The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-06-05
The Euening Story
The Girl From Charlottesville.
by Susan E. Clagett-]

leaned forward, looking after a figure
walking leisurely down the street.
81 did not know Marshall had re-
turned" he said, as he flicked the
ash from his cigar. The last
heard of him the yacht was at Alex
andria. Must have been pretty gay
crowd on board, judging from what l
have heard
"Yes. To those who know him it
has always seemed odd that Jim
should have accepted the position. He
is a gentleman of the old school, al
though such manners are out OF GATE
in this generation, and certainly are
unknown to the majority of young
men and women, especially such a
crowd as was on the yacht With al!
their money, the Fieldings are still
deemed much to be desired in the way
OF breeding.
"Have you ever met the father? He
was born just outside of Washington
of most ordinary bso-
1utely uneducated. But he had
$1,000 do the work of three. Went
west and made fortune, then came
back here. His wife looked like an
Irish waSherwOman and spoke accord
ingly But money and highly-educat-
ed, pretty daughters took them into
the Social whirl The daughters, you
may have heard, married into the
British peerage, and the son? Wen,
the less said of him the better.
1T seems he took fancy to Jim
when he was at Johns Hopkins for
treatment and offered him large SAL
airy if he would go as his physician on
this trip around the world. There was
an excellent opening here in town, but
it would have taken years to make
the money Fielding offered him. Be
= ,, I1a Of a a.
time, He hesitated for some time be-
fore accepting, however. I thought
he had given it up. Then 1 learned
he had sailed"
wasn't there some sort of love
affair? I have faint memory OF
something of the kind"
women are curious creatures, the
other said slowly. There Is no under
standing them. Ever since he was
student at the University of Virginia
he has been interested in girl in
Charlottesville. One day he did the
her. He is a handsome fellow, and
good looks will count with girl
against every sterling quality. Jim,
as you know, possesses the qualities,
but is not much for looks.
1.-The outcome was she threw him
over. Then. actuated by the devil, she
insisted that he should be an usher
at the wedding.
Jim took his medicine like a man.
He is that kind of fellow. and walked
down the aisle with as dainty a vision
of womanhood as a mans eyes could
rest upon-a younger sister OF Mary
Houghton's, and, from my point of
view, the more attractive of the two.
1 have often wondered if she would
not get him in the rebound, but of
late there has been more or less talk
of Fielding'S sister-in-law."
1t, - for
money, as / remember him.
TRUE. But the best of us do in
comprehensive things at times. She
is a handsome woman, and, if Mrs.
Grundy speaks truth, all Jim has to
do is ask her. They were the only
unmarried people on board for part
of the cruise. and you know the posi-
bilities of moonlight nights at sea-
The other laughed as he rose. Not
much chance of escape unless man
is made of adamant. Still, I would
bet on Jim not doing the obvious
thing. He is one of the cleanest-
minded men L have ever known and
the vulgarity in that set is revolving.
No reflection on the girl. She may
have everything that is desirable. in
Guiding the money. By the way, has
she money? I thought Fielding mar
ried a poor girl"
"As much as he has, believe And
parted.
Jim Marshall paused as he reached
the venue and looked across at the
stream of cars and pedestrians enter
ing the White House gates. 1t was
a reception day and the day was one
of those blessed, sunshiny, MINDLESS
days known to the capital city in the
early spring. Back of him, in Lafay-
cite park, tulips and hyacinths were
abloom. Near to them japonicas and
forsythias made vivid elumps of color
Across the avenue the grass showed
green under the great elms in the
historic grounds.
The man heaved a sigh of enioy-
ment. 1T is good to be home" he
thought, as he swung across the street,
narrowly missing a little car coming
slowly toward him.
The driver. a woman, called to him.
He had not seen her. and as he went
up to the car ne wondered at the
change in the girl he had walked with
down the aisle of a country church
twelve months before.
Surely you have grown up" he said
with a smile. as he took her hand
into a warm, close grasp. your voice
brought back memory, else 1 might
not have known you"
Had you really forgotten me, Mr..
MARSHALL" she asked simply az
knew you at once"
81 said might. did 1 not?" he laugh
ed. mo. / could not forget such !
companion as you proved yourself that |
night year ago. 1 was merely I'M
prepared for the bewildering change |
from girihood to womanhood. All. |
seem fated to be run down today" As
a limousine brushed by him he lifted |
his hat.
The girl in the big car leaned for |
ward, looking straight into his eyes. |
then raised her glance to the fresh. |
young face in the little car. Her own |
face hardened slightly. but she gave a !;
smile and friendly nod to Jim as her |
machine passed on
rs that Miss Howard?" the girl be- |
side him asked. "She is very hand |
some, and, 1 hear, very rich.'' A |
slight flush crept into her face, dying |