The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-01-16
The EueniI,g Story

(By Clarissa Mackie.) }

Her Steamer Basket.
(By Clarissa Mackie.)
AT last" breathed Ethel Smith as
the great liner drew away from the
pier. She voiced the delighted ex-
pectation Of many another poor girl
who has saved and scrimped for = long
desired trip to Europe. Even the fact
that there was no one to wave fare
well. no one to wish her bon voyage
on this. her maiden adventure into the
that first hour of enjoyment.
Afterward, when they were headed
down the bay, she went below to her
staterOOm. Passing through the sa-
loon Ethel felt her first pangs of lone
illness. So many people appeared to
know one another-to be so sure of
having a delightful time. Tables were
crowded with beautiful steamer bas-
kets. some overlooking with flowers,
others heaped with fruits and confec-
girls carelessly scanned the cards and
accepted these farewell offerings as
quite an every day matter.
AS Ethel entered the corridor, at
the end of which was her own tiny
stateroom. she Involuntary paused
where young girl stood at q table
heaped with baskets. She was dark
and slender and she was eagerly pull
ing the. baskets here and there as IL
searching for something.
She glanced up sharply and saw
Ethel.
s.Marie!' she called, CURLY, and q
neat maid came and gently closed the
door as Ethel hurried on with burning
cheeks.
How rude of mel" thought the
girl. as she entered her own cramped
quarters.
She stopped short. her blue eyes
fixed in incredulous joy upon a large
flow the cabin with its bountiful
luxury.
Its mistake she decided with a
sinking heart.
But her name was plainly written
on a tag, and tucked in among the
fruits and packages of bonbons was
tiny white envelope bearing her
name in q familiar script.
Inside the envelope was an en-
graved card: Mr.. John Bennington
penciied line: BON voyaEe@and
don't stay too long,"
MR.. Gray!"- Ethel murmured over
herself that she was not dreaming. for
John Bennington Gray was her en-
ployer in the great law firm where
she worked. and he had scarcely APP
peared to notice the fair little girl
who had so faithfully worked at his
elbow for eighteen months.
John Gray was her ideal of what q
man should be. Unknowfngly, she
had almost fallen in love with the
handsome bachelor, whose position
Of whose comings and goings she fire.
quently read in the Sunday newspa-
pers.
He had been away the day she had
left the office to take this long plan
ned vacation-she had not even said
goodby to him: it was doubtful II he
knew she was going or would miss
her.
Now-she smiled dreamily-he had
remembered her going, and although
the basket might be merely his kindly
recognition of her services in his Of
flee, nevertheless he had sent it to her
and she was absurdly grateful.
She tucked the card inside her
blouse, took a book and a tiny box OF
his bonbons and went UP to find her
steamer chair.
The voyage was uneventful and
Ethel found one or two young women.
travelling alone like herself. They
joined forces and palnned to make a
England together.
Arriving in London, Ethel wrote a
little note Of gratitude to MT. Gray:
II was almost crying with loneliness,
she frankly confessed. when l dis
covered your beautiful basket in my
cabin. Then 1 began to feel SO rich
with basket heaped with good
John Gray re-read the little
note with frowning brows, and sudden
smiled ruefully as he touched bell for
the stenographer who was taking
Ethers place.
"Er-can you tell me Miss Smiths
manner" he asked. growing rather en-
barrassed under the girls cool scrutiny
..Ethel-Ethel smith," she replied.
THANK you.'' he said CURLY. and
drew the telephone toward him. He
called the number of a well known
confectioner and made an inquiry.
-on the 26th-it should have been
Miss Ethelyn Smith? We are very sorry.
sir
Never mind-never mind-it in quite
al. right now-the right party received
it after all. I merely wanted to in
Qufre just how the mistake happened,
that's ALL
Gray hung up the receiver and stared
down at Ethefs note. What pleasure
that mistake had given to the girl!
But how about that other girl for
whom the basket had been purchased?
He saw her in his minds eye. dark and
slender, naughty. and a little disccn-
tented looking. cool1y accepting the
best the world could offer and never
questioning her right to 1t.
Suddenly he smiled. Pulling paper
and envelopes toward him he answered
Ethers note. accepting her thanks in
a matter Of fact way. and then giving
her sage advice concerning places to
visit while doing the cathedral route
and asking her to can at the Cat and
Fish Inn, at Exeter, and inquire after
the health Of his good old friend. Mrs..
Wfmple. the landlady.
So Ethel sent him q line telling him
about the trials and trfbulations OF
rosy Mrs. Wimpie. and later ON an
other line dictated by the grateful land
lady to thank John Gray for his imam