The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-12-27
The EDening Story
Divcrting Leonie.

| but the conversation 1loated across
the table with almost fiendish clear
ness Mrs. Fanshaw's voice was a bit
| high pitched, and just now she was ra-
diant with excitement, contradictins
Tommy fatty about Willard.
My dear child, L was there. He
was simply mad over her. He can
say what he p1eases now, but L know
and so does everybody else who saw
them together. She was just as much
in love with him as he was with her
That's three years ago, and she hasn't
changed one bit. Prettiest little thing
ever was anyway"
Tommy tried to divert her, catchins;
sight covertly of Marjorys face, the
expression in her clear blue eyes, the
/ hurt, close lines around her lips.
''Oh, L don't know, Mrs Fanshaw.
Will was just a cub. 1 don't think he
ever really cared for her.
'Well, he certainly did. and if you
could have seen her face last night at
the box party Airline gave when she
heard he was in town, oh, my dear,
my dear! Women are far more faith
full than men. Hasn't she the most
beautiful red hair you ever saw in ali
your life?"
Il can't bear red hair" said Tommy
blithely. Marjorie knew she meant
Leoni" Raleigh. She had met her at
a tea that week and had noticed what
an unusual type she was. And Will,
her Will. had been in love with her
her engagement ring absently. He
was really very nice, a gentle-voiced,
well-mannered, middle-aged French
man. And suddenly something he
was saying caught her attention.:
You know, so few artists have ever
been able to catch Titian'S tone. Red
hair has always eXerted an extra ordi-
nary effect on artists, yet it is rare.
My friend the marquis is quite wild
over a young Californian he met at
tea yesterday
Miss Raleigh?' suggested Marjorie
OF course it was Leonie The men
had flocked around her like bees at
the tea. She had made a complete
picture in the fading sunset light of
the studio.
Eyes. He cannot get the inspira-
ton for his work until he has the di-
vine thrill for his subject-you see?
And he has sought for a model for
his Francesca. She must be this same
Florentine type that Titan loved to
paint, all, the Florentine women with
their dark eyes and red hair and faces
like the whitest pearls d" e-4,
Marjorie listened to him ramble on
And she even smiled, laying a plan in
her mind to divert all danger from
Will when it came to red hair Not a
blessed word did she say to him about
Miss Raleigh, but the next day she had
coaxed Mamie Eaton to bring them
together at dinner, Leonie and the
MARQUIS. IOmIny took
her in to dinner, as Will was west for
a few days, and he noticed her look
of content.
you know, I expect you to purr
any moment. What have you been
up to-"
Tommy" Marjorie answered, "has
the marquis any money!
mot much. But he's a really fine
sort of chap, and his title is o. K.
DeODla dE in he a
basket with Louis, I believe. Why?"
Nothing" Marjorie changed the
subject. The count kept her posted. |
Both he and the marquis belonged to |
tails in New York, too old to go to |
war, marking time in the new world !
And it appeared that the red-haired |
California girl was splendid success. |
She had enough money in her own |
right to make the attentions of the |
acceptable. Even before Wills |
return, everyone was mating the two |
and talking of their romantic meeting !
Marjorie smiled and said nothing. not !
until the night when Will came back.
She was at the opera with her mother,
and two boxes away on the same tier
were Leonie and the marquis
You know her. don't you, dear?"
she asked, very impersonally. Tommy
eyed her from the back of the box
alertiy. ''Leonie Raleigh from Santa
Barbara
keen with interest.
where is she?"
Right over there in the Seward box
Isn't she lovely, Will? Such wonderful
red hair
''Ah. but they will be engaged in less
than two weeks. 1 could wager" the
count said happily, next to her mother.
He is most devoted to her He is
perfectly mad over her. And she is
quite willing to be the fair marquise,
al. yes, quite willing.
You know said Will appraisingly
she always seemed an awfully ordi-
nary girl to me. If it hadn't been for
her hair, she'd never attracted any at
ention."
you knew her out west. didn't you,
iear.''
marry a marquis. Leonie's the kind
If girl that requires plenty of back
ground
Then. feminine to her finger tips.
Marjorie could not resist just the one
'sWere you ever really engaged to
Ter. WHIP
s'Never!' very emphatically.
You don't have to say that just to
make me feel happier. dear. I don't
you can be blamed when you .
hadn't met me yet, only 1 dread to
ook even in the eyes of any girl who
nay have been kissed by you, don't !
-ou know"
'.Sweetheart'-he leaned over her
hair-"dont you know that our love ]
vas so big and wonderful that it just I
wept away even the memory of any
ther out of my life"
And Tommy beamed and stepped i
arefully back out of the box. Even =
ed hair could not eclipse that strike. l
-(Copyright. 1915. by Mcclure News
aper Syndicate.) {
Locusts Destroy Orange Crop.
The citrus-fruit industry of Pales- s
me- which prior to the war was rap