The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-06-05
The Evening Story

(By Helen Hicks Brown.

You are SO hopelessly British.
Can't you learn to talk our jokes q
little ?" asked the girl
Come out and walk in the park
with me. I am, much more amusing
in the open," urged the man.
You are not to be trusted any
where
You may depend upon me to
make love anywhere"
Maisie jumped. II should say SO.
You've done it. all about the place.
but never before right out loud Nike
that
1T is dihcult for an American girl
to recognize the real article. Your
men never make love-they make
dollars and humor their wives"
Don't try to scintillate; you are
not adapting a play
Il am making ARRANGEMENTS TO
produce one here next month, though.
Will you help me?"
'Oh. Mr.. Beresford! How could I
help? What is the play?
The last yell of that clever Scan
dinavian-can't pronounce the chaps
name.''
I'm thrilling to my toes at finding
myself under the same roof with a
celebrated actor-manager really at
work. -
Come with me tomorrow and help
select caste. I shall try the expert
ment of an American support. he
br1stled with eagerness-
Maisie had a distinct drop. MY,
but you are pushing things" she re-
joined.
The man drew a long breath and
plunged recklessly: How do you
live when you are not here, Miss Dali
zell? Mrs. Morton says you have no
people. I am tired OF being conven-
tional. Frankness is the best line,
don't Won
mo. 1 don't Maisie Dalzelrs face
went stupidity pink. 81 hate honesty
and talking things out. It is high
time that we should part. I go home
tomorrow, so this must be good-by.
"But-go home? do not under
stand. You live here in the city?
IT live in my New York. not In
yours" Disdain brushed her speech.
What is the difference 2"
About thirty city blocks and a thou
sand miles of atmosphere"
II may call upon you?" he asked
eagerly.
tartness which puckered her lips.
And you won't help me with the
play?'
Her head dropped. unwillingly neg
alive.
pardon me-
Maisie drifted away as he glared
Mrs, Morton would have sent her
guest home in a limousine, but the girl
refused. -
II want to begin again quite right
and straight. It has been wonderful
up here with all your beautiful things
going to say Thank you because it IL po-
lite, but think you should be ashamed
of yourself
you were always the queerest Great
ure," laughed Mrs. Morton. II brought
you here to make you envious and you
have the audacity to despise u.s."
Maisie moaned. II only despise my
self. WHY. Caro-, would you believe it.
my indifference to luxury was mere
Ignorance. You are a dreadful. beau
tiful. Fascinating Philistine: you have
debasod my SOUL"
Caro- Mort0n laughed lazily. IT care
not a, rap About your silly SOUL" she
gurgieds 1T was too exquisite for ev-
cry dayfu 1 have had my own way
with you for the first time in all of our
friendship, and T have given you one
holiday which may wake you up and
make you crawl out OF that narrow lit
tie berth in Washington place. You
you given such a gift-of-gab with the
penn"
Maisie flung out her arms in a ges-
ture of real despair.
That is the worst Of it, she walled.
that is the worst Of 1t. I cannot think
of anything more to write. I've been
smothered in magnif1cence until my
feared that I should come to the end
Of the stories that were in me and now
the time has come"
"Oh. you will have plenty Of ideas
again by and BY remarked Mrs. Nor
ton carelessly. II thought you were
principally worried for fear Irving
Beresford would and you OUT
the girl pleaded.
but someone else will. He won't
care, anyway. He will only laugh"
That is it, bitterly. HE will laugh.
Who wouldn't laugh at girl who earns
her living by writing for the trashy
papers?"
You are clever to be able to write
for anything. cannot understand why
you are SO ashamed Of being Claire
Flufi1es.''
well. please never give Mr.. Beres-
ford my address. and never. never tell
him about those articles"
A month later Mr.. Irving Beresford
banged peremptorily at a dingy base
ment entrance on Washington place.
What a hole" he thought disgust
eddy. What a hole, and she the most
fastidious!''
The door was suddenly flung wide.
1t took the man a long moment to
recognize Maisie in the gaunt figure
which confronted him. Her soiled shirt
waist was collarless. and the neckband
careless1y turned down exposing a
shockingly thin throat A wet towel
twisted around her head threw into
vivid relief the feverish brillfancy of
her tormented eyes.
You see, did come into your New
York. he said.
1T has come" she announced hoarse-
ly, needless Of his greeting. IT do not
care who knows now. / cannot write
thing. I have been struggling for
days and days. and nights upon nights.
I knew 1 should give out sometime
He gently urged her into the sortlid
sitting room with its tir.id attempts at