The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-04-22
The Euerii,,e Story
Freclkles and Freedom.


(By A Maria Crawford.)
Ever since the days when they wore
curls and pigtails down their backs
Polly Moore and Jane Sanford had
championed the cause OF Dan Cameron.
Dan was not lovely to behold. for he
had freckles and a shock of red hair.
The particular social set to which, the
small boys and girls of Dams age be-
Ionged refused to admit him when he
suddenly made his appearance in their
midst. The snubbing accorded him by
everybody except Polly and jane. did
not worry him in the least. He only
laughed, called the boys sissy when
they wore gloves or overshoes. and II
they were foolish enough to disagree
with him he proceeded to roll up his
sleeves and thrash them until they
were only too glad to be friends with
girls. but they did not offer him the
privileges OF the juvenile elite. Polly
and Jane were exceptions. They re-
fused to play games when Dan was
not included. and at their own parties
he was Invariably the favored guest.
When he was nearly u his family
moved away, and when, four or five
years after he had finished college.
Dan returned to his childhood home. it
was impossible to believe that the
could ever have been ornamented with
hundreds Of unsightly frecikles and q
mop Of unruly red hair. The girls be-
gan peiting him with invitations. II
was rumored that Dams Uncle Alec
had died, leaving him a splendid for
tune. but even II he had possessed no
wealth, Dams good looks and charming
manner would have insured him .
welcome anywhere. - -
Dams memory was evidently a good
one. He courteovsly refused all invi-
tations and spent his leisure time with
either Polly or Jane. The girls were
totally unlike except In their attitude
to him. Polly was little blonde with
big soulful blue eyes and q certain sim
ceres candor that was always expected
to get her Into trouble but never did
Jane was Juno-like with flashing black
eyes and q crues love of annexing ev-
that James engagement ring disap-
peared from her hand the day that
Dan Cameron came back home.
"Jane will marry Dan. Just walt
and see!" prophested Kate Carter on
the AftHgnoon hefQre the Hig masked
BALI ~ the country club e6hea IL
! supposed to be engaged to Cousin
Dick Carter. and he Is SO silly about
her that he Is too blind to see her
game hoped Dan would love Polly"
Polly is the better of the two'" de-
clared Mabel Lupton- who would
have dreamed that Dan Cameron
with his freck1ee and awful hair could
be magically transformed into a reg
ular fairy prince? He has certainly
paid us back in our own coin for our
childish snubbing. He is polite to us
but what a difference he makes when
Polly and Jane are around"
I'VE were brought up with such
absurd ideas of social prestige that
| the wonder to me is why we aren't
even smaller than we are. Dan must
laugh in his sleeve at some of our
efforts to conciliate him. Isn't 1t
too bad that we aren't born with the
| knowledge we have to acquire with
such bitterness? I'll see you tonight
at the club. What are you going to
Wear?"
IT wanted to wear Aunt Margaret's
shepherdess costume. but the skirt
| is too voluminous for turkey trottinE.
! SO in great coat and cooked hat
| mean to impersonate Napoleon. NO
| body will recognize me-"
The clubhouse presented a brilliant
| scene. Jackson vine and palms made
| a pretty background for the fantastic
| costumes Of the dancers. Milkmaids.
with kings courtiers. gypsy lasses In
picturesque attire told the fortunes OF
mighty lords, H0llanders flirted with
| gallant Frenchmen, and q queen made
merry with a murderous looking cow
boy. Jane Sanford made the sensa-
ton Of the evening In her daring cos
tune of a snake charmer. From che
sinuous folds Of her black red and
gold garments jewels flashed like the
eyes of angry serpents. Dan Cameron
| recognising her, felt q curious re-
vulsion Of feeling.
| s'I think Dan Cameron is in love
with Jane,' he heard somebody whis-
| per Just back Of him. Isn't she won
| derful tonight?"
Perfect" returned another voice.
admiringly.
room Just then and almost uncon-
sciously Dan started toward her. It
was eminently fitting that they should,
be together, for by some chance trick
of fate he had gone az Faust. ana
Polly was an exquisite Marguerite.
Her hair fell In broad braids across
her shoulders and the black ribbon
that laced across. her breast showed
an under bodice not whittier than her
own throat and arms Her spiritual
beauty. so directly in contract with
the lure Of Jane, seemed to him Just
then like cooling breeze from the
mountains. In Hash the problem
that had been perplexing him was
solved Jane, advancing quickly. laid
her hand on his arm.
to save for you?'' she asked. have
forgotten. Will you go with me to get
an Ice? It il certainly warm in here. "
The little figure Of Marguerite that
had waited for her approaching lover.
Faust. paused uncertatntys then moved
quietly away into q crowd.
wake up. DAM" laughed Jane.
Have charmed you into stupidity Z"
He smiled then and answered her
a. they moved together. . strangely
handsome pair, across the polished
moor. He had not shown any favor
to one of the gir1s without offering
tho same courtesy to the other one.
Polly had overheard Jane ark which
dances he had wanted reOerved for
him. when the truth Of the matter
T. - =
the ball to Jane. Polly would believe
that he had alfxhted her dear little