The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-02-08
The Eoeni,,e Story


(6y nope A1n9Iee.y
Of these tea fights, Helen. 1 beg Of
you, protested George Moore as he
anticipated his sisters invitation.
Helen's pretty face became clouded
fishts!''
We'll. pink. blue or yellow teas
or anything you like to call them.
I've escorted you this whole winter
from one studio to another. I've i'm
tibed gallons of sickly tea and eaten
pounds Of cake and tarts and jam
and I've listened to would-be artists
rave for hours about their souls and
their temperaments- I'm sick of it.
If you must have that false atmos-
phere, please don't insist upon my
going with you. sis. I'm sorry, but
when I promised mother and father
to look after you while you pursued
your career in this foolish big city
didn't bargain for quite such q dose
it,
His sisters face ran the gaunt of
emotions while he derided her loved
excursions and when he finished she
that she was anxious to look well
that afternoon at the tea to which
she was invited she would have done
SO if only to add to her broher's dis
comfort. Helen was the only girl in
family with four boys and 1t had
always been her amusement to annoy
and tease them.
won't you go just this once-this
afternoon? 1 promised you would be
Caroline Becker. She has no tenn
permanent and Of course I find her
rather dull"
"rll co." interrupted her brother.
ANY person living in studio and
having tea and that you ftnc duh
must be an oddity."
"George!"
"A fact, Helen. thought q studio
was sufficient in itself to make you
adore the hostess" he went on. bru-
tally.
shes an artist, however. for she's
taken first prize at the academy this
year. But-oh. do love people with
temperament"
George turned away, whistling.
He had q sincere hope that his sister
would develop some common sense
after she had had q season or two OF
New. York studio life. She was young.
AS they walked briskiy down Cen
building in which Helen's "dulr
artist riend lived. George Moore be-
gan to be curious about his hostess
to be.
He. was more than curious when he
took her proffered hand and felt her
warm, soft grip as she welcomed him
and his sister to her studio. The girl
was beautiful, in a simple. sweet way.
She was like the girl he knew In the
west, not a particle like the girls his
sister "adored" and who lived in the
studios he had been freQuenttng.
Neither was this studio like the 9TH
ers. 1t looked more like real home
than anything he had seen In New
York. There was no Oriental scent
in the air; there was no dimly lighted
candle lamps. no smoking table with
ladies cigarettes" lying on 1t.
This is SO cheerful and hOmelike,
Miss Becker" he found himself say
ing after he and his sister had ad-
mired the picture that had won the
Academy prize.
earnestly.
TT is. indeed" George repeated.
That's been one of my main OBJ
1ects in the furnishing of it and in all
my little entertainments. I've tried
to have the home atmosphere-the
and, now don't laugh when l show
you something" She ran behind
screen and returned with a stone crock
..The cookie crock!' cried Helen.
Il can hardly believe my eyes,"
added George.
"And real, homemade cookies!"
explained Caroline. removing the top
of the crock. Mother sends them
every week and I always have some.
Each of the guests took round SUI
gar covered cookie and ate it as II
it were the best thing they had ever
tasted.
IT wouldn't exchange this cookie
for all the French tarts or pate-de-
foie-Rras tid-bits in all the studios In
New York" said George Moore more
enthusiastically than his sister mad
heard him express himself since he
had left home.
.sThey are good" admitted Helen.
ITS Just that-they remind me OF
home" said Caroline. II dreaded this
studio living so, and yet 1 knew 1
must finish my art studies in New.
York. Mother was just sick about
letting me come. but promised her
1 would live as nearly like home NV
ing as I could and that wouldn't get
the habit OF Temperament as so many
girls do. Some of our girls came east
to study music or one thing and an
other and when they came home
we'll 1t was terrible. the false, r1olcu-
1ous attitude they had ACQUIRED az q
nose in their profession. Why. one OF
our girls came home with the idea
that she must smoke cigarettes to Gre
ate the proper atmosphere TO practace
in and she drank black coffee at all
hours 30 that she could compose
she didn't compose much harmony
in her family circle!"
George Moore was laughing heart
ilv bv this time and AZ he reached for
a third cookie his sister frowned upon
him.
George Moore! You laugh 20 ioud
and eat 30 much, I'm ashamed OF
you," she admonished.
"Doia't be, please Miss Moore"
pleaded Caroline. putting q friendly
hand ON Helen's arm. It's 80 good
to see and hear him. It's like home
-itself."
: And after that the guests began to
arrive 80 that George and his sister
coud not monopokze their hostess
Helen had to drag her brother home
and AZ she usually had to urge him
TO remain even q polite length Of time
she was more than amused.