The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-07-30
The Euening Story
The Overlooking Cup.
(By Ellis Robinscn.1


bury bells. They grew as they would
in the border at the foot of the gray
stone wall that was blotched with
lichenS and Weathered to fantastic
tanned it at one angle, making a back
ground CT living green for the bios
SONS.
Hilary loved the bare spaces best,
every aspect. City-bred, she had yet
sylvan soul-she might, indeed,
have been joyous dryad had she not
happened to be a girl. A delicately
pretty girl, full of intangible subtle :
ties, she could not get over the sur
prise of finding herself at Barton.
Her hosts, the Barton-Fairs, had
surprise of another sort-over her I'M
fluttered acceptance of luxury. They
knew very we'll why she was there
in turn made them socially aspfr-
ing-particularly for Tom and Phyllis,
son and daughter of the house.
Both must marry well-blood.
brains, breeding. Having so great a
price to offer for those excellent
things, the bidders naturally felt
themselves entitled to the finest in
the market. Hence, the transplant
alton of Hilary Fontaine from the
pinchings of genteel poverty to the
ease of lavish wealth.
Phyllis, encountering Hilary in a
select cooking class, had been provi-
storm in the faded but spotless Fon-
tame establishment; had seen there
not on parade, but as part newt
able Of the family envfronment-por-
royal seals to great estates, commits
sionS as generals, governors, sena-
tors; also autograph letters from
men who had made history-and
Phyllis had had wit enough to ap-
praise the recipients of these honors
as social assets. Her mother was no
less shrewd, and the result had been
adroit cultivation of the Fontaines,
which had made possible their trans
plantation to Barton for whole mid
summer month. 0=s-
Hilary, was gladder for Aunt Pam
than for herself. Aunt Pam had not
been strong since a distressing win
ter cold Unless she, too, had been
asked, Hilary would not have thought
of going. But the Barton-Fairs had
been, if possible, more anxious to
have the stately aunt than the beau
tiful niece, for reasons, of course, not
wholly selfish and certainly not un-
selfish
These reasons conferred in Fontaine
Dabney, Aunt PANS only and beloved
nephew, not yet thirty, but already
a man of mark, a power in his state
and held to be on the threshold of
greater things. He was coming home
to visit his people, anyway. There
would be no awkwardness, only cordial
at Barton.
Fontaine Dabney had the double
distinction of being silver tongued,
vet golden wise-for though he stood
like a lion for the poor, he had no an
tipathy for riches. Honestly earned,
generously used, he said, they were
the ultimate blessing of all. Men so
earning and using them should have
statues and votive wreaths, in place
of marrying and contumely.
Mr.. Barton-Fair had known all this
long before he knew the Fontaine5.
He was entirely of his clever wife's
mind, that Providence had made ready
in Aunty PANS young people precisely
the right mates for Tommy and Phyl-
lis. He was prouder of his children
even than of his fortunes, and not
face and somewhat the build of a
cherub, he had the temper of an
angel along with the shreWd wit OF
man of parts AS for Phyllis, he who
cared for beauty high colored and
flashing, a perfect figure, coaxing
tongue and a genuinely kind heart
could not but acclaim her perfect.
Aunty Pam liked Phyllis, even ad-
mired her, although by contrast she
did make Hilary's April fairness ap-
pear trif1e wan. Tommy had won
the elder Miss Fontaine's warm heart
earlier than any of the others.
grow upi'' she had said to him after
he had inveigled her into a long ride
in his cara feat which Heretofore
she had declared impossible. After
ward she had confessed to Hilary that
while Tommy was of course not to be
compared with Fontaine, because of
knowing young Barton-Fair she
should have theneeforth to think
better of all rich young men.
Naturally she was very happy at
Barton. She sat in garden chair
positively beaming as Tommy and
Hilary went up and down the long
border cutting flowers. Tommy car
ried the fat wicker basket, and every
now and then took the shears from
Hilary insisting that sundry stalks
were too tough for her cutting. Later,
when the flowers had been properly
placed labor of joy for Hilary
she said to her niece: Really, Tommy
couldn't do it better-being so much
the host he is not a bit the gallant
/ hope Fontaine will like all of them
here-they will be such good friends
to you two. But there, won't talk"
BEST not, Aunt Pam. Walls have
ears-how much more piazzas and
things" Hilary laughed, moving off
quickly. She knew what it was Aunt
Pam limited at-her darling plan to
match niece and nephew so that when
the family glories were again reful
gent they should be concentrated, not
diffused.
Fontaine knew, too-and both had
Hilary had even fancied she cared for
him, having seen hardly another man
of marriageable condition What his
attitude toward her was she could not
guess. He was always most kind,
most considerate-but scarcely more
She began now to think of him q