The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-10-04
EVENING STORY
Wedding Lace.

Then he looked back at the girl. |
He didn't know her, that was patent
all the offerings of the summer !
hotel had far not produced any
one so diverting as to looks He
threw away his cigarette and blew
out some smoke, then said before he
knew it, completely contrary to his
good old New England bringing up:
Its foolish to waste time on knitting
on a day like this. Why don't you
play?"
She looked up from her Yards of
exquisite lace and answered quite
composedly. please don't think L
don't want to. but this is work of
necessity-it's wedding finery''
"Oh, 1 see," Then be took a step
Involuntary toward The court and
Lorita with a wedding; he was going
to marry her in the winter. Blu,
something held him. Perhaps it was
the girls serious gray eyes or the
graceful curve of her neck as she
bent over her work or merely an in
teresting pallor that contrasted strong
ly with the wholesome, healthy sun
burn of the others.
Il say-can't you ehuc.. it just for
a few minutes. Come on and play in
this one set with US and I'll find you
a partner. It's shame to waste this
weather on that stuff
She shook her head with determine
ton. but an appreciative smile light
ened her face. I'D just love to. but
can't. Weddings don't wait, you
know
"All right. You're the doctor.
Sorry," he answered. "Coming-com-
ing," he called, as Lorita beckoned
impatiently. Hanged if that girl
to get herr" Then her words came
| back with force. Weddings don't
watt" she had said. and it struck
him suddenly that his own nuptials
were approaching with rather
breath-taking speed. Four months
would consummate the plan so long
dear to the heart of his parents.
Lorita. black-eyed beauty of rath-
er Spanish type, was talking with
Captain Matter: Il was Just telling
Paul" she explained, that 1 would
have to start you in training right
away in order to have you in form by
the time of our wedding. Unpunc-
tuality is your worst fault. Gordon.
We've been waiting fifteen minutes"
Z, I've good excuse
T" IT saw your excuse just now." Lor-
itas eyes flashed.
Did you? Well. she's pretty any
way. don't you think? 1 asked ner
to play
.What?"
Il wanted her, to play tennis with
and white and thought
But Lorita had gone off into peals
!
me. Come on-let's play Here's
Peggy going to play with Paul. No,
I'll tell you the joke some time again.
hate to spoil it by hurrying.''
So the game began.
That night Gordon was called away
on business. When he returned to
the hotel, a week later. he was amazed
to learn that Lorita and her mother
had departed. and a day later he
learned of her marriage to Captain
/ Paul Natter.
He returned to his office and hard
work. thoughtful and sober, but not
! crushed in soul and spirit his New
/ England conscience told him he
by spells as though he'd like to lift
up his voice and sing or shout or do
something 10 show the relief he felt
at his unexpected release. But after
| a while reaction set in and he felt
vague longing. indefinite and unac-
| countable at first, a desire for some
| thing he could not name. But grad
ually the want took form and out of
the chaos of his thoughts appeared a
pair of sea-gray eyes and a tired.
| white face looking gratefully at him.
Then he cursed himself for a fool
letting her get away without finding
out her name. But after all she had
been making her wedding clothes, so
perhaps it was quite as well he had
lost her.
November came. dark and dreary
and wet, and the third V eek brought
a letter from his mother. Obeying
instructions, he went a tea room to
meet her one afternoon It 4. Outside
the rain was coming down cold and
penetrating, half mixed with snow. in
side was warmth and the rose glow
of low lamps. Japanese girls glided
noiselessly among the tables bearing
tiny cups of tea and pla-es of cakes.
Gordon looked around dprovingly
his artistic eye pleased with the
~,-fl f(r- of
the next table was his summer girl
and she was@knitting. Her fingers
flew among the intricate threads and
her eyes were intent upon the pat
tern.
.'Is-isn't it finished YETI" asked
Gordon across the space. The gray
eyes flashed up at him and suddenly
widened and darkened. And was it
Imagination or did a faint rose touch
the dead whiteness of her cheek
Then she smiled. No, it's never fin
ished. But you sre not served ye..
Can't you come over here? It's so I'M
sociable eating alone.
He needed no second invitation.
.I'n come if you stop knitting
Don't you think its bad for you-so
much of it. / should think your hus-
cloth with some ses in our cheeks
instead of all that fuzz stuff-and-'
he stopped lamely-
my husband,'' She looked blank
why should you think that I'm to
; have a husband - Then suddenly she
laughed. "Oh, l see. 1 said it was
for a wedding and you thought it was
for mine. How funny, Why, this is
the way earn my livingl 1 make this
to order-hundreds of yards of it and
T don't dare to waste minute. Last
, summer at Oakhurst 1 was making
things for 1t was her turn to
stop and she famed red. for she re-
5 membered the tragic ending to his
romance
: For Lorita ," he asked
Yes
He might have known it, Somehow