The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-07-20
The Evening Story
Penelope.


| (By Martha McCulloch- Williams
From her youth upward, Penelope
had found her legs her bane They
were, you see, of classic proportion
the long Greek lines sculptors adore
But Grandma Betton had fretted
over them dreadfully-they made it
so hard to adapt handed-down gar
sister, outgrew her things before they
were half worn. Yet the waists of
them bagged on Penelope, the skirts
hardly hiding her slim knees. Sitting,
Standing, she was like a sapling-so
declared her family. Other folk Xix
ened her to flower, or a stalk of
wheat-she was so thin and Withal
so lithely graceful.
The pity of it, they did not tell her
of her good points. A woman grown,
Penelope humbly, honestly thought
herself fright, and, consequently,
was self-consciously awkward. This
reacted upon a spirit naturally free
and fine, making her sharp in speech,
aggressive in spite of shyness. thorn
in the side of an easy-going family.
firmly convinced that she would never
marry-a conviction that in her case,
as with so many others, might have
wrought its own fulfillment if Fate
had not stepped in and ruled other
wise.
Penelope, however, accepted the
spinster doom as fixed. Therefore she
drew her fine hair away from her
classic brow, wore the garments no.
body else cared to appear in after
they had been bought, and thereby
made herself as nearly fright as
healthy complexion and very good
eyes permitted.
the theater, Notwithstanding she had
never felt the least inclination to
make herself a part of it. Weekly
she skimped on carfare, fallals and
whatnotS, not to mention cultiVating
a violent hatred for ice cream soias
and SundaeS of every persuasion, in
order to go alone to good matinee
neither the movies nor the cheap
stock houses allured her in the least.
Each week she bought next weeks
ticket-this way to make sure of an
end seat. Only in an end seat. in most
of the house, could she sit in any de-
legs again. With the freedom of the
aisle at her command, she could Just
about manage to avoid cramping in
the course of an afternoon. IS
Having her seat secured in advance,
she went barely in time to see the cur
tain rise, for then the row was likely
to be filled and nobody would strug-
gle across those preposterous knees
until after the first act.
Judge, then, her mental state when
all intent upon seeing the star play of
the winter, she found her chosen and
paid-for seat occupied by an elderly
man and the row filled with what was
evidently a family party-a sweet
faced, white-haired woman, two Dret-
ty girls, a young matron, vivacious
and no-end stylish, and very good
husband. Those two were unmistak-
ably urban, Penelope instantly &C.
cided; the others had provincial writ
ten all over them, but written inof-
fensively; probably father, mother
and the girls come a-visitinE and
hTnI oh n vi Il.aT.
because everybody else was seeing it.
Penelope herself had to wait Il fort
night in order to secure the seat she
wanted the aisle.
She waited with a sort of grim sat
isfaction the busting of the intruder
The usher spoke sharply to the old
man. Instantly the younger one leaned
across, showing a handful of checks
house the while ringing with applause
as the rising curtain disclosed a cou-
pie of stage favorites.
Penelope grew impatient. Il should
like my seat, if you please she sid
with cold civility. The young man
rose, stepped out in front OF her,
looked at the check the usher held,
then said politely: There's evidently
seat; my father" A glance at the
old mans knees supplemented his ap-
peal.
II can't" Penelope returned. not
too amiably. People all about frown-
ed; one bold soul Kissed family. The
old gentleman rose quickly, touched
his sons arm and said: wen go
back together, son. Maybe there is
still standing room. Never mind now
it won't tire me-and I'm bound not
to miss the play"
''You live out of town ~ Penelope
said, her better nature returning
promptly.
"a thousand miles, he laughed
"So-of course want to see all the
wonders.
you shall see this-at your ease
Penelope assured him smilingly. II
can come to see it any afternoon"
And this is his only chance the
young man interrupted gratefully.
MY people are leaving town tonight
else we should have waited for the
evening performance. Still don't
like taking your seat. Come with me
to the box office, please. 1t needs-a
good talking to-
(Which I am quite equal to under
take by myself. Sit down and see the
play" Penelope decided, amazed at her
own self-possession. She was even
more astonished when, in the lobby
to which he had followed her-the
young man touched ner arm, saying
deferentially: You must let me
have your name-here is my card. I
simply can't thank you enough-dad's
heart was so set on this"
Penelope took the card without
looking at it, handing over her own,
face down, in return. Then, with a
quick go right back to dad" she
darted outside, resolved to have it out
with the box office at a more con-
venient season. She had had excite