The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-03-05
The Eue1,i1,g Story


| Gaaldine's Gowns.
| (By Dorothy Dougias.)
I Geraldine looked over her artistic
wardrobe and made her selections. II
was Geraldine's haiti to sell all OF
the gowns that she had appeared in
more than three times. She had won
her reputation partly because Of her
| exquisite dressing and partly because
she was just naturally clever at reci-
tation and unduly beautiful to look
upon.
/ It was economy that had first
prompted Gerry to dispose Of her
gowns. She was not especially fond
| OF her profession as a society enter
tainer and she longed for the day
when she could retire on the small
sum that was gradually augmenting
in value in the bank.
| The gowns, expensive necessarily.
brought in an attractive sum OF
money every six months when they
were sold to private customers. Some
| went to theatrical women. some to
artists models and many to women
who scorned the secondhand shops,
yet took advantage Of Geraldine's adj
vertisement.
| Geraldine sighed softly az she no.
| hced the slight rim Of dust that
| edged the train Of her old gold chif-
fon. It was one of her favorites. yet
that dusty train signified it, doom.
| She could not possibly trail about the
Fifth avenue. and Riverside drive
homes with that untidy mark.
She gazed longingly at the gown
with its tunic Of old gold lace and
sable. but put it determinedly with
the ones for sale.
Il hope" unused Gerry, that Miss
Vale will fancy that gown. It would
1nn1 R,,1
ing"
Miss Vale was the model Of a
modern illustrator and had more than
once renewed her wardrobe. from
Geraldine's sales.
Vance Gray il the most critical
artist I have ever posed for" the
model had once informed Gerry HE
ting. 1t all but keeps me broke" she
added. Guess he thinks got moth
ing to do but buy new rags"
And it so happened that Miss Vale
did pounce upon the old gold gown
the moment her eyes beheld it.
That's = stunner!" she cried de-
hghtedly. Gray will go right up In
the air over that color. He raves
over clothes worset than i woman.
Il hope he will like that" Gerry
laughed. ut is my own favorite."
We'll. you will probably see it IL
Illustrating one of the best sellers
soon. Gray is reading the manuscript
now. Jim Donovan and are going
to pose for eight illustrations for it."
The girl blushed prettily. "Jim's gotta
wear evening clothes and Gray has
given him an old one Of his"
Good luck to all of you." laughed
Gerry as the model departed with her
precious bundle.
Another sigh fell from Gerry's lips.
She had let the frock go at absurdly
low figures because she thought Miss
Vale had little enough money to spend
on anything.
my castle of retirement is slightly
nearer anyway she unused.
That evening she was to entertain
Browns. Geraldine decided to wear her
new ravishing toilette OF dove gray.
When during the evening Vance
Gray, the noted illustrator, saw her,
he thought he had never seen any one
so etherea!ly lovely. Her pale gold
hair was like a moonbeam framing
her delicate. oval face.
who is she?" he questioned his
nearest neighbor.
Geraldine Innes," the other re-
Stunner is not the word" answered
Gray. ''She is the most perfect speci-
men Of the feminine gender have
ever looked upon"
the other, "as we'll as her clever inn
presentations and song recitations.''
Vance Gray continued to study Ger
~ from the artistic point OF view.
and saw the peculiar little smile in her
eyes he wondered at it.
Vance Gray" unused Gerry. 81
suppose he will recognize my costumes
On his mcdel-if he is observing and
If we are to meet from time to time"
Vzyi11 10 6a1iOhtAA ~ ~ Vzvi11 q
to tea, In my studio. Miss 1nnes." the
artist said.
Gerry laughed. ut will be great
Rays she Seer m Your s
added, with smiling lips.
Some one called her away and, be-
fore Gray could fathom her meaning,
she nodded adieu to him and was
gone. He watched the graceful lines
of her gown as she crossed the room,
and the artist in him longed to paint
her.
During the following months Ger
aldine and Vance Gray met from time
to time She purposely avoided being
much with him. whether from caprice
or merely because she did not want to
answer the question in his eyes. she
knew not.
She continued, however. to sell her
gowns to his favorite model. and
somehow Geraldine took infinite
pleasure In the knowledge that he was
finding them beautiful.
HE went nutty over that gray
DRESS Miss Vale informed Geraldine
"Raved about clouds and moonbeams|
and the like. Glory! He would go
clear off his head-H he ever saw you
in it," she added in frank admira-
ton. 'sYour gowns must bring me
luck MY time is all taken from in
the morning to 6 at night
my own is pretty well taken, too,'s
laughed Gerry. I'm fact, am maxi
ing so much money now that am
going to give you my gowns instead
Of selling them-that il, IL you will
take them.''
In the end Geraldine was compelled
to answer the question she had seen
growing in Vance Gray's eyes. It was