The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-02-15
The EVENING STORY
Edith,s Economy.
(By Molly Monastery

EdlthS Economy.
(By Molly MONASTERY
you girls seem to have lost sight
| of the most important item IN connec-
| ton with our contemplated social res
| tivities,' laughed Julia Sears, the prac-
| teal one of three cnums.
Barbara looked up through the
steam from the savory charing-dish
supper she was preparing from left
! overs.
ct suppose you mean-clothes!" she
| said
Edith laughed outright. 1--WE are
always in a stew about c1othes,' she
said, but I think we generally look
as we'll as most girls
''Most girls with whom we go about
here, Edith, but you must remember
we have never before been invited to
anything SO dressy as these Annapolis
hops. 1, for one, won't go with Lieu
tenant Cummings unless am properly
frocked. And you girls, never hav-
ing SO much as met your escorts, owe
them a certain duty preached Julia.
Edith stopped her sandwich making
suddenly and waved the carving knife
in the air. ct have an idea, girls!" she
cried.
TITS clothes we want, my dear, not
IDEAS" Barbara reminded her.
This is really practical one. You
know L never was keen on cheap
dresses even though I've never been
able to afford anything else. Now
since we have accepted this invitation
from Julia's dear lieutenant and his
two brothers, we simply must be
properly dressed for each hop. Sup
pose we each buy, beg or borrow one
stunning gown and coat and
"And wear the same dress to all
three hops?" interrupted Julia scorn-
fully. Not It'
Nor l." added Barbara.
'fWill you let me finish % asked
Edith. eve can exchange gowns, re-
verse our coats, add a touch here and
Of in
way of a tunic or corsage bouquet and
we'll, there you are!'
Both girls looked at her with a
dawning intelligence in their eyes.
ct believe it could be DONE" agreed
Barbara.
at certainly could" went on Edith.
and thereupon she designed three cos
tunes which could be easily ex-
changed and made to wear at the
three hops by three girls.
Before the date set for them to leave
for Annapolis the three gowns were
lying on the large couch in their
were all the accessories chosen with
the utmost care. It had nearly beg
CARED the girls to buy them, but at
least they were to have one glorious
time.
At the house of the chaperon they
were gowned and ready to step into
the wagonette that was to take them
to the first of the hops, and the gen.
often in the capacity of chaperon for
out of town girls thought she had new
er seen a more charming trio.
Lieutenant Cummings arrived with
young men were presented to the girls
they We're to escort. Lieutenant Cum
mings had eyes for no one but Julia.
On her way to the hop Edith thank
ed her guardian angel, who had how
cred over her with the brilliant idea
that the girls had helped her to carry
out. She would have felt very I'M
comfortable with this good looking
in anything less genuine than the
gown she wore. Somehow he seemed
different from the men she had gone
out with heretofore.
At the hop she had four dances with
Lieutenant Smythson, and as she pass
ed and repassed Julia and Barbara in
the great throng of happy dancers she
observed that they, too, seemed
pleased with their escorts. Altogether
Edith's heart was singing and she felt
more joyful than she ever rememb er-
ed having felt. In her workaday
world there was little real social life
aside from the studio teas they gave
themselves; there was nothing bril-
liant, nothing formal, and-she ad-
mitted it early in the evening-no men
like young Lieutenant Smythson, Edith
was sure he was well possessed of this
worlds goods and she felt, with a
drop of spirits, that she would never
see him again after this one merry
week at Annapolis.
At the succeeding hop the girls were
as prettily dressed and each seemed
absorbed in her own escort.
Its awfully good of you to come all
the way from New York to one of our
hops" Lieutenant Smythson was say
ing to Edith as she slipped a glass of
cool punch
Its good of you to ask u.s. Edith
smiled over her glass.
II suppose you wouldn't have
time for any of us when our ship has
the good fortune to land in the Brook !
Ign yard - he asked, half in jest
"Oh-but we would Edith replied
hastily and with a slightly heightened |
color. Only she began.
only what?'' Lieutenant Smythson !
asked seriously.
eve live such simple life you
would find us-wel1. dull. think"
Never that. Miss Dunston, 1 assure |
you" the young man said with some |
warmth.
He hardly admitted it to himself |
but he had fallen in love with this |
brilliant beautiful girl, but her very /
brilIiance, sartorically as we'll as men |
tally had so awed him that he dared !,
not even suggest to himself that he |
might be permitted to know her bet |
ter He was only a prospective ravy
officer, with nothing but his pay from
Uncle Sam to ask a girl to share with |
him. He knew from the wonder of /
the three gowns he had seen Edith in /