The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-03-19
The Eueri1,e Story


10a1A10 tn3t 000 mao 00o0 1e1l COM
pletely alone In the world and with
NO means whereby she could exc out
an existence.
At least. during . period Of tenn
porary blankness Elise was unable to
SOS way Of earning her living. There
was. OF course. path tor her to
tread but SO far she had not discov-i
cred It.
Her father, q dreamer and book
worm, had left her unprovided for
save In the matter of . roof over her
head and his wonderful library. The
latter extended from the ceiling to tho
floor of the three rooms on the
ground floor Of the old homestead.
Il would not sell q single volume"
unused Elise sadly while she remem-
bered the tenderness with which her
father had handled each prixed book.
He had. even to the end, been child
like In his enthusiasm over collecting
his heart. There had been no thought
OF tomorrow either for himself or
his daughter.
The little village In which She lived
contained many writer's, artists and
BOhemians In general. Many q time
her father had been called upon to
give information to these aspirants
for fame from his fund Of knowledge.
Sometimes his quest had lasted for
days while he was in search Of an
elusive quotation or fragment OF
forgotten data.
Elise had had many offers Of mar
riage. but as yet her heart continued
its steady beat. She was romantic
enough to await the coming Of. the
one who would storm her citidel and
carry her on to a den OF dreams.
through the memories OF stragglerS
who had entered into and passed out
of her life while seeking help from
her father. Elise found the dawning
Of an idea for financial income.
She would turn the library not ex-
actly into public property, but she
would conduct it in the nature Of an
Information club. She would charge
slight fee for her services in look
ing up Information, but never would
she permit one single book to leave
Its nest in the old homestead. Fortu-
nately for her purpose, she had alb
eorbed much knowledge from her
father. The index was Of her own
making.
Elise was decidedly relieved when
her idea was perfected. She also de-
cided to turn the two upper stories of
the big house into studios and dens.
She herself could occupy the lower
floor.
The small. detailed notices she. sent
broadcast through the village were re-
cefyed with surprise and commenda<
ttops The enterprise was acclaimed
both magnanimous and astute. Ia a
v1iIaee OF intellectual and progressive
people q library such AZ Elise offered
was wonderful acquisition. A long
felt want had been suddenly filled.
Also. the village had lacked suitable
accommodation for temperamental
Bohemiaps and Elise found that she
could have rented a dozen more
artistic studios where only eight were
possible.
The only rather sentimental and
feminine thing Elise induced in was
the name she gave her home "Day
Dream House" was to be seen on the
brass knocker and on the cards that
left the house.
Elise began to feel. as time passed,
that she was q part Of the village inn
provement association. Certainly she
had been instrumental in improvine
least.
When the great costume ball was
talked OF she knew that her library
would be taxed to it's capacity. Cos
TUNES OF every period and description
would be eagerly sought and she
would have her hands full to supply
a variety befitting Bohemian taste.
When the well known Godfrey Gray
came into her domain Elise glanced
up with q pleased smile. She had
artist and newest arrival in the village
would find his way into Day Dream
House.
II have been told" Gray began,
that l could find everything that has
happened since the beginning Of the
worldEright here"
Elise laughed with q slight color
creeping into her cheeks.
Perhaps you cam she said with
| demure little dr0op to the eyes.
Gray's eyes widened and his eye
brows raised themselves into arches
of surprise.
well then" he said. with . slight
twist to his well-formed lips, ST want
to find out why 1t is that some men
fail to fall In love. Is there a book
on the sub3ect-or any old codgel
who tmagines he has solved the mys-
| tery?''
her eyes She looked keenly at him for
a moment. then a slow smile dawned
in her face.
Are you serious-in your quest p
she asked.
'only half 81 Gray admitted
in was to meet you. have heard on
every side of me words concerning the
Lady Of Day Dream House. con-
fess-' he laughed, that CURIOSITY
the dance urged me to seek you out. y
Elise was half annoyed and hall
amused at the artists frankness- She
considered for . moment with partial
said:
81 hardly think it necessary to con-
suit books or old .Codgers' to find out
the reason why some men fail in the
mockery in her voice. Turning quick
ly to the shelves Of books she then
drew out q huge volume ON costumes
I Here" she offered him q coxy chair.
glance through this. Surely there
viii be something among those to suit
v0uf fa4tes