The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-02-06
Euening Chat
By RUTH CAMERON.
Jane and the Net.
(By Molly McMaster. }

Jane and the Net.
(By Molly McMaster.)
Jane gazed wistfully after tho re-
treating figure Of her lifelong friend.
They had quarreled over a man. and
it did not seem possible to Jane that
any man could ever take the place Of
out of her life forever. Jane heaved
a sign and returned up the garden
path and into the rose-clad cottage.
She had walked all the way to the
gate in q continued effort to make
amends with Polly for the hasty
words that had passed between them.
But Polly had refused to take up the
cord of friendship SO rudely snapped
by what she called James Unsuitable
desire to flirt with every man she
met. Polly was the Old-fashioned
type of girl who believed that love was
a sacred emotion. and not to be jos
tied about and played with, while
James ideas were rather vague ON the
subject.
Her propensity for flirting was not
vague, however. and never q man
came within range Of her lovely eyes
but Jane lured him into her net. If
he sprawled about in the net and made
himself miserable Jane only laughed
softly and told him it was his own
fault for being caught.
time to time. but never until Jane cast
inviting eyes at Willard Wright did
the mild. old-fashioned Polly become
really infuriate.
You might have a little modesty
about YOU" she had said in burst OF
anger. willard loves me, and you've
no right to flaunt yourself in front of
him. Even the best of men are not
proof against such charm as yours. /
hope the day may come when you will
see the man you love turning from
you to some other woman's alluring
beauty. 1t will serve you right to get
great big dose OF your own medf-
cine Polly had turned then and
gone quickly out of the house. Jane
had followed in a tardy effort to apOl-
ogize for her needless filtration with
Willard, but Polly had continued her
determined way.
And now as Jane sat alone in the
cottage she told herself defiantly that
Polly was narrow and that such
friendship was better severed. She
Polly. She would amuse herself to
her hearts content now that Polly's
seedlings would not follow.
Jane hated to admit to herself that
she missed the habitual lectures on
her frivolity and that nothing seemed
just complete without Polly as her
constant companion.
1t was not until John Guthrie en-
tered her life that James heart was
seriously affected. All unconsciously.
while Turing the big Scotchman into
her net. Jane tripped. and fell head
was at first startling and finally most
alarming for the Scotchman seemed
perfectly oblivious to the fact that
Jane was his for the asking.
Old-fashioned Polly sitting back
completely enveloped in the love Of
I'd irI,< fIo
ings with infinite enjoyment. She and
Jane had never broken the silence
that spanned an interval of three
months, yet Polly was perfectly aware
of all that transpired in the life Of
her erstwhile intimate friend.
The two girls were often in the
same ballroom attending the same
dances, yet neither seemed SO much
as to know that the other was there
and never by word or look conveyed
q gnawing pain-the pain OF severed
friendship.
Jane tried desperately to conceal
her interest in John Guthrie, but her
eyes followed his every movement.
He flirted lazily and mildly with most
Of the girls. but most OF all he lowered
| over the ofd-fashfoned. soft eyed
| Polly.
And Polly, looking swiftly across at
| Jane, smiled in such q way as to make
] Jane y OlOOQ 8I8no 06l1l. ROXY was
| going to break her lifelong habit OF
| demure. maidenly modesty and flirt
openly and shamelessly with the
| Scotchman.
| James lips curled in scorn in spite
| of the fear and pain that was grip
| ping her. She knew that Polly with
her absurdly trusting eyes of blue
and her gentle, persuasive manner. to
| gether with the touch of a1luring
| coquetry she was now employing.
would break the heart Of any man.
| However. Jane had sufficient OF
| pride and self-control to carry ON her
| own fltrtatfons with q very apparent
| supply OF blindness to Polly's ma
neuver. Her smiles were plentiful.
| and no one in the ball room suspected
that her heart was well-nigh break
ing. She not only regretted the fact
| women. but more than that she Ia
| mented the fallen idol that Polly rep
resented.
| 1T is all right for me too flirt,"
Jane told herself But Polly il diff
| ferent- Polly IL lar too precious q
! type nowadays to lose sight Of She
simply must not be allowed to smear
her beauty with such modern charac-
| teristdcS-" Jane smiled Wistfully 1T
her own shortcomings. and sent q
swift glance OF something akin to
love into Polly's eyes Jane was
frightfuliy hurt. and she wanted Polly
| Polly was oblivioua, however, and
| continued her tactics with renewed
vim. Guthrie followed her lead until
| the entire number of dancers in the
room realized that something unusual
was In the air. For the most part