The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-09-05
The Eueni,,e Story


|
(By Darra More.)
| Sue Clarity put down the last UNI
paid bill and her lips met In firm,
determined line. For ten years now.
she had been wrestling alone with
bills.
Always the income had been uncer-
| tain, inadequate. The day he died. it
ceased entirely. Mrs. Clarity was one
of those helpless women. There were
! two girls younger than Sue. who knew
| not how to help out In crisis.
Sue became a stenographer. For
| ten years she had piloted the little
| family through Hfe's undercurrents.
For ten years she had known nothing
but work and scheme and work to
keep the ever-increaSing bills paid.
There had been a time when the outgo
| was squared by her income. but for
two years now she had been steadily
going behind. The unpaid bills. how
most nothing did she spend on herself
She made her own simple shirtwatsts
| and skirts. She fashioned her own
hats She kept her clothes in repair.
She darned and redarned her stock
ings. Ever little pleasure dear to
girls heart, she had fOregone. Her
sisters knew no such deprivation.
however, nor did the mother.
! And Sue was tired. deadly tired.
The accumulation of unpaid bills had
I'm going to take a vacation. the
llong-starved nature of Sue Clarity
declared. I'm going to forget all these
bills I'm going to forget others and
think of-myself. I'm going to have
a two weeks holiday
But her practical, disciplined nature
largued: But, just think how much 1t
will cost and consider how many OF
those bills could be paid. II you stay at
home"
IT don't care" shot back frivolity>
bent Sue. I'm going away somewhere
for two weeks where can be like
other girls"
, There was CONSERVATION In the little
family when Sue declared her intention
II had not occurred to them that their
little bread-winning machine couio
have any feelings or desires. They re-
monstrated, of course Then they
!. stormed Then they pleaded. But, Tor
once. the girl held out against her par
asitic family.
"Tm leaving Saturday" she said.
land that settles it."
With q popular magazine in hand
, and an Indian blanket thrown over
one arm, Sue Clarity followed the low
err path that wound through the
fragrant wood back Of the hotel. She
selected q tree not far from purl1ng
brook as a prop for her afternoons al
LAYING down tie magazine. her eyes
| rested on the sunny brook. The call
, of the young days surged In her blood:
Carefully she looked about for sign OF
a chance intruder. Satisfied that she
was far enough from the path to nave
perfect seclusion. the girl began oper-
atoms.
/ With a ripping laugh, such as she
lhad not INDUCED in for years. she re-
moved the very good looking but vel!
worn shoes. Then again she looked
up and about for sign Of stray invader.
| tn, ho ra4QSnTInR.
came one cotton stocking with many
; darns therein. and tlen the other.
Carefully she placed them on top CT the
shoes. Up went her skirt. and gingerly
she stepped on to enjoy that acme OF
sport in the child's calendar-wading.
, 1t was while the girl was exploring
up stream that Tyrell Kemp OF New
, York stumbled through the underbrush
and came out by the tree where Sue
Garrity's shoes and stocking lay una
, dashed. Sues belongings would never
+ have been molested had one stocking
foot been perfectly in place. 1T was
that foot that held the mans eyes. II
I held them because it was so full OF
He couldn't refrain. He must examine
closer into this unusual and unique ex-
g hibition.
For Tyrell Kemp was . very blas<
and sophisticated person. His opinion
Of womankfnd was not quite normal
Perhaps it was because he was some
2 thing of a snob. and was particular
= not to notice women not in his class :
y A girl who would wear q darned stock
ing. even one sc thoroughly ana arts
tically done al was this one. was be-
q yond his comprehension.
The owner OF these affairs must b.
somewhere near. The man looked
about but no person was visible. He
listened. There was no sound thai
a could be construed as human. He
nj acted quickly. One stocking was sepa
J. rated from its mate and carefully CON
cealed in ono OF his many pockets
IChuckling, the man made his way tt
: the path beyond and to the hotel.
nj A few minutes later, very puzzled
q girl stood looking down At two shoei
q and one stocking.
= thought better of it. Better two bart
: spots showing than one. That way
. natures own might be mistaken To-
: flesh-colored hose now SO popular.
, der over the destination Of the missing
= stocking. She merely accepted tn,
Y fact that 1t was gone, and planned
t from that point. Therefore, as sh'
not at all concerned by the keen scru
tiny Of that glimpse Of flesh color be
>. tween hem of skirt and top Of shoe.
Tyreu Kemp was forced to revise hi
Q 30 calmly carry off such q situation
= was indeed, new to him. Most of tn
= girls he knew were silly. self con
sci0us.
e When he saw Sue Garrity-a Su
Garrity In sofe shirt rolling away from
Ia perfect neck and with beautiful,
{. nodded arms barred to the elbow AM
y q weeks mountain air and peaceful
le atmosphere painted into her cheek
. and eyes-he saw a girl who intereste.
him Tremendously. There was some
thing vaguely familiar about her. Still
e he could rot place her.
he An.>k d.
u Sue buried herself in a big chair on tn
veranda. overlooking the placid water
Of the lake. Tyren Kemp, sitting by he
side offered her the evening papers fron
~ She looked NJ him he fiI.1