The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-04-28
THE EVENING STORY
His Gathers Choice.
(By Ella Randall Pearce.)

from san FRANCISCO TO New ork,
when, in Kansas City, disquieting
letter from home reached him. 1t
was from his married sister, Celia
Dan, we're so worried about
father. He's continuing his attentions
to that girl we met on shipboard-
you know, the one 1 told you about,
who dances in public. She's living in
the Algonquin, right around the cor
ner, and she and father are together
much of the time. Really. 1 think
Iyou ought to come home and break
up such a foolish affair. You know
how difficult father is to deal with;
but he always would listen to you. He
seems bewitched with this doll-faced
girl
| And a public dancer" added Dan,
with slight curl of his clean, sensi-
tive upper lip. Il never knew father
| to be that kind of chump-but he al
ways had a weakness for pretty faces.
This looks like a mess, all right. Well,
| I'll have to rush to the rescued"
AS quickly as the running time of
| the next express train for the east
would allow, Daniel. Jr., arrived in
New York. His first call was on his
sister, who lived next door to the old
HOLSTER home which, in it's brown
stone solidity, offered dignified con-
| trast to the ornate cream-colored
| facade of the modern apartment house
which had sprung up beside it:
| eff I'm not glad to see you!" cried
| Celia. Father Oh, he's all right
\ only he seems to be hypnotized by
| that girl Why, yes, suppose some
| would call her pretty-but her hair
| and eyes don't match, and she dresses
peculiarly, and she has such dan
gerously artless manner"
| "Humph! Dancer with bleached
| hair; bizarre clothes and ingenue
pose" was Dams mental tabulation.
Celia rambled on until her caller
| decided that he had heard enough.
| I'm going to drop in next door," he
said. It'll be a surprise; father does
MT know I'm here
Don't say you saw me first"
warned Celia 1--WE must be very
diplomatic, Danny. If father should
marry a girl like that-at his age.'
Young HOLSTER felt very uneasy
as he mounted the steps of his old
| home. Undoubtedly, his father was
walking along dangerous paths, and
! the dignity of the family name was Sc
riously threatened. Celia had said
use of the HOLSTER electric coupe be-
cause Miss Fay Ernbree wanted it!
Mr.. HOLSTER. senior. was not at
home that evening, his son was told
Yes, he had dined at home, and gone
| away afterward, saying he would not
return until late. Acting on impulse,
after a time, Dan strolled around to
the Algonquin, a small hotel, the lead
ing attraction of which was a charm
ing little pergola supper room, where
painted italian scenes were framed
between white fluted columns, and
tiny lights in colored globes shone
from an overarching lattice of leaves.
Little parties from the theaters near
by had come in, and the supper room
was full. Dan stood moment in the
doorway, and then made his way to
the end table that was set in a vine
hung alcove. In the instant that he
was shaking hands with the elderly
man in evening dress, and looking over
his shoulder at the feminine vision in
pale blue, the yong mans mind -7as
made up. He had decided how he
would outwit his father. He would not
be disagreeable to this strange young
girl-far from it!
We'll what a surprised Sit down;
we're just beginning. Celia told you
how you might find me here. 1 sup
pose
The elder man chuckled and sent
sly glance at his fair companion.
Young Daniels eyes following caught
the swift flush that warmed the small
features of Miss Fay Embree.
Seated in the softly lighted alcove,
Dan found himself wondering why the
violence of his displeasure seemed to
be so rapidly ebbing. Perhaps it was
because his father was so frankly glad ;
to see him; genially at ease in his
own position of host; or perhaps it was |
because Miss Embree appeared so |
artlessly pleased to have the younger
q
there.
Dan looked critically at her every |
chance he got. Her hair was remark !
ably flaxen and her eyes strikingly |
dark; but the unusual combination t
seemed to be the work of Nature. Her !
gown had some little quaint touches t
and she wore some odd jewelry, but |
the effect was harmonious. Her voice
was very sweet and her manners re- /
fined. Dan wondered what sort of
dancing performances she gave-and /
where. He would be at the theater the
next night,
Somehow it was the younger, not the
elder man who placed the mara
bou-edged evening cape over Miss En-
bree's shoulders later.
st Just have to step out to the ele-
vator, you KNOW" she said, with a |
glance over her shoulder straight into
Dams eager eyes.
Something in that glance, demure
though it was. made the young mans
pulses thrill 1t was so appeaIing-he
wished he could think it honest
I'll make her like me-for fathers
saker' he told himself; and his manner
of saying farewell was tenderly i'm
pressive.
well, Danny said the elder man,
as they went homeward, Il see that
you approve my choice"
Your choice" echoed Dan, in such
a tone that his father coughed dis
creetly.
"Ah, II should say-well, Miss EN-
bree and 1 have been pretty good
friends I hoped you would like her;
and 1 should say that she has made
a hit-a palpable hit-with you III,
think she's the dearest little girl in
the world Il