The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-06-23
The EDenirg Story
DINNER Is Waiting"
(By Keith KENYON

bus and entered the lobby of West
/ marks best hotel. She registered and
bellboy carried her suit cases I'D to
her room.
There she unpacked and made her
self comfortable with the dizziness of
an old traveller. for Nell had been a
travelling saleswoman for three years
and knew all the lights and shades of
one night stops.
Jewelry was her line, and in the
compact sample case, that looked more
like closed book than anything else
Nell Drew carried a line of samples
that charmed orders out of depart
ment store buyers.
She hummed a little tune while she
freshened her toilet for dinner. She
removed her big tailored suit of blue
serge and put on a dainty frock of
dark blue crepe de chine. With her
softly piled masses of dusky hair and
her family tinted cheeks, Nell Drew
was very pleasant to look upon. A
string of pearls circled her round
white throat. She wore no other
jewelry.
She hummed a tune as she dressed.
She had grown into this habit through
a peculiar state of mind that had ex-
listed ever since she had told Jerry
Mason that she wasn't going to tie
herself down to any mans domestic
career for herself.
But we can keep a maid, dearie,"
stupid Jerry had pleaded.
I want to be free retorted Nell.
Jerry had sighed. ITS a bit tough"
he admitted. I've been dreaming for
months past how you'd meet me at the
front door and say, Jerry, dear, din
ners waiting for you!''
Nonsense" laughed Nell, but the
laugh was shaky one, an Jerry was
stupid or he would have heard the
quaver in her voice; but he had ac-
copied it as her ultimatum and had
gone away. And Nell had decided
upon her career and was making a
success of 1T. AS for Jerry Mason, she
never inquired after him, and the
folks at home did not mention his
name when they wrote.
Every night. no matter. where she
Jerry's words would recur to Nell
Drew, saleswoman:- Jerry, dear,
dinners waiting for your
So Nell hummed and whistled to
place words, and she usually managed
to submerge them in time to go to din
ner with a light heart.
Tonight she was passing through
through her toilet SO as to go down
to the dining room where the light
and the ciatter would put to flight any
impertinent longing for domestic life.
Westmark was a large middle west
ern city and the Westmark Hotel was
an excellent hostelry. 1t was a favor
lite stopping place for motorists, and
Nell was not surprised to find the dim
ing room well filled with men and
women. ''+'--
She had telephoned downstairs for
a table, but as the head waiter guild
ed her to her seat he explained that
they were so crowded that they had
been compelled to place another guest
at the table. Then he drew back her
chair, filled her goblet with water and
sent a waiter for her order.
Ill rxy4k
purr of satisfa ction that the table ap-
pointments were above criticism. A
tall vase of pink carnations was in the
middle of the damask cloth and a pink
shaded candle stood at either end.
She could discern a black coat sleeve
and a large masculine hand pick
ing up a soup spoon The rest of her
was hidden behind the flow
ers. Just as she picked up the menu
and chose her soup, the hand across
the table reached forward and re-
moved the vase of flowers.
Even flowers should not stand be-
tween old friends" said a familiar
voice.
Jerry" Her hand went across the |
table to meet his in a warm clasp.
In that unexpected moment of re-
Nell saw the same Jerry of old, only |
a little broader, graver-eyed, with |
touches of gray at the temples and a
look that was still tender, albeit more |
serious than of old.
Jerry saw the same Nell-sw sweet and |
charming as ever, but with strained |
look in her eyes and slight droop to |
her red lips. Her manner was as
frank as in the days of their friend
ship, but there was a new aSSertive-
Mesa poise that she had acquired.
She was first to recover from the
of the meeting She selected
her dinner leisurely and with marked |
elaboration. but poor Jerry neglected
his when it was placed before him.
What are you doing in Westmark. |
anyway" she asked, with something
like her old air of camraderies.
Live here he replied terseIy.
I'm Westmark? What are you do
ing here-practicing law?"
He nodded. I'm full-fIedged cor
poration lawyer now. 1 live at this
hotel"
'sYou do? Then you're not she
paused in slight hesitation.
mo, I'm not married." he said
quietly. II suppose you are succeed
ing in your chosen career or you
would not look so happy"
Last year my sales topped all the
she boosted, land I was the
,nly woman traveller on the list
Good for you." Somehow his
voice lacked heartiness. You like
TT"
Il love it," enthusiastically.
And you still find that a compan-
on is not necessary to your complete
?"
"Of course he isn't. Why. I'm as
busy as can be and I never have
lime to moon over anything"
Happy woman" He was crum-
bling his bread aimlessly and eating
nothing You don't look like mas
,uline sort of woman he went on
bitterly. II suppose. though. that