The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-09-02
The Euening Story
An Evening Off.
[By Louise Oliver.J

crib, tilted the bottle to just the proper
angle and snatched a soft little hand
kerchief out of her belt just in time
to prevent a very bitter tear from
dropping down on to the wee pink
cheek on the pillow.
Gerald senior had just gone out,
slamming the door as most males do,
for a marital row. This was their
first quarrel, and Priscilla felt that
the earth was shaking under her feet.
She slipped into a kimono and sat
down by the window. 1t was not quite
dark, but the street below was very
quiet; so was the little flat-just a
soft, contented sound from the crib in
the corner. The silence added to her
loneliness. Of course little Gerald
was the dearest sweetest, most prec-
iOuS darling in the wide world, but
after she had cooed and kissed and
patted and rocked all day, to say moth
ing of the ceremonious bath and airing
in the perambulator, she felt 1t her
privilege to associate with people OF
her own age, after baby had settled
himself to sleep all night; preferably
Gerald senior, but and this was what
the trouble was all about-he nau
a drug store, and no one could De
trusted with the precious prescription
factory from a. m. until IL p M
daily but himself. Priscilla was left
to amuse herself as best she could
The evenings had passed in dull
procession. The lonely little mother
tried everything she knew of to while
away empty hours, reading, manicur-
ing, attempting new coiffures for no
body to see and sleeping. From pure
loneliness she had taken to retiring
at g..
The little handkerchief was getting
quite wet The twilight deepened into
darkness and the street below began
to show signs of life. A taxicab drew
up to the entrance of the tall bulld-
ing next door and a couple got out, the
woman with a velvet evening cloak
thrown over a light gown of some sort.
The entrance light fell upon them
then and Priscilla saw that the gown
was of soft plated chiffon of pale
yellow, and that the satin slippers and
stockings matched. She sighed. How
many ages had it been since she mad
dressed like that!
Others came, some walking and
some in automobiles. Priscilla watched
eagerly for a glimpse of fluffy gowns
Her own face began to reflect some
of the eagerness and brightness of
those below.
Suddenly some one threw up a win
dow in the building next door and
strains of music came floating out over
to her.. She raised her own window
in order to hear better. 1t was
waltz and looking up, she caught
glimpse now and then of passing dan
GERS.
She took away the bottle. covered
him snugly-and then she went to her
desk Long ago she had tucked away
an engraved card somewhere in
She found it under the
babys weight chart.
Mr.. and Mrs Reginald st. Clair,
STUDIO DANCING.
Glasses Tuesday and Friday
From until IL.
Private lessons arranged.
Nestor Building, Philadelphia
How she had coaxed Gerald to go!
He used to love dancing! How mar
rage changed men! 1t was differ
ent with women. They didn't lose all
romance in two short years.
Then she thought of something.
Why not go to dancing school alone?
Many women did! But, pshawi There
was no use trying to make excuses Tor
herself. Either she was going or she
wasn't! Which? She stood an instant
irresolute, then Strengthened percepti- |
bly, She was!
She rolled babys bed as quietly as
she could to the window and pulled |
bright light burning in the room she |
could look over at him after every |
dance to make sure he was all right.
In a few minutes she was dressed |
in a year-old white gown and black |
slippers and stockings, but she felt |
going to her first ball.
She glanced at the clock. Ninel |
And Gerald wouldn't be home until
eleven, Two hours to enjoy herself |
If only-she looked at his picture on
the mantel and sighed-if only he |
were a little different and cared for |
some of the things she did.
The preliminarieS were a little try |
ing to timid Priscilla, but the delight |
Of dancing more than made up for the |
effort As she had planned, after |
every dance she went to the window |
for peep at the baby, who lay, as |
she had left him, sound asleep in his |
bed close to the window.
Priscilla laughed softly to herself. |
How splendidly her plan had worked, i
Two hours of pleasure like this once |
4 week would keep her going hun |
1reds of lonely evenings at home
alone What Gerald does not know
does not hurt him!" she reflected
smiling. Pm not doing any one in
he oTld bit of harm
The class work On new cTe-step
ook a little longer than usual and
oy the time it was over Priscilla was
frantic with anxiety. She made
straight for the window and looked
Town at Baby Geraid's window
Shs put her hand suddenly to her
Mouth to stifle a sore am. She was
U.S. in time [" SEE two masculine /
Lrms lift baby from his bed and dis
Ippear-
She had locked the door and no one
Use but Gerald had a key. But Ger
I'D had no pepper-and-salt clothes
md the two arms that held her pre-
,ious baby were encased in rough
weed.
Priscilla ran, Like flash she was
Town the stairs, out on the street,
hen up the stairs of her own build
ng. The door of her apartment was /,