The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-10-18
The Euening Story
No Place Like Home.
(By Catherine Creamery

On a pay day the president OF the
firm sent for Alfred Reed and in
formed him that he had been pro-
NOTED to the position of assistant
sales manager at a substantial in
crease in salary.
1t was the day that Alfred long had
sought anc worked. all the harder
because it came not He felt deep
satisfaction not only because 1t was
the reward of his labors, but because
it would enable him to ask Mabel Ell
lott to marry MIN. Mabel was
pretty little auburn haired Stenogra-
pher in another department OF the
office, and although Alfred had pad
her much attention and given her
good evidence that he cared tor her
he had felt that he must wait until
he had a substantial salary before ne
asked her to marry him.
At the first opportunity after pe1ng
| told of his promotion, he went over
to her desk to ask her go to to DIM
ner and the theater with him the next
evening. AS he approached, Dlase
salesman of perhaps forty was just
| leaving and was saying something
| quite confidential in ar unoertone
Alfred frowned unConsciously, for he
| knew the man YVES unfit company 1or
any girl, and to see him talking Ia
| rniliar1y to Mabel made Alfred want
to take her away where she would pc
safe from such providers, as ne IN
| Wardly termed the man.
Has that old bloak been ogllng you
| again % ne asked. But as soon as ne
spoke he realized that he had let
| proprietary note get into his voice;
auburn haired didn't like the idea
of being appropriated without due
procedure according to the usual rules
Of the game.
IF you're speaking of Mr.. Acton, l
| think you're putting it rather strong,
| for he certainly knows how to be nice
to a girl. And just because wrote
two or three letters for him he wants
to take me to dinner at the best hotel
in the city, Mabel was childishly
frank and only slightly resentful OF
Alfred's remark. "And maybe don't
like to sail into a big dining room
with a man who knows Just now 10 40
things. It's a real adventure, Al
fred, and adventures don't come along
every day to red-haired sterogra-
piers
ask YOU to go out with me tomorrow
, evening" said Alfred. IF you'll go,
we'll make it as much of an adven-
ture as 1 know how" And ne added
Mabel accepted with only moderate
. enthusiasm, for there was in her
the spirit of daring that made her
want to throw off conventions ana
accept Acton'S invitation in spite or
its being a sort of unwritten law
about TIE office that setnograp hers
who went out with that type OF sales
men were running a risk OF pelng
Undesiratly classified.
The next evening, when they en-
[ tered the big hotel dining room,
f Mabel was a lovely picture IN a solt,
white gown, black picture nat SCI
at the correct angel on her glistening
: auburn hair and her eyes almost a
match in color for the violets she
1 wore Alfred tried to make the grand
= en{rv as though accustomed to it.
aff M success
! possible, and he YVES painfully con
1 scious that Mabel would realize tha1
\ he was not a man who knew 1ust
S how to do things"
aged to get seated, and while looking
= over the menu Alfred regalned out
/ | ward composure, though he was un
+ | plea sanity conscious of the proXlmlt!
! and yelled scrutiny of the waiter
! Conversation Jagged somewhat an'
! Mabel cast many an admlr1ng glance
+ AT the bare-shouldered, soft-goWnet
IS and sleek-coiffured ladies who Ian
gnid1v Dassed accompanied by men il
: evening dress Conversation seemed
s to lag with many of the couples, toe
1t but the orchestra played loudly iron
! popular light operas ana 9ceasa sris
- Isn't it all lOvely?' asked Mapei-
= I'm glad you are enjoying II; ou
) it looks to me like a lot OF these regu
Is lars are not enjoying it at ALL Se
e how bored this couple over here Is!
IN And he indicated with glance
handsome woman and broad-lookln
man nearby ~,
t"They must live here for that tabl
was held for them, and 1 saw them
l. the parlor without hats or wrap
N when we first came in" Mabefs on
servation of all these details brough
a slight smile from Alfred.
J. well, married people with no nom
= but a hotel are likely to be bore
l. with each other and with everythin
.r else. should think"
I, "Mercyl 1 don't see why; L tnln
~ it's lovely to eat in a hotel wher
II there's music and flowers and n
r. homework to manage and lots
y pretty things all about" Mabeis eye
=. swept the room as she spoke
MAYBE you don't see why peopl
Is get bored with it because you don
re see the main part of their lives, 81
is only a little of the glitter on tn
al outside"
They were destined to have
glimpse underneath of the glitterin
10 surface, though, for the voices
at the bored-Iooking couple nearby gre
hit audible. There was a tenseness