The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-13
7HE EVENING STORY

An Experimental Smile.
(By Dorothy Douglas)
Blair gazed unseeingly at the note
In his hand. A dull ache had started
somewhere in his being: he did not
know just where. Also q new world
yawned before him. It was a gray
world with q curtain of mist that shut
him away from contentment. happf-
ness.
Blair had not known, because he
was not q thinking man nor an in
prospective one, that the termination
Of his engagement to Enid vane
would sting him 80. Her note, with
ttced. merely Informed him that she
considered her betrothal q mistake.
Being with you never gives me
happiness" she had written. nor do
you reflect the joy that surely love
brings to those who truly love-"
Blair thrust the note into his pock-
ct. struggling sense of injustice
fingered In the recess of his brain. He
was happy. He had always been hap
by with Enid. There was no other girl
who gave him the complete content
ment and sense Of security that Enid
did.
Gloom settled heavily upon Blair.
During the day a gnawinG depression
crept over him and with 1t dawned the
certain knowledge that of late he had
l seen very Iltll0 OF MS xIlSuO9s 4A0y
had, he realized, been dropping off
gradually. tactfully refusing an invita-
ton to lunch or to have q gamc Of bill
lizards. Yes, Blafr's friends were be-
ginning to shun his company. -
'Why?" that was the question.
Being a man, Blair possessed the
usual consciousness of being all that
was expected of him. He. being of
the masculine sex. had been given all
the virtues necessary for the equip
ment Of perfect life.
Even so-might there not be one
tiny flaw 2" Blair had the unusual ex-
perience Of hearing what he supposed
| to be q voice Of his own.
The voice Of introspection had at
! last hammered effectually upon the
lobes of Blair's brain. He listened. now
with only a scant measure Of ahtag-
onism.
ENID is not happy when you are
near her. She has broken off your en-
gagement. Also your friends find
other people more amusing. There II
certainly some reason for this unan1-
nous vote against you."
Blair found himself gazing scruti-
nizingly at his reflection in the mir
ror. zz,.= s,s - -s.-5..v 60 .k.,..c.sz.
HIS features were regular. Yet. what
was the defect? -+
Very Unexpectedly Blair seemed to
be seeing Jimmy Rogers. Rogers was
q chap whom every one was glad to
welcome. Why was it 3? Eyes that were
laughing, lips that curled upward. q
voice with a happy ring in it: those
were the attributes possessed by Jim
my Rogers.
Gwen So" commented Blair. IT
doubt II Rogers In as happy AZ am. ;"
But you don't express it." suggested
that new voice Of self ''Your
face reflects gloom, shadows-the set
tied darkness of a cavern"
Blair gazed into the mirror. -.
The voice was right. There was NO
nor in the downward curve of his lips
Certainly one looking at Blair would
consider him the victim of a tragedy
or tragedies.
A smile fitted suddenly across his
face. A smile. experimental. vagrant
and fearful Of it's reception. A second
later it was gone. Yet that fleeing bit
of illumination had left a peculiar
glow in Blafr's eyes. He smiled again
then, just to see how it felt.
ut doesn't hurt me in the least" he
| reflected, and laughed aloud.
The sound startled him.
"Good heavens!" he gasped. IF my
own laughter frightens me out of my
| senses it's time I got used to II.
| At that moment a co-worker came
| into the ONCE. Blair glanced up and
a smile, experimental yet broad, greet
/ ed the man.
| Some one left you a fortune?' in
/ Quired the startled man.
Irritation, that people had him down
| as q gloomy, morose, heavy person,
| fought for a second with Blair's new
found philosophy.
mo-" he said, with q second grin.
1--WE just found one. Come out and
| celebrate"
The man went.
/ nRA - Nat s~
old associates expressed complete sur
prise in him he began fully to realize
| the extent Of the erstwhile dampening
| aspect.
| "why in thunder couldn't any one
have told me to cheer up!" he ru-
minated darby in the quiet Of his own
room. Instead OF that they Stunned
me as II had the plague or chicken
pox"
s.Gloom is almost AZ bad" murmured
/ the other voice.
| Blair forthwith purchased for HIM
| self some new ties. He compromised
his variety by a selection Of delicate.
colorful shades. He had been inclined
to get scarlet and yellow and green.
His duh. morbid hued ones he cast out
Of the window. Nor was there q hint
Of regret with their disposal
When he went to see Enid, some
| two weeks after having received her
note Of dismissal, Blair positively radi-
ated Joy and exuberance. The expert
mental smile had finished q complete
| work. There was warm glow In
Blair's deep eyes: a smile had twisted
| the dropping corners OF his mouth, and
altogether there was a startling ex-
ample Of expressed Joy: the darkness
| Of gloom had vanished.
| Enid was q tribe pale when she
| greeted him.
Blair did not wait for her to speak.
He swept her into his arms with a
whiriwind Of new emotions. There was
q smile, triumphant and unbalanced,
/ In his eyes when he looked down at
her after having kissed her lips and