The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-08-31
The Euening Story
Lost and Found.
(By Anne Broadhurst.)

1lrm that had offered prizes for the
best articles describing the merits of
its own line of women's ready-to-wear
suits. She tried to assume indiffer-
ence, for the very outside appearance
of theletter looked disappointing She
took off her hat and coat leisurely,
but her cheeks were burning and her
heart was chugging away laboriously.
AS she opened the envelope there
peeped out from between a small
booklet and a fac-simile letter a slip
of blue paper-a postoffice money or
der.
zone tiny, lonely dollar" she
sighed, as she held the slip before her.
The verbose letter stated that her
article had received one of fifty prizes
of one dollar each and that in a con-
test in which the best brains of the
country had competed it was a great
honor to have been a winner of even
a small prize. The blood had gone
out of her cheeks and the chugging
engine within had become quiet, but
there were a kink in her nose and
thick place in her throat that were
very hard to ignore.
Elinor stood up firmly, though, and
said: mo, giving way to this defeat
won't help to win the next battle, and
I must win some day for mothers
sake
Having learned that a brisk walk
and deep breathing in the cool air are
a better cure for the blues than taking
"a good cry" Elinor went out as soon
walked until the darkness drove her
in. AS she neared her boarding house.
and stood waiting for an automobile
to pass before crossing over, she saw
at the edge of the curb a mans leath-
er bill purse, which she picked up. AS
she saw one near who could have
dropped it, she took it to her room,
where she found that 1t contained bills
amounting to fifty dollars.
Fifty dollars! just what I hoped
to win in that contest" Then Elinor
saw hat the purse also contained
some cards. IF don't know whose
it is I can't return it; and If 1 don't
look at these cards 1 won't know,
She laid the bills on the dresser and
slowly removed the cards without
looking att hem, but stood running her
fingers across the slightly raised let
tering.
ITO a man who carries a purse of
this quality and who uses engraved
cards fifty dollars probably means
very little" she unused, "but to me it
board" Slowly she began to tear
the cards, but as the tough paste
board began to yield to her trembling
fingers she stopped abruptly.
9Horrors!" She gasped. "I said
must win, and this is losing even my
honor oh, 1 hate you!" And she
swept the money from her and looked
at the cards.
MIR. Joseph Stanley Morton" she
read, but the name meant nothing to
her She looked in the telephone book
and found the following: u. Stanley
Morton, Broker, SIS City Blk. Bldg"
No residence number being given, she
could not notify him that night.
Elinor had no opportunity to tele-
phone during her busy morning, so
she went during her noon hour next
day to deliver the purse to its owner.
The specialized, self-important woman
who admitted her to the outer Office
shimmering brown hair, all past the
white collar and blue serge suit, down
to the neatly shod feet When Elinor
had stated that she wished to see Mr..
Morton on a matter of Importance to
him the woman disappeared into the
private office, from which she reap
peared very soon and nodded to the
waiting girl.
AS she entered Elinor saw that the
only occupant of the room was tall,
well built man whose dark head was
bent over a typewriter statement
lying on the table before which he
over his shoulder, and at sight of
Elinor he Immediately rose and
turned upon her a kindly glance from
a pair Of dark eyes
"Are you Mr.. Joseph Stanley Nor |
ton ?" Elinor began.
yes" The deep voice had a slight |
ly rising infection.
Here is something of yours that I
happened to find last night" She |
handed him the purse.
why, what a pleasant surprise to |
find the purse, and how kind of you |
to bring it to mel / thank you sin |
cerely. Now won't you sit down and |
tell me all about it?" Stanley Morton |
was too thoroughly a gentleman not |
to recognize gentiiity in others, and |
he knew that here was a girl to |
whom he dared not offer a reward in
money, but he wanted time to find |
other means of showing his apprecia-
ton of her kindness. Elinor sat down
and told him briefly where and how
she found the purse. |
I'm going to confess to you." said |
Morton, that this very day I've beer |
thinking that honesty is an unknown |
qualities these days, so, you see, you
have restored to me far more than |
my lost money; you've restored my
lost faith in humanity" He was lean
ing toward her with the friendliest
look in his clear eyes, but the sudden
change which swept over Elinor puz-
zled him.
Don't, please oon't." she almost
walled. IF you knew how near I
came to keeping it you'd hate me.
Oh, I must tell somebody and
grasping the arms of her chair as il
to support herself. and looking into
her lap, she told him just what she
first thought of doing with his money.
AS she talked her cheeks faded from
crimson 10 white Then she rose to
leave. Stanley Morton had been sit
ting with his elbows on the table and
his right hand shielding his eyes, but
he rose quickly and stood between her
and the door, with his right hand ex-
tended and sympathetic smile in his
eyes.
please let me say that I under
fill Ia& |