The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-09-27
THE EVENING STORY
BY WAY of Jane.
nv a. Maria CrawfOrd.)

me? Was 1 just a fool last night 70
fancy you cared for me?"
mo, I do care for you, Tom" salo
the girl quietly, but the attitude oi
your family
I don't want you to marry my
family" He voiced the thought OF
! thousands of other men pleading I'M
der the same adverse circumstances
| to the women of their hearts. IL
| you love me, Anne"
| IF [ do, L can't marry YOU Your
mother and sister Jane would MAKE
me miserable
Jane has acted abnomlnaply- She
has influenced mother, too, but When
they realize that my happiness is al
stake, they'll come over soon enough:
Your sister certainly has an i'll
| conceived idea of aristocracy. When
I met her at the Cations last week
and was mentioned as the guest OF
Mrs S1lvyn, she scorned being even
pleasant to me. Why? Because
, Edith Silvyn married a poor man ana
does her own work and has no motor
car, therefore your sister does NOT
care to know the poverty stricken
couples friends. Now the truth OIL
the matter is, that Edith's father is
able to give her everything in the
world she wants, but she has agreed
to live on her husbands income for
five years"
like that!'
Your sister only estimates ones
gentility by ones apparent wealth.
| would like to teach her lesson
Jane has always tried to be snob-
bish, especially lately since she has
hope of landing Lord Percy Bradner.
Mother is giving this dinner for him.
DO you know him?'
Indeed I do. I visited his sister
Betty for months at time"
when will you marry me?' ques-
toned the man as the car slowed
down before the big stone house.
s.Wait until I decide whether or
not I am going to marry you at all.
SIR" laughed Anne daringly as the
footman opened the door.
Mother and daughter were distant
ly cordial to the beautiful southern
girl, who responded to their greet
ings with a charm and graciousness
that made Tom love her all the
more.
LAS L live. Anne" cried the dis
tinguished' guest of honor, this is
the best luck have had in America.
I have been trying to get into COM
munication with you for weeks.
hoped to go south to see you. Mother
wants you to visit us again in the
fall Betty has capitulated at last,
and will be a duchess by Christmas.
Anne has visited my sister Betty sew
eral times,' he said to the two as
tonished women beside him.
Indeed, we are hoping that she will
honor us with a visit soon, answered
Toms mother, beaming on the girl.
why didn't you tell me that?" pout-
ed lane jeaIously I never dreamed
you were a friend of Lord Bradners
sister What is she like?"
.'Gracious, unaffected and cordial tic
everybody She is a real gentlewoman
just like a princess out of a fairy
story
with her equal before you in Anne"
cried the son of a hundred noble lords
ssMay 1 see you in the morning? You
know why I came to America" Jane
heard him whisper to Anne.
Are you really in love with that
girl?" Jane demanded of her brother.
yes" said Tom emphatically.
"Then monopolize her. marry her, do
anything, only keep her away from
Lord Bradner.'
I'm sorry, my dear Jane. not tc
be able to accommodate you. I don't
have to guard the woman l love.
trust her.
There was a dance on that evening
at Toms club, where the whole party
went after dinner. Lord Bradner
STAYED beside Anne until Jane was
wrathfuI and Tom found himself try
ing to fight down the jealous pangs
that would tug at his heart. At the
simmer hour he hid Anne away at
little rose-covered ts Die almost screen
ed in with palms and jackson vine.
your mother has asked me to spend
next month at her country place" con-
fided Anne smilingly
"Goodv' cried Tom. Il knew sne
would love you"
Jane insists on my accepting the in
vitation, but of course it is impossible.
''Why?"
Lord Bradner is on his way south to
visit us. and 1 must return home and
plan to return his many courtesies.'
1.-The odds are against me. A lord
against plain Tom Carter. 1t doesn't
require much imaginative effort to see
the end, Anne, does it?''
mot for me-" answered Anne look
ing down at Toms violets fastened in
tbs. laces of her gown
Curious thing how every woman
loves pomp and glory. Bradner is a
mighty nice fellow. apparently, and
locks as if he could offer a man as
we'll as a title"
ITO appreciate him. to see him at
his very best one must be in his home. |
He is interested in every human being
charitable and his sympathy is balanc-
ed by his open pocketbook"
His coming just now makes it a
bit awkward for me. am not world
" enough to hide my real feelings.
Are you leaving soon?"
Tomorrow Anne tried not to see
the sudden pain in his eyes. L he could
give her up without a word, without
any effort to hold her, then pride must
keep her from any overture of friend
Illness even though based on his avowal
of love.
Il see Lord Bradner coming this way.
I suppose had better be off now"
'-Anne,'' began Lord Bradner when