The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-08-17
The Eoeni,e Story

The Evening Story
The Attractive Girl.
(By Laura A. Kirkman.)
Sally Martin sighed slightly as she
saw some of her friends pass the gate
with broad. Roman sashes.
II suppose they're going to the
church SALE" she said to herself.
She would have liked to go to that
church sale herself-not because the
sale itself was a thing to enjoy, par
ticularly, but-oh, just because girls
who could GO to those things were.
somehow, different from girls who
could not. She had to stay at home
and, and help her mother sa get meals s.f for
did she have time to go flying about
like the other girls!
But she wasn't complaining! No.
sir! It wasn't in the blood of q. Mar
Of duty. not even though her mothers
boarder was a very nice and jolly young
man, and moro than once she had had
to refuse to &C to places with him be-
cause she hadn't just the right thing
to wear. It was only the girls whose
mothers didn't keep boarders who had
time to fuss over sewing.
They'll have to entertain him." she
had told herself with stern lips which
exactly resembled the lips of great
in the parlor.
Yet, though she wouldn't admit it,
deep down she longed to make a new
record for the Martins record of
defiant prodigality. She longed to turn
her back or duty for evermore and
| indulge to the utmost all her little
vanities AID extravagant fancies. She
longed to destroy her present type
the plain. dutiful type-and establish
herself once for all in the type to
that type which she had always
called. to lerself. The Attractive
Girl" All that would be needed
! would be little time Of her own. and
a little money spent on her.
As she turned from the door. after
glancing after her friends, her
mind was not on this wild, lawless
theme; it was. as usual, flying ahead
| of her into the kitchen, thinking alb
sorbedly what sort of desserts to make
| for supper.
| Batter pudding last night she re-
! the house. Swiss pudding the night
| before. 1 guess I'd better make q
currant pie tonight"
The next thing to think about
| therefore, was the picking Of the cur
| rants
| IT ought to change my Dress" she
1.-THE kitchen mirror. May Irving will
be sure to drop in on her way back
from the sale, and II Mr.. Haskins
should happen to be In his room ana
| should look down and see me In q
lsunbonnet and Bingham dress and her
| in a pink wolfe"
Nevertheless. there was no time in
which to change her Dress Indeed.
she really could not have said
whether her white dress was clean or
not-so much had happened lately to
keep her mind on clothes!
| And it's no worse today than 1t has
been any other day. is it," she asked
herself ruefully. II guess he'd faint
ii he saw me all dressed up"'
or course. the worst happened. May
Irving did drop In, and did stand over
| her as she picked currants-tn q etng-
ham dress and sunbonnet-and Mr..
Haskins did look out Of his window and
see them.
In fact, he did more: he called down
Hey. therev' he said jealously.
lcurrant party. too?'
1 sally had to wait almost a minute
! before she could answer. Then she
looked up with a very flushed face and
aof course. Mr.. Haskins. Wed love
to have you"
While he was coming downstairs
she tried to tuck the most stained
parts OF her dress under her. Some
Of the currant Juice from her fingers
had made the dress look even worse
than before. AS he came up to them.
however. she looked up smilingly.
"Are you sure you came to work
and not to eat?" she jolred.
The same reckless feeling had come
over her that always seemed to como
to her at these embarrassing times
q sort Of 'eWell, things can't be any
Iworse-and that's . satisfaction" feel
ing. she even found herself kneeling
and letting the spots show OF what
pse was 1t to try to appear vel?
4 Nor was she bitter over the situa-
owe just got to convince myself
that don't care" she thought. senst-
bly,. HE hasn't any eyes Tor me any
way: how could he have. when May Il
i May was sally's ideal Of ''The At
Itractive Girl" Her nails were always
nicely manicured: her hair was always
dressed fashionably: her clothes were
always made in the newest style. A.
she looked up now into Mr.. Haskins's
face and smi1ing1y asked him IL he
knew the church was giving an enter
ltainment that night she looked even
Iprettier than ever.
And press you to So-because We
ineed your money. she said dATingly.
i Sally could see from his face that he
liked her frankness-
..As you put it that way" he an
i swcred quickly. .'rH come
For . moment Mays long. long eye
ilashes dropped Then she looked mp
with lightning swiftness.
victoria just as well!" she said swiftly
land went.