of man she
wanted to marry, well-bred, well-to-
u.
had no mere vulgar greed for money,
in spite of having had it in plenty all
her life. But she did yearn to reach
social pinnacles-the rare heights
people, the Watsons, were wholly I'M
distinguished, Notwithstanding they
were each and several, patterns or
thrift. sobriety and the moral virtues.
Secretly Amy had always envied
Leslie May, her college mate, not
withstanding Leslie had had few ana
plain clothes. little money to spend,
and never q box from home. she was
an orphan, hound to work for her Nv
ing-the college course was PROVIDED
through the will of an elderly relative
who had left a million to missions.
But she was also a governor grand
daughter. and entitled to use crest
when she could afford It; amy
would have given her string of pearls
for a crest. She was bent on having
one. if ever she got away from the
neighborhood. where FOLK, knowing
her pedigee. would only iausn a. ~;
She was glad and sorry to have Leslie
az guest: glad because her presence
gave a reasonable excuse for the mild
fes+ivitv. sorry in that she felt herself,
to a degree. hampered by hospitality
it would not do to eclipse Leslie eltner
IN clothes or charms. Hence the white
frocIx fine and lacy to be sure; hence,
also. the conspicuous absence of the
pearls. Leslie had begged her to put
them on saying:
you set them off so it's shame to
leave them in their CASE
Instead of them Amy had only little
cold chain. twin to that about Leslie's
neck. otherwise there was no likeness
between them. Leslie's limp organdie
was palpably faded her slippers a bit
sc11ffed her ribbons crumpled Further
She had done her hair in her usual Sc
we're fashion. There the rain had help
ed a bit bringing the loose ends Of it
into curl, and so framing her mobile
face in tendrilly wisps. She really
looked her best Amy's hair; yellow as
wheat. was smooth. and beautifully
dressed. modishly dressed to be SURE.
vet not in such wise as to deforn her
fine small hand.
MAKE haste and marry duke-this
head deserves strawberry leaves at
least Leslie had said. touching the
golden softness admiringly.
Amy had smiled-she did not aspire
to dukes, but it was pleasant to hear
she deserved them. After all. Leslie
safely married. she would set about
helping her friend to a like happy es-
tate Just now such a thing was out Of
the question. So she had asked young
Danforth by way of balancing Leslie.
He was her stand by-they had grown
up together on adjoining farms. and
though gossip had been matching them
since he put on long trousers. she had
never thought of him a lover
Leslie might do worse. from a world
" point. Danforth If not rich was
com fortably off. withal energetic. But
Leslie would never in the world look at
hin-he bored her. Amy knew it, Les
lie had been always too courteous to
say so. Somewhat willfu1. also high
headed was Leslie. She might have
had half the mission million, If only
she had agreed to give her life to the
cause. Yet now she stood laughing and
talking with Danforth, as If he were
the one creature in the world she cared
to entertain.
Amy stared at her. frowning family
then her brow clearing mag1cally. she
said mentally
1T is coming out beautifulIy-Lenox
Carlyn will think they are sweethea-ts,
if not engaged -
Lenox might have thought so. but for
certain prior happenings-the fact that a
year ago Leslie had been his befrothed
But since she gave no sign of recognition,
he accepted the role of new acquaintance
with what grace he might. Clearly. ne
could not say to a wholly new acquaint-
ance: Il was a Jealous idiotl Forgive. o
forgive me-
Lenox said It in his heart over ana over
throughout the high tea More than ever
he said It when. after the meal. thav