The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-12-07
The EVENING STORY
Man and Manikin.
(By Ella Randall Pearce.,

| dppl1Gu d DAINTY power pun D6IOre inc
mirror and arranged her hat and veil.
| THE woman who hesitates is Iost-and
you hesitated awfully, Edna. Now you re
going to meet me tomorrow, and be nice
| little manikin.''
"Ohr The other girl spoke in a sharp.
hurt tone, and pressed one hand to her
We'll, if you don't like that word, spell
! it as the French do, mannequin. M "
| don't be foolish, Ldna, and let pride stard
in the way of your making few honest
| dollars; you couldn't make them as quick
| ly anywhere else at the fashion parade
| of Berger Brothers. And it's just like be-
| ing in a piay-wearing all those lovely
things and walking up and down the
| 'It isn't that what you think, Lola. I'll
go; I'll meet you at the store tomorrow. L
| really need the money, and L thank you
| so much for helping me out"
Hush, Honey; don't talk that way to
Lola, now ready for temperance in
public, struck ridiculous attitude and
| rolled her eyes rebukingIy. Her friend
laughingly closed the door behind her. TIE
next instant Edna Singleton was in tho
depths of an arm chair and in tears.
Manikin," however spelled or pro-
nounced, seemed a detestable word, op IN
ing the door, as it did, INTO. the past a
scene from which rose now before the
girls mental vision.
There was a spacious apartment draped
in old blue and softly lighted; line nei'e
and there of dull gold and the delicate
| tints of water colors on the walls. Before
the mantel famed great bunch of AmeI-
lean Beauties, and, bending above the
| flowers, with her hands purposely busy
among the long stems, was girl, hersGlf
symphony in blue shades. Between her
and the door, young man was standing
with his face turned angrily over his
shoulder. DO you mean you want moth
ing more to do with me?'' he was saying
fiercely; ami the girls voice came, sweet
and OH SO cold, from above the roses, L
mean, Harry, that wnen love it must be
a man, not a manikini' Then the do T
crashed to between them.
'Well!' Edna sat up and wiped her
a W
self. I wonder if Harry has ever learned
of the change in my fortunes-but, of
course, he has. There would be plenty OF
people in the old set to carry the news.
But where would they carry it? No one
now I never meet any of the old crowd.
Why should 1? 1 am no longer the rich
Miss Singleton, but poor girl looking for
chance to earn my own living. Still, 1
She began to make her preparation for
Maule had once liked to hear her sing.
After all, he deserved the rebuke from the
girl he had asked to marry him. How
could any sensible, Self-reSpecting young
woman pledge herself to a gay idler, a
drawing room ornament. mere fashion
plate. And young Maule had brains.
The next day Edna, in her new finery,
made the rounds of the crash-covered
aisles arranged for the fashion parade,
and returned with burning cheeks. 1t ha j
been so much more embarrassing than sce
had fancied it would be-those rows of
curious faces; the following eyes and din in
ly and loftily before the customers CT /
Berger Brothers, trailing lengths of white
chiffon and silver SequinS behind her, she
could hear low criticism of her hair, her
complexion, her shoulders.
IT think it's awful-and there are lot
of men out there, too" she whispered to
you'll get used to it. And you're do
ing finer
A lovely importation of soft blue, lace
draped and pearl trimmed encased Edna's |
slender form. She ont again n =
crash trail. Up one aisle and down an
other she passed with Lola just ahead in
a gorgeous opera cloak. woman at the /
side leaned forward out of her wraps of |
fur.
'One moment" she said. haughtily. !
Turn around, please. Is this a PaQuiu |
model?''
Edna revolved slowly, like mechanical !
figure, with a curious sense of panic. She |
would have liked to flee from the place; /.
from that outstretched gloved hand and /
the COOL languid voice.
1t is charming. Such harmony of color. |
Harry, look; this is your favorite blue. |
Oh, dear! you don't take the least interest |
in fashions any more. What does Paquin |
you're not even civilizedT
Edna heard, and as she faced the group |
her startled eyes peered out from between |
Maule who sat there-tanned broad |
chested, well groomed, but lacking all the |
Smilingly turning his face at his cousins |
request. he looked at the fair model in |
Dlue- PaQuln meant nothing to MIN per |
haps; but what of the sweet, flushed face. |
the shaded violet eyes, the familiar |
masses of crinkly auburn hai>? He start |
ed forward. and then sat very still, al |
most doubling, the reality of the vision |
before him. His cousin spoke.
nj, II think think I will buy that gown. Send
Lithely, steadily. retreated the blue |
draped figure, but the heart under the
tr1p-hammer Must she go out again to
face that crow.and Harry Mau1e?
There was no further charge of inatten-
ton on the part of 1.-The man from tire
woods" He saw Edna from the moment /
she appeared until she circled round the |
distant archway; but she never looked his |
way again. Three times she made an at
tractive part of the fashion parade, and
the sartorial show was over;
Edna emerged upon the quiet side street
in her shabby tailored suit, to find al
athletic, slln-burned young man await
arm. and tried to pass with a formal
greeting; but he would not have 1t SO.
s4 see am am teaong the city
Later, when they were alone in quiet
corner with tea and cakes before them.
young Maule confessed that his statement
was not quite exact
It am going away, but not SO soon. But. |
now. that it was sso for this Came around round
from Cuba
oranges, grape fruit and sugar cane. 1
am the most important man in the nsw
American colony La Columbe. L live IT
palm leaf shack, and till my own ground
'You-Harry Mauler'
Surely Don't I look the part? FT,Ie |
climate there; and we're working now to |
get q railroad through from the coast. La
Columbe will be a big town yetr'
Harry, Harry, you're positively funnyi''
Edna was laughing, but the tears stood
in her eyes She could scarcely believe
that this was the Harry MaI1le she had