The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-31
The Euening Story
Valuable Possessions.
(By Emily Sloane.)


Five years after John and Amy
married, she had become something OF
a small town fixture, with the usual
duties of young mother, mousse
keeper and a member of an afternoon
club. 1t was therefore a surprise to
John when she announced one morn
ing at breakfast that she would like
to 90 with him the next time he went
to the city.
You'll be going down on the 2oth
for that Axtell case against the rail-
road, won't you?" AS John ventured
no immediate reply, Amy added: Il
hope l shan't be a dead weight 2"
"Why, no; that is. of course, I'd like
to have you, but it's going to be hard
to give you much of my time on this
trip" He was plainly flounderlng ana
was conscious that Amy knew it.
"Of course, it's lovely for you to
want to be at my service" Amy ven
tured but we see each other so much
at home, and as shopping IS my chlef
mission on this trip, you'll be glad to
won't your" While John did not
grow enthusiastic about it, they finally
agreed that Amy would accompany
| him to the city.
The result of her first days shop
ping was that she saw the possibility
of complete spring and summer out
fit without any dressmaking to be
dreaded, for her well-proportioned
figure enabled her to wear the smart
ready-made things without even slight
alteration. Their first evening was
spent at the theater, but the next
morning John expressed doubt about
being able to dine with Amy that
night.
She concealed the suspicion his
vague explanation aroused and babe
him a cheerful goodbye after break
fast After he had gone she stood
looking for some time from her Win
dow out over the smoky roofs of the
boxlike buildings surrounding the no.
tel Her second days shopping was
begun with less enthusiasm than the
first but that afternoon, just as she
had completed her purchases, she
happened to meet an old-time friend
of her mothers family, Mrs. NARROW
My dear child" said that cordial
woman, after their first greetings,
"you must come home with me to din
ner and go with us to hear that poet
everybody is raving about-Wheless
Raeburn, you know. He is to read
his own poems before the Contempt
rary club this evening, and you'll get
a rare glimpse of some real people
and some sham people, Intellectually
and socially
After a quick trip in Mrs. MARROW s
car to the hotel, where Amy threw an
evening gown and wrap into bag and
left a note for John in case of his re-
turn, they were off for whlrl
through the park and the residence
streets before the dinner hour arrived
1t proved to be a delightful dinner
with a dozen interesting people pres
ent.
Mrs Mar1ow's party arrived early al
the club meeting. Amy looked about
in wide-eyed interest at the hand
somely gowned women, the sleekl3
groomed men and the soft-footed at
tendants of the fashionable hotel ir
whose gilded parlors the gathering
was held.
Suddenly her eyes filled with a looI
of panied surprise as she saw Johr
enter with a handsome woman in ar
ultra decollete gown of black sat1r
which shimmered but little more thar
did her smooth, black hair. She car
ried crimson roses. Amy found her
self wondering if it could be a night
mare instead of reality. The gen
tleman who was presiding rose to
present the guest of the evening JUS
in time to make impossible any at
| tempted explanation by Amy, but Mrs
NARROW looked with disapproval to
ward John and the languidly smiling
woman at his side.
In voice full of deep melody the
poet read his verses-poems of pa
triotism, of childhood, of love. Amy
kept watch on John and his compan
ion, who had taken seats half facing
her. With Mrs. Marrow mOInerl1
bigness between them, Amy could SEE
} without being seen by John.
The handsome woman's expression
changed from indifference to interes
and from interest to enthusiasm as tn
poets musical voice filled the room
John seemed discounted, though Am.
5 could not tell whether it was becaus
= of the woman's forgetfulness of hi
presence or from a desire to escap
the whole thing.
AS the poets voice died away,
babel of voices rose in delighted com
ment. He was surrounded and lion
2 lied by many, prominent and persist
} ent among them was Johns com
panion. Bored by the whole pro
ceeding, John stepped into an adjoin
9 ing room and, as he would have il
walked right into ponderous Cyru
NARROW. who had been detained in
: committee meeting.
: by George! This is a surprise
= John. We were wishing for you a
dinner, and Amy said she was sur
you'd come out if you got the not
she left for you in time" In his en-
thusiasm Mr. NARROW did not motto
D that his words seemed to bring a lool
. of perplexity into his face.
0 Amy" he asked absently. "Wher
is she"
/, "Oh, in that maelstrom of her
y worshipers and sycophants," indicat
: ling the throng pressing about tn
o poet Then with sudden seriousness