The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-10-11
EVENING STORY

DIV Elizabeth E. Shields-)

(By Elizabeth E. Shields-)
Kathleen Travers Browning, of the !
Rrownings of the Short Hills colony, |
staggered across the brilliant dining
room under the heavy weight OF rich
foods on the tray held aloof by her
strong young arms. In the way of in
efficient mattresses, she placed MIS- i
John Guyton's coffee at the wrong
side of her plate. Idiot, snapped
that lady.
Kathleen fed to the pantry. Stand
ing YEARLY against the wall. she
caught the whispered words of Pete,
the head waiter, in his well-bred
English voice: Tit really makes
me want to weep to see you doing this
work. The trays are much too
heavy" He was very much con-
cerned.
But Pete, tell me, am really an
IDIOT" demanded Kathleen.
The answer in Pete's eyes caused
warm flush to cover her face. In her
mad escapade of playing maid at
secluded hotel on a tiny island on the
Maine coast Kathleen had found in
| Pete the best of comrades and the
most sincere admirer she had ever
known.
Smiling up at the man. she ex-
planned gaily: II never carried such
heavy trays in city restaurants"
t'These people are brutes,' was
Pete's savage comment.
The unquenchable thirst of Mrs
Guyton interrupted and Kathleen
agains started across the dining-room
with a tray of water bottles. The
humiliation following Kathleen's en-
trance to the hotel by way of the
servants door was discouraging
enough to have forced her to thrust
aside her love for adventure and real
1 ity and to have engaged the best
rooms in the hotel and appear at Mrs.
Guyton's table bedecked in gorgeous
/ gowns and the wonderful Browning
jewels. Just one thing made the step
impossible. Pete-he would have to
usher her to her seat!
! Kathleen knew she was fair. All
her lifetime she had been admired
and courted. Since the winter season
! of gayety and pleasure. great Curl
osity had taken possession of her. She
| wanted to know whether the homage
she received was in part due to her
wealth and place in society. She
wanted to know If as a maid, serving
soup properly, she would be found as
lovely when she slipped soup
daintily at the table of friends.
She found out almost instantly. Her
bronze hair and violet eyes evoked
admiration, of course, but the men of
her own world showed it by furtive
winks and flirtations. 1t was disap
pointing, too, to know that life behind
the kitchen door was much the same
as on the front piazzas. The differ
ence lay only in its uncouth exterior
and a greater amount of tolerance for
the faults of others.
In this Pete agreed. Being free
every afternoon at and each evening
after 8, they spent the time together.
Whether splashing about in the tum-
bling surf, padding a canoe in the
golden path of the moon. or just sit
ting at the end of the rickety old pier
Kathleen found life wholesome and
satisfying. She had never been hap
pier. Here on this dilapidated pier
Kathleen passed many hours with her
friend, watching the ever-changing
sea, with nothing to mar the exquisite
silence. not a speck on the wide open
space of sky and water.
TT is just as though we were the
, only people in the world" reflected
Kathleen idly one evening, as they
watched the moon rise across the
water.
1--WE are" promptly answered Pete.
What have we in common with these
others2"
The problem of telling Pete the
truth about herself became more diff
, ficult as the hours with him grew
} more precious. He was just the head
7 waiter after all, and she a daughter
of the Brownings.
Then occurred an insignificant mat
ter that was the turning point in kath-
= leen's life She had long since ceased
to expect the big, dramatic things to
7 enter into her days.
The extraordinary thirst of Mrs.
Guyton had kept Kathleen busy on a
dull, foggy day. The heat was intense
and life in the kitchen unbearable.
Utterly exhausted and weary. Kath-
leen began her task in the dining-room
followed by an encouraging smile from
Pete. Spoons slipped from her
hands. soups just missed upsetting,
!, ice water intended for the cut glass
tumblers landed on the immaculate
t.. table covers and the end of the lunch
t con hour found Kathleen in the pantry
/ shedding real tears.
II can't stand it any longer she
Z sobbed and laughed. Pete stood by
2 helplessly 1T isn't at all what 1 ex-
( pected. I'm going right back I'll
. teach her-that old cat Guyton."
Wen go away from it all-we'n go
I together" Pete breathed in her ear,
as he took her in his arms
Kathleen chung to Pete, happy in
his love, miserable in her deception.
Il must tell you, Pete-I must
:, Soothing and comforting her. Pete
led her to the coy spot they had ar
pier A thick fog drenched the beach
front They walked slowly along the
rotten boards of the pier which sway
q | ed in the terrific wind blowing in from
sea The breakers began a mad
| plunge a quarter of a mile from shore
ending in dashing white foam far UP
on the beach
v The worries of a waitress slipped
easily and gracefully from Kathleen
e She would have one last swim with
Pete, then, high and dry in the sand
= Dunes she would tell him. and to-
gether they would adjust matters
= Pete loathed the idle rich. Kathleen
shuddered at the thought of adjusting
her life to living in hotel kitchens. but
she knew her fathers estate at Short
e Hills would be just as distasteful to
q Pete She postponed it all however
Gracefully poised on the time-worT
n rail of the pier. Kathleen dived into
l. an oncoming breaker Coming to tbs