The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-12


Edwin Markham in October Nautilus.
zH EVENING STORY
s5sss=5-=-=..===e y
Engaged.
(By Ella Randall Pearce.)
It was q week since Warden Bell
| had returned from his trip abroad;
or, az the event figured in the mind
Of the young man in question. week
since he had shaken hands with Miss
her that they would meet in the near
future.
The trip abroad itself seemed Of Inn
portance only because it had led to
that meeting on shipboard which In
stantly turned the whole world up
side down for the erstwhile contented
| bachelor. Warden Bell thought he had
| never seen such eyes in girls face
| as those which met his own when he
and Miss Minton nrst exchanged
| glances And when the wind whipped
| the loose curls Of deep gold across the
| cream and rose Of her cheeks young
Bell became conscious Of q color scheme
beside which q Naples sunset would
have seemed commonplace.
| There had been five wonderful
days at sea, not to mention the en-
| chanting evenings, and yet. when the
| time came for parting. Warden Bell re-
| allied that theirs was but q conven-
tional acquaintance. after al. The
wonder and the enchantment had all
been In the way he had felt about 1t.
| Their relations had been formal, their
conversation casual: there was not
remembered glance or word upon which
he could hang the least hope.
Miss Minton had told him the rea-
son for her journey from London to
New York She had been an orphan
for some time. and her guardian had
| recently died. Relatives in New York
had sent for her to come and make her
home with them.
my aunt il very fashionable. She
has two daughters who go much In
society-Delphine and Dotty De Mesa,
she had said.
| Young Bell knew of them; two
| precious members of q lively set. who
made up for their squat figures and
| ugly dark faces. inherited from an un-
attractive Cuban father, by eccentric
and startling modes in dress.
| IF you are to be with the Carlos De
Mesas you will be around town q lot.
Miss Minton." he said. at parting. Il
| shall be sure to meet you. hope IL
will be soon.''
IT hope so.'' replied Lola, dazzling
him with her radiant smile.
AS she was going to a new home.
and az he was q comparative stranger
to her. perhaps it was all that he had
q right to expect: but he had watched
her cab roll away with a curious de-
pressed sensation. After that he had
passed the week in thinking Of the
| violet and gold ana white and rose Of
the English girls loneliness.
Hang 1t all! was q fool to let all
my chances go like that he fretted.
why didn't say something-do some
thing to make an impression? I just
thought we'd have to meet again: and
let 1t go at that. Now I'll have to
lock up the three graces-Delphine and
| Dotty De Mesa and their pretty cousin.
I'll run down and see Crawley. He
knows the DeMesa set"
Ralph Crawley, dramatic critic and
playwright agent, W .lcomed his visi-
tor with both hands, literally, for he
seized upon him and vigorously deposit
ed him in the easy desk chair
Take my place. I've got to go out
for an hour@a sudden call. You're q
friend in need, vardin. I advertised
for a woman to look after my files, and
I've got dozen appointments The
procession will begin in five minutes
Look them over, and engage somebody
for me. won't you? And wait till come
back. Wen lunch at the club
"But-but what are the qualifca-
tions?' asked Warden.
Brains, ordinary brains. and n sens<
Of order. Somebody who won't mix M
the AZ and e. and who'll understand
that Shakespeare isn't q modern auth.
or. Here's my ad and the list Of ap-
pointments. Good luck to you Tn
on"
Young Bell swung round in his sea,
and prepared to attend to business
The hrst applicant arrived and depart.
ed without making q serious impress
sion; the next was q grammar schoo
graduate who had evidently forgotten
her grammar lessons; the third was
spinster with failing sight and an aver.
sion to fine type.
Warden drew q long breath and be
gan to look worried. Then the dool
opened slowly. and = tall, slender flgur,
IN black with q st1very gray veil wount
over her hat and face approached tim
idly
MY Crawley?" inquired a swee
voice with an accent Of surprise "wh,
I-why@ A slender gloved hand drew
back the concealfng veil. and the new
conner sat suddenly into the chat
placed FOR her. ''Mr. Bell"
The man at the desk could only lool
was riveted ON the flushing face OF hi,
companion. There was q fash of whit,
teeth as Lola Minton's smile deepened
MI. Bell! This seems to be a tire
mendous surprise for US both. 1 cam,
to see a. Mr. CrAwley"
You never answered that advertise
mept. Miss Minton?'' said Tsrde1
bluntly.
She nodded slowly. He got up and
closed the Office door beyond which
ne had seen the stenographer curious
" peering. Lola Ninton even in ulaII
black and yelled was an imprcssiv.
figure.