The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-10-28
EVENING STORY
just Jane!

observer of human nature. And in
that capa city it never dawned on him
that he might hear or see things that
were never intended for other eyes or
ears.
Right here I was going to tell you
about Jane, but before we get away
from David let me explain little fur
Their that because he was good looking
"a fatal quality in a mainland un-
usually clever and inteI1igent-a bad
thing sometimes for perSon-he was
getting spoiled. And the conscious
ness of his superiority, along with his
habit of studying other people, had
led to sort of superciliOuSneSS in his
composition that was rather repellinS.
David was weekend guest at the
Sterritts. At dinner, Saturday night,
James name came up and when a few
things had been told, laughed over and
discussed, David exclaimed with in
terest, who is this Jane you're all
SO crazy about?'
Just wait till you see her." returned
his hostess. There really isn't any
thing to tell. Shes just Jane; that's
all. She'c a deari'
Pretty" to Sterritt.
Yes That is, mo- shouldn't say
beauty either. Oh, she's just Janet"
'Smart?" to Mrs. Sterritt.
Yes I mean-why, I don't know
whether Jane is smart or not. She
just has way all her own.
Sympathetic ?" to grandma
why. yes. Of course, 1 don't mean
always. The children love her, tho.
l can't just say, Mr.. Carrick. whether
Jane is particularly sympathetic or
SELF
So Jane was neither pretty. smart
nor awfully sympathetic What was
the secret of her fascination? And.
ADVISED by each member of the family
to see for himself, he determined to
h he cd dc
That night there was a hop at the
club and this gave Carrick the oppor-
tunity he craved for studying types.
He found the usual specimens nothing
he had not already in his collection
or humans There were the flirt and
the prude, the girl who insisted on
telling him how popular she was, the
one who fished for compliments, the
sad one, the merry one, the silly one,
the sensible one, the sweet one and
the acid one. Then along came Janet
She wasn't pretty ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
the sort men would fall over each
other to meet-yet the long lashes
over the gray-blue eyes and the Cupid
DOW OF her upper lip had a peculiar
erect on one. These charms account
ed to Carrick somewhat for the spell
she had cast over his friends.
He danced two dances with her Just
to hear what she would talk about
But she didn't talk at all. She danced
divinely, smiled adorably and an
swered reservedly anything he cared
to start in the way of conversation,
but he realized when it was over that
he knew no more about her or what
she was like than he had before.
This piqued mis- vanity. She's clev-
er enough to keep her mouth shut and
keep people guessing as to her men
tality," he concluded
1t was then that David decided to
eavesdrop- He did not do it deliber-
ately at first-he merely embraced the
opportunity when it came. Wanting
smoke, he strolled outside and, find
ing bench deep in the shrubbery be-
low the veranda, he sat down. His
! thoughts were busy and his cigar went
| out 1t was then that he discovered
that he was quite rear to the end of
the veranda that harbored the punch
bowl and that he could hear quite
plainly the conversation of those MAX
ing excursions for a sip of its cooling
1 contents.
What's the matter, Jane?" asked a
shriI feminine voice. Are Won tired.
sitting out here all alone?"
! David pricked up his ears. Evident
| iy there was another bench somewhere
that he couldn't see, but that was in
| full view of the veranda
| mo, but it's too warm to dance. If
you stay inside you can't help your
self Out here YOU don't have to re-
fuse"
THAT sounds conceited," thought
/
seems to be the chief characteristic of
the feminine gender"
A few minutes elapsed and some
new people came along.
Hello, janet Keeping yourself
company" And so o. Then, What
do you think of Sterritt's guest? He's
a pretty good opinion of himself dom
you think ?''
was something unexpected as well as
unpleasant, new sensation entirely.
He held his breath for the answer.
Don't jump to conclusions. Bob;
Maybe mes all right. / rather liked
him. David's ruffled feathers
Smoothed themselves considerable
'.Oh. he's all right, 1 guess, only he
made me feel as if 1 ought to bump
my head on the ground every time he
comes near. What is he? Lawyer,
isn't hep
Il don't know. I really wasn't in
terested enough 10 find outi" answered
Jane.
TIE feathers ruffled again.
Then others came. II declare if IT
isn't Jane. Come up and have a drink.
No? Say, what do you think of that
Carrick? Connected pup. isn't hep"
We gods! Then James voice: mo.
he is not. If a man has anything in
his head these days he has a right
to be proud of the distinction, I guess i"
ouch" calculated the offender.
81 ought to have know you would get
l,
1 wish you joy of your Solom n"
/ David was experiencing conflicting
sensations. He was beginning to find
that Jane had spirit. She wasn't the
insipid person he had thought her
after ALL But why, oh, why. did she
feel called upon 10 defend him ?" He
| loved her for it.
But that wasn't all. Another cou-
pie came along for lemonade and the
male of the species was mimicking
1 David to perfection
stop that, Nicky." commanded
Jane. Aren't you ashamed of your
self?''
How nowi Look who's heret ]
declare If it isn't Jane. Say, Jane.
what do you think of that duffer the