The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-01-10
THE EVENING STORY
The Escape of Justine

|
| Justine sat very still and watched the
| tips of her little suede slippers. At the
| table her father was trying TO make o.o 20.
| Vanderveer settle twenty thousand on nSr
| outright, and still reserve her DOVER
rights.
| Old vanderveer parleyed and parted
and coughed. Once or twice he did glance
| at Justine, as if weighing her on the
| scales OF his inner mind; but he stuck fast
at fifteen thousand
| can marry Justine Saturday. The little
restaurant proprietor leaned back, thumbs
| in his armhoIes, and smiled He knew 1t
was time to smile. Spring was already IN
the air. The flower boys along the square
were 7peddling jonquils and violets. JUS
earth. He knew what he. was about when
he took her out of the convent and set
her up behind the cashiers desk. Old
Vanderveer would, see her, three times =
day when he paid his check.
what will you do without Justine:
asked Vanderveer. He lit the cigar Fon
doubtfully, holding it in the exact center
of his mouth while he looked at Justine
How will you manager?
Il shall sell out the place to Tony after
the wedding and will go home"
Il don't like that fellow Tonyr" ex-
ploded Mr.. Yanderveer SO rapidly ana
ed and she pursed her pretty lips and smut
her hands tightly. He is too-too monde
script"
He is" assented I'ontaine placidiy.
He is just what you call him, but in the
four years he has worked for me he has
adrg sneh na Day
Vanderveer, even when the-er-the per-
sonality does not attract, eh?''
Justine rose and went to the wfndo ".
Curtains hung before it. Outside was a
little iron balcony, a story and half Up
from the street. Leaning comfortably
against the window casing, as he sat On
the balcony, was Tony. His laughing
eyes were mere Sits of dancing light as
they looked in at her. His finger pressed
II will give her fifteen thousand and It
is too much,'' Vanderveer protested.
You give only five thousand, and she Is
Justine is flower among girlsss Look
around syou,a n1n, look sat the girls here
in. New york. Now see LJustine. Do I NOT
know the diference?" Fontaine beamed at
his visitor. You who come every day
to eat at my place, and see Justine, did
you not know her worth at once, and Sc
lect her to be your wife? You will give
her q beautiful home
II have a. fine house in Brooklyn" as
scented Vanderveer. And four apartment
houses. besides two factories. All from
buttons. Fontaine. Better manufacture
law"
Justine could hear them chuckling as
she stepped out on the narrow little b-.l-
cony. Tony swung over the railing and
down to the ground, lightly. He held OUT
his arms to her, yearningly, and she hest
tated, trembling, tingling, fearful of what
lay behind in that room, and what lay
A ShOne
in the clear sky. One line twisted tree
reared it's naked trunk and reaching
branches in the yard. Justine saw her
kitten nesting close to one bare limb in
Silhouette against that slip of a moon
and the strange sky, an ultramarine skv
luminous, mystical.
stood. with tiny bursting buds showing
like little spear joints. The night was
oaimy and spring-hke- Tony had laid
a bunch of violets on her desk that day
dared IN fhar tho
hidden them in a side drawer, and feared
the perfume would betray her every
6een whistling all day in the restaurant
once when he had come over to paw a
check, he had said under his breath: :
Justine, you drive me mad, you are so
sweet; oh, but SO sweet"
Tony, DON'T she had whispered. s
And now she could see them in the
shadows as he held out his arms to her
She gathered her dress very daintfly
about her, and just as old vande-veer
started talking buttons she dropped into
Tonys arms. The white kitten looked
down at them with wide green eyes. She
did not move while Tony held his sweet
heart moment in his arms. She never
narrow little front yard, clasping hands
like two children.
Justine had no hat on, nor cloak about
her. Tony was telling her he would take
her to her mother, just over yonder near
the restaurant. He had signed the papers
with her father the day before 1t was
tafne had not wanted to tell old Wander
veer, but it was so. And she would STAY
with his mother while he went out and
found a taxi, and they would all spin
over to Jersey and be married. His
mother was waiting.
Hurry, Tony" she whispered
< Fontaine rose Smilingly, and shook
hands with his elected father-in-Iaw.
For eighteen thousand, then, we COM
promise, and dover rights he said. 'eAh.
girls, and docile-Just like that you can
sway ffer-jast like the wind the flower:
ali, yes Justine!"
The two looked at each other waiting
She hides for shyness behind the cur
tains," Mr.. sXanderveer suggested. Fon-
tame crossed the room and pulled back
the window curtain Outside new moon
shone down white kitten in tree
top There was no one on the balcony.
He stepped on something. It was a bunch
their perfume obviously. He had not
noticed violets on Justine.
"She is hiding somewhere, he told the
old man. Tomorrow you shall see her.
Girls are girls. You must not startle
them"
The telephone bell rang lightly, and he
bent his head to answer it at the desk
Justine spoke
.sIt is Justine, papa Tony and I are
going to be married now, with his mother.
Please don't be very bitter-I love him,
papa
: .fWhere are you?" Fontaine felt ratified
for the first time in years Justine had
been over there by the window curtains
ten minutes ago. and now by some en-
chantnnent she was gone; she was at the
end OF the magic wire telling him OF
mad escapades-she his flower of girls, Jus
tine. And this was not castle in France.
1t was a little red-brick house in the
West Twenties; but there were all the
%s~.1- :, L. ,,r---- mo rfr1 r.-1