The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-08-26
The Euening Story
His Big Story.
(By Jane OSBORN

crack reporter on the Morning Star,
when he sent him out to cover the
Morris-Norris wedding. Get away
from the stereotyped society dope
The Morrises are always doing some
thing sensational and the Norr1ses
have controlling ownership in the tin
trust that we have been fighting Go
as far as you like; don't hesitate to
offend any one; but at any cost get q
first page story
Tom, realizing that his most careful
Isleuthing was in order, went to the
| little apartment he shared with his
pals on the Morning Star" and leis-
urely and carefully got into his eve
ming clothes. He knew that he must
drop the role of reporter. For the
time he must assume the Sulse of
guest, must mingle with the city S
-Four Hundred" and listen to their
comments, to their gossip, in search OF
the germ of the big story.
A half hour later Tom was part of
the gay assemblage of the city's rich
est and most exclusive set that had
gathered at the palatial Morris resi-
dence to witness the most deliberately
planned wedding of the season. Some
how he had passed the footman at the
door, whose sole duty it was to admit
only those bearing invitation cards,
and so far he had evaded the vigilance
| of the detectives employed for the oc-
casion to spot any unbidden guest
But the inspiration for the big story
had not yet come.
During the strains of the wedding
march-some strange, fantastic COM
position rendered in the subdued notes
| of an orchestra-Tom watched in
tently, his eyes trained to keen OBJ
servation by his five years experience
as newspaper reporter. He had the
names of the bridesmaids beforehand
and there was nothing in their con-
ventionaI prettineSs and studied gait
tn ar
approach of the maid of honor-the
famous society belle, Doris Dabney.
who seemed to advance like a goddess
in an aura of blues and mauve-Tom
shared in the general wave of admtra-
ton that swept over the guests.
"A dream of 1ove1iness!' 'Divine!'
1.-The most beautiful girl in the, coun
| try!" were some of the remarks that
Tom heard, and then someone muir
INJURED at his side: 81 never saw Doris
ldreadfuily tagged lately" And then
loudly whispered reply: "Skillful
make up, my dear, makes all the diff
| ference"
Tom looked closely, studying the
| beautiful features of the young woman
as she passed near him to the bower
of roses set up at one end of the Nor
| ris ballroom. Even to his practiced
eye there was no trace of the hand of
the beauty doctor, no suggestion of
most staggering with the impression
that suddenly came to him.
It's Jane" he said half aloud, and
as the strains of that strange wedding
march continued and the Morris pedi-
gree and the Norris millions were
united in that famous marriage Tom
stood as one in q daze. How had Jane
Lane, the girl he had loved in his boy
hood, whom he had not seen for five
years, to be sure, but whom, in his
heart of hearts, he loved still-how
| had this country girl been transp orted
| to this scene of wealth and elegance?
She had been as poor as he in the days
when they went to school together,
and there she was. dazzling in a gown
| that must have cost more than he
earned in three months and wearing
jewels worth a kings ransom.
What of Doris Dabney, the society
beauty who had been expected to act
as maid of honor? Could Jane be
Doris? Was he dreaming?
AS the strains of the orchestra
lchanged from that mysterious we'd
ding march to gayer operate notes he
came to himself. His first thought on
regaining his composure was of the
big story that he had been detailed to
get.
Then, as a second thought, he real
| lied that he had the germ for the
story. 1t was as good as written.
Every one had expected Doris Dabney
sembled Jane amazingly, for no one
apparently realized that Doris had not
appeared. He would talk to Jane and
get the whole story. Perhaps there
was a scandal, petty gossip, intrigue
that kept the famous society beauty
away.
| When Tom had made his way to
Jane he noticed that she seemed in
tent on avoiding conversation. But he
was insistent, and Jane" uttered in a
whisper banished her reserve. Tom
rushed from expressions of joy at see
| ing her to vol1ey of questions, and
whole secret She was serving as gov
erness in the Norris family. Her re-
sembIance to Doris Dabney had often
been remarked.
Then the very day of the wedding
Doris Dabney disappeared. 1t was a
scandal, of course. She had eloped
with ner fathers good looking Danish
chauffeur If the news leaked out it
would spoil everything. So Jane had
| been called to the rescue to play the
part of Doris, to wear her gown and
| to appear with the priceless DaDney
pearls and sapphires for the wedding.
The bridal party all knew what had
happened, and now that she had APP
peared and effected the deceit she was
going before any one discovered the
fraud The whole thing had been done
to keep the scandal out of the papers.
Toms citation was divided between
delight at having found Jane and joy
at having found his big story He
was hurrying away when Jane, fol-
lowing him, put a hand on his arm.
How did you happen to be here?''
she asked sf Tf dond fravel 1g sns
anxious appeal in her voice-"are you
still with the Morning Star p -
Then Tom, now more intent on his
story than on his revived love for
Jane, and Jane, herself afraid of be-
ing discovered. departed hurriedly as
some guests came toward them