The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-05-16
The Euening Story
The Case of Jane Lawrence.

Weiden is treasurer, though of course
she leaves all the work to her secre-
tary. But if l had known of the case
of Jane Lawrence I really couldn't
have done it, / have actually STAYED
awake nights over it. And this after
noon, when l ought to be spending all
my time at the tailor's and dress
makers, have to have a board meet
ing here just to discuss the matter"
Mrs. Stoddington, arrayed in the
befrilied and beruffled splendor of her
favorite rose-colored house gown. had
been sitting, for fully ten minutes be-
fore she began her complaint, at the
little spindle-legged desk in her study
With her wellmanicured, bejeweled
fingers she had been handling a few
papers relating to the affairs of ST.
Prisca's home, occasionally checking
them off with her gold and pearl foun-
tain pen.
Tom Blaine, younger by ten years.
was sitting impatiently waiting at her
side. Besides being the wealthy wild
ow's only brother, he was her attor-
ney.
II have called the board meeting
for four, and it is now a quarter to. I
wanted to see you first to get your
advice. L was going to ask the new
curate. He is really quite saint, and
so good looking. 1 thought of asking
him first, but then it occurred to me
that perhaps you knew more of hu-
of Jane Lawrence I am afraid needs
more knowledge of human nature than
anything else
Clearly Tom was impatient and not
in the least interested Quite perfume
torily he said: And what may be
Jane Lawrence's claims on your at
tention? 1 take it she is an inmate
of this institution of yours
THE trouble with Jane, Tom, is
simply this: She is very pretty. Not
just rather pretty, but dangerously,
absurdly pretty, and a girl in an in
stitution of that sort really has no
right to be pretty. OF course, it isn't
exactly her fault, but it makes it so
troublesome. Something dreadful is
quite sure to happen to her. All the
husbands OF the ladies' on the board
and. the brothers and even that an
gelic new curate make quite a fuss
over the9girl. An artist even came to
me and asked to be allowed to do her
portrait
What ever are we going to do? She
is only eighteen now and she has not
left the home, but in month she
must begin to go out to earn her liv-
ing. She has been taught fine needle
work and that means that she must
get a position in some dressmaking
esta bliShment. And she will be bound
to be nocied.'
l. II don't see what advice / can give"
said Tom. suppressing a yawn.
Who else could help me better?
For several years we have realized
that Jane was different from the
other children in the home. We have
been afraid that she was going to be
pretty, but our gravest fears have been
exceeded. She is really a beauty. The
matron has been wonderful, too. She
has done all she could to keep the girl
from realizing. When the other girls
have had pretty hair ribbons Jane
has had none, and she has been made
to brush her hair as plainly pos
sible. When the other girls have gone
on excursions Jane has been kept at
home. In her little room the matron
even took down the mirror so she
would not be tempted to be vain.
Still the girl seems to crave pleasure,
still she seems to be at heart quite a
coQuette. Even when she is talking
to us women you can't help but notice
the archness in her smile. If we could
only get her married off to some hon
est, hardworking person who would
give her a home with plenty of work
she would be all right But how shall
| she meet him without running the risk
of finding out her charms? Really it
is dreadful
| If Tom felt an, special interest in
the case of the little orphan girl he
did not show it; in fact, there was
distinct expression of boredom on his
face as he paced back and forth be-
fore his sister.
ITO begin with he said in his most
professional tone, after he had come to
a pause, you have gone about it in
the worst possible way. 1t doesn't
| take a lawyer or deep student of
human nature to tell you that the best
way to arouse a girls interest in pref
| ty things is to deprive her of them.
| And to curtail her good times will only
| lead her to greater cravings for pleas
ure. This unfortunate little person is
| a woman exactly like yourself at heart
and no doubt has the same cravings
| for gewgaws and furbelows as you
| have
| Tom paused for a moment and
| thought. Here's my remedy" he re-
sumed. Call off this board meeting
this afternoon. Why make a case for
sedate spinsters and self-righteous
curates to ponder over of this little
| person? Then give the girl a real
| taste of happiness. If she is well be-
| haved invite her to your own home,
treat her as you would a guest, provide
her with a few pretty clothes and take
normal side of life. Let her realize
that a woman can be pretty and at
tractive without being sinner. Then
| when she starts out to earn her own
living she will lave the same point of
view, and when the honest, worthy
male comes along she will be only the
better off for having some idea of the
world besides that gained through the
gratings of st. Prisca's-"
1t was two weeks later, and Mrs.
! Stoddington was again seated before
her spindle-legged desk, only this time
she was clad in filmy morning negIi-
gee of violet instead of rose color.
Tom again sat before her in apparent
! impatience.
The plan is a failure, just as 1
/ I If would - began
| ever thought you could advise me in
] the case of Young ornhau girls is nllit.