The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-09-21
The Evening Story

The Evening Story
The War OF Roses.
(By Catherine NJ. Patterson.)
Theodore stood idly in front OF the
open window Of her room at the Inn
She looked directly at the mountains
that doomed up in the light of
splendid moon that would be at its
height about IL o'clock. Just the
right time, she thought. The right
time. for what? for whom? The
double thought brought an impatient
toss OF the head.
IT do wish had some common
sense" muttered Theodore Just the
smallest atom of 1t. at least enough to
get me through tonight. Here am.
a grown woman with brand new
A. B. dangling at my scalp belt and
to save my soul don't know whether
Don Cunningham. They have both
proposed, and auntie knows it. More
over, she says 1t is perfectly Disgrace
full the way I've kept both those "ador-
able boys aunties own words, mind
you'-Theodora was addressing her
self to the ACCOMPLISHMENTS
about me all winter, encouraging first
one. then the other. then both at the
same time. I simply must choose one
of them for my future spouse or auntie
will never forgive me and that will be
something terrific. as I have to live
with her.
II believe I do like Jimmy the best.
He Is so-so-so, oh. don't know
what. only he just is" And the learned
lady with the A. B. recently won with
almost her very hearts blood from
Bryn Mawr. by way Of pleasing auntie.
having come to this conclusion, turned
from the window, drew the curtains
and proceeded to put the finishing
touches to her most attractive self in
preparation for the weekly hop at the
inn.
At last she was all ready but her
flowers, and she stood before her
dressing table. holding in one hand a
corsage Of pink Killarneys and in the
other Richmond reds.
Il know Jimmy sent these red roses;
they make me think of him; in some
way they are more forceful. more full
of life than the others.
But at the same time these Kill
pink roses" In the center of the ex-
Quisite flowers went Theodora's face.
When it came out it was quite as pink
as the flowers themselves. But 1t was
the pink Of wrath more than anything
else that was illumining the girls
cheeks.
"Botheration.'' she exclaimed an
grily. why must my night be pestered
with these two who have been with me
the whole blessed day 1t was a tramp
before breakfast this morning with
Don, tennis after breakfast, followed
by a swim, with Jimmy. golf this after
noon with Don. then q canoe ride with
Jimmy. And we got back just in time
for dinner. too. Now, have their
pesky flowers to choose between No
cards had come with the two corsages.
but intuitively Theodore had attributed
each to the proper sender.
IF 1 wear the red roses Jimmy will
be camping on my trail the entire
blessed evening, and If I wear the
Killarneys Don will come to me the
very first thing with that almost pos
sessive smile he wears when I've been
unusually nice to him before Jimmy's
very eyes. I know what I'll do. I'll
wear part OF each corsage. That will
keep the boys guessing, and, most Of
all, it will give me one more evening
before I decide for good and air. Ted
dy, as her intimateS called her, smiled
maliciously. To separate the corsages
was the work of a few minutes. and
once, when she held the glorious red
| rcsec to her face for an instant, the
girl almost wavered in her decision.
1T is Jimmy" she cried to the roses.
IT know it, I know it, but I'm going to
have just this one night to myself"
| She pinned the roses to her girdle.
"Mercyv' she exclaimed. what a COM
| bination! But I'll wear it any way.
do hope auntie and the rest Of the
out Of my mind. It is pretty awful
though Occasionally the A. b. lapsed
into decidedly un-Bryn Mawrish forms
Of expression. Never mind. faint
heart; on with the dance.
And catching up bespangled scarf
| that Jimmy had once compared to a
diamond-studded cloud and as diaphon-
Gus and unattainable as the clouds that
fioated over the heads of man.
| Teddy had seemed quite as unattain-
had had reason to change his mind and
| to feel that his case was not quite SC
hopeless as 1t once had been. At least
he might win If that fellow Cunning
ham could be eliminated.
Theodore to use her own expression.
collected Auntie, and the two made
their way to the veranda outside the
large living doom. where the orchestra
was playing the first waltz mascu-
line form. evidently on the lookout. ap-
PREACHED at once.
| May I have the first dance, Teddy?
asked Donald Cdnningham.
SURELY" said Teddy. looking vn at
him with her sweetest smile why
not? she asked herself I'm wearing
his roses as well as Jsm's.'
IT do hope 1t will be Donald Cunning
ham. His mother was a Van Court
ney." suutie said to herself as she
watched her niece OF medium height.
| slender and the possessed Of heavv
black hair above grav eyes yelled with
Hong black 1asI,e5. and comnlexfon
that was the despair Of the girls own
age and the envv of those who ha d
passed farther on 1ffe's pathway. Theo-
dora was worthy cf auv ONES attention.
ISudden1y autfe spied Teddv's corsa ge,
in sharp contrast to the white chiffon
frock- .
achast. s.what ever possessed the