The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-08-08
The Euening Story
An Interior Motive.
(By Ella Randall Pearce.)

An Interior Motive.
(By Ella Randall Pearce.)
Life seems very hard sometimes
and empty" sighed Alma, at which re-
Election her companion laughed. not
heartlessly but softly and with amuse-
| ment. It was a. II baby had sat up
round-eyed and rallied against its stern
existence.
The laugh brought pout to the
girls lips. She frowned over the frag-
| lie teacup she held.
| You never Will take me seriously"
she complained.
Casper James glanced around the
luxurious room. Little groups Of FASH
/ ionable folk chatted lightly; the scent
OF hOt-house flowers pervaded the air;
brilliantly shaded candles twinkled
against rich tapestries. Then he looked
arch. rosy and fluffy haired. q Vatican
princess in q modish charmeuse gown
and audaciOus hat.
You expect me to take you serious
ly-here-whe1e the weightiest Ques-
ton 10 one lump or two?'"
Il am bored with the monotony and
selfishness Of life as find 1t. want
to be doing something active-useful.
Can't you understand?'
"A passing mood" murmured her
companion. "Au Fashionable women
succumb at times"
Alma's large blue eyes lighted ag-
gressively. I'D show you, Mr.. James,
II I only knew what to do. The or
binary large charities do not appeal to
me but IL I could help somebody-do
something to-oh. what's the use Of
talking to you. you skeptic.''
| But Carper James was not laughing
now. He was looking thoughtfully at
the pouting. pretty face before him.
and when he spoke his tones ran low
IF you're really in earnest. Miss
Withers. 1 would suggest way In
which you might bring cheer and
brightness to a fellow creature. know
a dear old lady who breads above all
things to be alone. Her companion IN
going to desert her-basely. for the
mere purpose OF getting marrted-and
she has appealed to me to find sue
cessor.''
Alma looked dubious. but it will
be easy for her to find another COM
lpanion."
mot SO easy considering the circum-
stances. Her home IL small and remote,
in a sleepy little town ON Buzxard's
Bay. She has comforts, but no lux
luries. All the fine things of life ap-
peal to her, but she IL a semi-invalid.
a member Of the shut-in society. She
; is attached to her little Old-fashioned
home, but link what it would mean
to have the companionship of youth.
Ito have her life frightened by your
lgay gifts Of naturer'
/ Alma flushed with unwonted embar-
rassment. why, I don't know she
protested. "she might find me very
Immature and frivolous. and-and- -
, Then you don't want to be active
. and useful and help somebody. after
ALL" spoke James in disappointed
tone.
sfWho is your dear old lady?' asked
) Alma, desperately. II am in earn
est
MRS, Anstey Shall write to her p
EYES, yes" agreed the girl. Her color
.. had mounted high and her eyes spark
. led. Casper James should see that she
was not a mere idle. pleasure-lovine
butterfly.
His eyes rested on her excited face
, with an expression she had never en-
, countered before.
II thank you very much, Miss With
ers," he said gravely. And. to be
, frank think a quiet summer by the
: sea will do you good"
Alma Withers took u, her new avo-
cation three weeks later with an air OF
buoyant assurance. but with secret
trepidation. 1t was one thing to shine
as a belle in the lively social set to
adequately II the role Of companion
to a strange, dear old lady in q lonely
e cottage by the sea.
But since I've accepted the com.
mission.sI want to lake success OF
! it," reflected Alma. 1T wonder how
e the simple life will suit me. Heighho.
1. believe do need a rest. anyway.
D Isn't that what he told me-that q
! quiet summer by the sea would do me
good?'
|. Could there have been an Interior mo-
tive for this charitable suggestion OF
fCasper James? Was his consideration
for her instead of for the dear old
: lady? Well. II this were true. at least
Alma had not known Casper James
= long. nor had their meetings been ire
ouent: but he had never concealed his
interest In her from the beginning. II
Q had been a silent, watchful interest
elaborated by none Of the compliments
3 and pleasantries which the men OF heI
{ set usually bestowed upon her. In fact
he seemed unlike those others who
e helped to keep her bright little world
spinning that Alma had more than
lonce wondered why Casper James left
1 his sober business affairs to dip Into
frivolous functions.
Mrs. Anstey was found to be a de-
. lfghtful gentlewoman whose semt-in-
ivalidism had made her neither embit-
, tered nor ouerulous. Her home wal
picturesque ara filled with modern de-
n vices for comfort. There was a ramb-
ling old garden, and across the road q
. shor. path led to an insw .ping dip Of
/, the bay A etolfd Norwegian woman Of
s uncertain years catered ably to theil
: physical needs.
Alma had brought with her trunk
. full Of her simplest gowns. but even
= these seemed ostentatious in such sim
Die surroundings. 1t soon became evil
dent that Mrs. Anstey knew nothing Of
her companions social standing al
: | home, and Alma could not enlighteE
her. But she could and did display al
. her entertaining graces and talents