The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-07-03
The EDening Story
A Winning Penalty.
(By Jean Crew.

will be clever" Davis half chanted.
nodding significantly at Elise
She blushed family, frowned and
turned her back.
at is nice to be good-even for
revenue. Don't think I blame you,
dear girl-serious- minded young men
with money in both pockets are not
to be despised.''
No! Rather ight-minded ones
who have nothing of any sort" Elise
flung back with immense scorn.
! Davis chuckled. I'm worth as
| much as seven dollars, actual cash.
Potentially-just wait till the royal
ties begin rolling in
why not say till the Greek calends
AS you generally do?" Elise came
not twitting you with poverty-don't
! you dare say it. It's being poor with
malice aforethought that sets me
wild. That's your Sort
will plaintiff state her case? De-
Tense reserved Davis laughed, yet
not quite easily. He had sensed the
choking voice.
Elise turned upon him, her dropped
hands clenching hard. IF you starved
for an ideal, disdaining to work un-
worthily, 1 could love you, Starve with
you joyously," she said, but when
you let weak pride and pure vanity
stand in the way
81 don't understand" Davis inter-
rupted, now looking uncomfortable.
You do understand" Elise retort-
ed. You think 1t beneath your dig
nifty to listen to reason. Graham
wanted you to rewrire an act. You
put the play in a drawer and have not
looked at it since. Because, fOrsOOth,
he's an ass-off the stage. L know it
everybody does. But he has the in
stinct that tells him what will get
ever so much finer
Thanks for them kind Words
Davis tried to say with merry scorn.
but hurt and angry in spite of him
self
Elise Went on pitilessly: 1T was so
with your book-first half is adorable
fresh and witty and clean. Every
body says so-but you will lug in dirt
all through the last half Needless
dirt. Yes, you SHAH hear the truth.
If your soul wore a dirty garment
could understand your sticking by it.
1t doesn't. You are clean-your ln-
cleanness is just an affectation-no
matter how you pirate about strength
This grows monotonous,'' Davis
broke in, like the Mona Lisa smile.
I'd rather be sworn a than have you
so perfectly reasonable. Maybe
ought to let impatience do her per-
feet work. Still it occurs to me you
are perhaps more acutely aware of
my shortcomings from viewing them
through the lens of another mans
perfections.'
"Only partly right" Elise answered.
I've felt this coming all along-but
until you brought in Maginn 1
wouldn't let myself say it-even to
so 1 fetched a stick to break my
own head. Well, it should be bless
you, my childrenl" Davis interrupted
superbly. "Maginn, the little busy
bee, improves the shining hour. Nat
urally he hovers over all sweets
''Maginn has just this to do with it,
she cried, her nails dug into her
palms. Hes below you-world's be-
meath you-in every way except one
he does what he can and does it
with a sincerity of belief in himself
that quite redeems his conce1t. If you
tried only half so hard"
You forget. 1 am not a bankers
son." Davis cried, now thoroughly an
cry. Don't waste more breath, my
dear. 1 understand. You are tired of
waiting, of hoping, of believing. Ma
ginn, with his expectations, mis- sweetIy
solemn mind, tempts you sadly. Take
icitation and wish you a very good
EVENING"
LAS you will, but take this" Elise
answered, slipping off his ring, q mere
thread of gold with a winking fire
opal on top. Her hand trembled. Was
it for this she had but half an hour
earlier sent Maginn away with NO
SO kind it was irreVOcable? She knew
it was wicked, but she had been kind |
as a penance for hating poor Maginn
because of his humble perfections.
They were bearing him so much far
Their and higher than Lynn Davis's |
better parts were ever likely to carry
him.
Now, Lynn was jealous. She would !
condone that in no man. She all but
flung the ring at him. He let it fail |
and roll on the floor. He made to
set his heel on it. She snatched it
out of harms way, her lips suddenly |
tremulOus, her fine eyes dim.
He watched her smiling bitterly. |
Finding is keeping" he said. You |
can't dlsclalm your treasure trove. |
Anyway, the bauble is too cheap 20
be worth returning
Elise could not speak
Cheap like the giver,' ne went on
bitterly. Yet 1 went without cigars
three months to buy it, more shame
to me. If 1 were like Maginn 1 could
have bought you a diamond with lust
a few hours work. Do you like bau-
bles? l never thought you really
cared"
You know I-I-loved that ring
than"than-the finest the
costliest,'' Elise burst out. t'I would
not have had it different
Aren't you truly a sybarite in love
with luxury" Davis asked dra wing
a pace nearer.
she shook her head, her breath
quick. II don't mind lacking
a little bft,'' she said
THE hard part is doing without be-
cause you must. If 1 were only rich
enough 1 should let myself be really
dowdy now and then.
1T that why you are suddenly so
severe will. me?'' Davis asked mis-
eyes beginning to twinkle. She flung
up her head, saying bravely with a
crimson flush, 'sNoi''
Then why, Maginn and his per-
fections aside ?" Davis demanded.
She turned on him, her eyes flash
ing. Let Maginn aIonei' she said. |