The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-08-24
The Eoeni,,g Story
The Good Angel.
(By Louise Oliver.)


gel. this little Nanshekki. with her
sloes, that were SO full OF understand |
ing.
Bert Haworth and Leona Farley al |
ways waited for their tea until Nam |
Others demanded the little Japanese
girl as we'll as they, SO they were al
ways patient. 1t was an excuse toI
pro.ong the almost daily tete-a-tete to
which they both looked forward-Bertl
after busy day in the office, Leona
after shopping or matinee.
NanSnekkt was called their guardian
angel for several reasons. First, be-
cause, with her little sloe eyes, she had
interpreted the situation at once when
Bert had been introduced to Leona one
W1ntry afternoon by a friend in the
tearoom. Shc had seen the look of
interest and admiration that had leap
ed into the mans eyes while teona
was acknowledging the introduction
with her prettiest smile. And she had
smiled knowingly to herself, when at
towards she had found his tea and
muffin altogether untouched, at the
place he had confiscated beside his
pretty new acquaintance
| After that Bert had managed to
come to the tearoom almost every day
at s.. Sometimes Leona was not there
On such days Nanshekki knew that it
was useless to tempt his appetite. Dear
knows he ate little enough the other
times! He was too busy looking at
and listening to the girl beside him.
At both sides Of the softly lighted
room were little retreats where one
or two-coulG have his tea in private
ana at the same time hear the music
OF the little orchestra For the Jap
anese have way of retiring from the
world without the use of thick walls
and solid doors. Heavy curtains of
beads. with an artistic arrangement Of
artificial boughs, screened the occu-
nj fhHHn k~II 49,
eyes of those in the main tearoom.
Everywhere was a sort Of orange
twilight from a hundred vari-colored
Japanese lanterns.
One day Nanshekki adroitly filled
up her tables with a reckless heed
lessness of space. When Leona ap-
peared for her cup Of tea not q vacant
table remained.
why, Nanny, what has happened
today that you forgot US? mean
she colored-"you have always been
SO good about reserving q table for
two"
Nanshekki was desolated. How had
it happened? But suddenly she had a
thought. A stall? Wouldn't the lady
like one for today? 1t cost so little
more. And for two-so cosy!
Leona hesitated, then smiled
why, just the thing! Tell Mr.. Ha-
worth il he comes In just where / am,
will you. Nanny? That is, il he asks
Tor me-, she added
And Nanshekki did as she was bid
den. And after she had delivered his
order she kept wisely away. How
beautifully her plan had worked out!
When they emerged later to go
nome they were SO radiantly happy!
And Bert had pressed bill into Nan
shekkf's tiny hand. wish us happi-
ness. Nanshekki! We are going to be
married.! Wen have to call you our
guardian angel"
After that they came together al
most every day. and the little waitress
lowered around delightedly. She
loved to catch the sparkle of the little
lady's ring. No one else dared to take
their order. They were her property
absolutely.
Then the sky fell!
Il Nanshekkf fOresaw the trouble long
before it really happened, for it took
days and weeks to reach the stage
where it broke the little lady's heart.
The little Japanese girl saw the look
in the wicked lady's eyes that she
knew BODIED ill for the happiness of
her idol.
i Nanshekki had not always had the
honor of serving in a fashionable tea
!: room. When she first came to Amer
lea, Kinsanui, her fathers friend, who
had promised to get her work, and who
incidentally collected her wages and
sent only half to the parent. keeping all
u
only been able to get her a place at
serving in restaurant, where things
stronger than tea were in demand.
i When two years later Nanshelki saw
the wicked lady, as she called her, in
the tea room, she recognized her at
once. She rubbed a scar on her own
little neck reminiscently. A wine glass
thrown at the little Japanese girl for q
mistake in the order had cut deeply.
Now. however, the wicked lady did
not look the same. Her clothes were SO
beautiful and her air was what the
Americans cau naughty And she
was with people who were rich and
wore fine clothes.
i Yes. she was different-all but her
eyes. Inside she was the same And
when she looked at Mr. Haworth. the
little lady's gentleman" Nanshekki in
her corner grew uneasy. She predicted
trouble, and she was right.
i Gradually Bert stopped coming to the
tea room at s. -LeOna would sit pretend
ing to sip her tea and finally 80 home
alone.
q Then the little lady, failed to ap-
pear one day. and she never came after
that.
The next time Bert came to the tea
room he was with the wicked lady"
, The little japanese girl picked up
sedately away.
She was sad and unhappy these days.
II only she knew where the little lady
i. lived she would go to her. But what
could she do? She knew that no words
Of hers could comfort a broken heart.
The weeks dragged along, and Nam
shekkt had given up hope Of seeing
. Leona again, when one day she Slip
7 ped In out Of the street and sat down
, at one Of the tables. The little waitress
I scarcely knew her, she was SO thin and
i pale
: Scarcely was she seated when Nam
shekki saw her enemy at the door
lah lodi