The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-08-12
The Euenine Story
Maero Is OF FAncy.

| Magic Is OF Fancy.
(By Katherine Hopson)
Margaret semerson hung the sign.
Engaged" on her door. and then lock-
ed it from the inside.
AS she stood removing her hat. she
glanced out the window. The girls were
| walking about the college campus arm
| in arm. chatting and laughing in the
bright spring sunshine. A little while
ago she had been as lishthearted and
Joyous as they, and now-oh. the utter
disbursement of 1t all
| She took or her street suit and slip
ped into a dainty pink dressinEgown'
the soft tone of which failed for the
first time to give color to her face. AS
/ her eyes met their reflection in the mir
ror they had the look of a wounded
thing. !.
She sat down ON the window seat and
spread out a crumpled newspaper.
| From the society column there stared
/ up at her the words which seemed 10
change for her the face OF the world.
1 "At an informal dinner given at their
home on 9O8 South Jersey boulevard
last night, Mr.. and Mrs. Julian c. Dan
ley announced the engagement OF their
daughter Grace to Mr.. L 8. Kerton. OF
1923 Langley avenue. The wedding ID TO
i take place in September
! ut must-it must be the Luther Ker-
| ton that know! Those are his tni-
tails, and that is his address on Lang
ley avenue.
He had been q ciassmate OF nes
brothers., and when Margaret came to
cambridge to teach in ConnouRht Col
lega Luther Rert0n had ShoW9 her
much attention. OF lateT he had seemed
more than q friend.
And to think, all the time he was
teaching me to care-he was virtually
! engaged to this other grill!
There was no occasion for actual re-
morse. Throughout their acquaintance
ship she had held herself with reserve;
/ vet in her heart she realized that many
1 little instances would have been diner-
emf had she known about Miss Danley.
Margaret buried her face In her hanos
to shut out the thought. Nor did she
stir when the dinner gong sounded. and
the girls trooped down the corrfoof ano
descended the stairs to the dining room
Some one else can sit at the mead OF
my table," she murmered. and gave
herself up to her wretchedness.
"Oh. il / only did not have to "a
down tonight to that ghastly recep-
! ton" she declared later. as she heard
the girls returning to their rooms to
dress.
How long she sat huddled there
Margaret did not know. until she wal
startled by the sound Of knocking. II
was Nora, the maid. who dared brave
any Engaged"
Here are some flowers for you
Miss Semeron.
Marearet opened tho door to re-
ceiye them. AS she laid the box on
the table her fingers trembled. Even
before she removed tho wrappings she
knew from whom they had come
Nesting among the roses was Luther
Kerton's card
her and she started to tear 1t to bits
then her mood changed and she
slipped it into her jewel box.
: tits all have" she said with quiz
ering lips and buried her face In the
velvety fragrance OF the roses. Ane
the roses are not to blame"
At length she reused herself ant
began to dress. Az she stood arrang
) ing her fluffy brown hair. she coult
| hear the girls fitting merrily abou
| the corridors laughing and talking tt
} each other. The senior reception va.
one of the big events Of the college
year.
, When at List she was ready in hel
hlmy white dress, Margaret took uT
the roses in hesitation: then, with q
oufck fndraWn breath she put them
back in the vase, resoluteiy closed tn<
door, ~..~
stairs and took her place With the
rest of tho faculty in the receiving
line. She n1as not q moment too soon
: for the first group of guests had al
: ready arrf- ed
; Az this was her first year OF teach
ing at the college she knew few town
people and heard one meaningIesl
name after another announced. The
mingled perfume of flowers was sur
locating, and the gay orchestra music
came to her like mockefy.
ssWin 1t ever end ?" she wondered
land glanced YEARLY at tho line to se<
II any more guests weFe arriving. A
sudden wave Of color dyed her face
and then receded. leaving her like
marble. Coming in the door wal
. Luther Kerton and . strange gir
whom she surmised to be Miss Dan
ley.
here? He's q friend Of DR.. Con-
, nought. and might have known he'd
. come"
She greeted him mechanically wher
. her turn came She saw MI. Kerton'i
, keen eyes sweep hr In searching
, glance.
she held herself erect. . smile o.
! Iher Hps, while her thoughts were
Fat any rate. he doesn't md mo wear:
ling his rooe9"
Il When her duty on the reception
: Icommittee was over Il WnS Z relief 4
fTsr-