The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-10-21
EVENING STORY
Her Wedding Day.
(By Eliza beth Shields. }


Kent, who. seated directly before her.
was devouring a 10-cent lunch
In the crowd of messy laborers and
factory hands. eating with hats on.
sprawling all over the tables, Murray
stood out conspicuousiy. His fair,
wavy ha.r tanned skin and slender
made body radiated health against the
background of unwashed, hopeless
faces. He ate his soup quietly, sitting
upright Cecilia thrilled at the sight
of him She noted the easy grace
with which he handled a fork.
She looked at him thru curled
lashes and followed his gaze to his
yellow automobile, standing outside.
Each day he came in just such SPLEEN
dor, leaving the car to tempt and tan
talize her. She wanted to run away
from the repugnant smells of the
Third avenue restaurant.
The day was uncomfortably hot.
Just across the street, beyond the yell
low car, was 4 strip of green grass
and trees.
Ella borately nonchalant, Murray
Kent finished his meal and came to-
ward the cash desk With hands deep
! in the pockets of his gray flannel
suit, he stood 5easting his eyes on her
alluring little body and flushed face,
| framed in soft brown hair.
| Il shall come back for you later
with the carr he said. It's yours
| for the afternoon, little bird. You're
welcome to everything l own"
| You're always making promises to
me-" protested Cecilia.
| TN keep this one.' he assured her
| Wen drive up Riverside and pick out
a flat right now, sweetheart
| Cecilia smiled uncertainty and
| slowly withdrew her hand, which he
| had covered with his. You're rich"
she said. Il wouldn't be good enough
for your family, 1 know
| If you had the same clothes and
setting of the rich girls in town-say,
what's the use telling you all over
again. Run away from your job for
the afternoon. Come with me in the
| car, won't you?"
Yes when I'm thru with the lunch
hour crowd" she whispered. She
turned on him adoring gray eyes. The
mystery of something not understood
but divinely thrilling. yelled them and
trent led in her voice. Leaning to-
ward Murray she exclaimed: Il have
| beautiful clothes-I bought a lovely
pink gown-all lace and tulle and
| beads You said you'd get your dads
| box at the opera some night. | bought
it for that
/ A flush mounted the mans temples.
Irregular opera is off in the summer,
but you can wear the dress, grille A
boy1sh, impulsive laugh filled the
small resta urant. It'll have Caruso
open up for night, I will His eyes
I fingered in rapture on the happy face
| upturned to his. A timid ripping
/ sound from Cecilia's lips blended with
the irresponsible gayety of the man 8
| laugh.
Maybe we'd better go to the
movies, she suggested quickly.
/ IL go anywhere with you, child
I'm crazy about you"
4ou're always laughing at me-
I'll return for you at four" he as
sured her.
When Murray crawled into the low
seat OF the car, Julia Schmitt pro-
prletor, seated herself in the open
doorway. 1.-THE loafer," she scoIded
his well-tailored back Pays 10 cents
for his lunch and spends the after
| noon here
Cecilia felt too wilted with the heat
to reply. Suddenly Julia demanded
DID he tell you .ow he happens to
nave s. on the door of his dads car
If his right name is Kent? She laugh
ed at her own shrewdness
cecilia stopped sorting the blue
cash checks. seriously worried look
crept into her eyes,
The hot afternoon droned on Jplia
was quietly snoring when Murray
drove his yellow car to the restau-
rant at O'Clock. Cecilia Jumped IN
beside him.
straight up to Central Park crossing
TO Riverside drive. They dashed ma 81
blocks and blocks of apartment
houses. but if Murray remembered
} AWNING about locating flat he was
trying to forget it in the speed of the
car. Cecilia sat N breathless antici-
patton till the car slowed down on a
rugged road, little more than lane,
leading to narrow stream. Murray
leaned forward to lift her from the
car and the warmth of his face burned
INTO hers as he whispered: My
you're pretty" His lips touched her
throat.
Kiss me, sweetheart" he begged,
as he held her.
: No" Cecilia answered sharply.
Take me back-to Julia"
He ran his fingers thru his half
wilted collar and took off his hat
You don't care for me after all, do
: your
Cecilia crouched back afraid not so
: much OF Murray as of herself Her
, face famed an overpowering i'm
pulse came to put her arm about him
and press her lips to his. However,
she ventured timidly to say. I'VE for
, got to look at apartments, didn't we o.
Murray bit his lips and then sent a
dazzling smile at her.
why live cooped up il ten-room
, fiat? Wouldn't you rather have a
country EOuS0, daring mats It
: we'll live in the countryi"
THAT would be wonderful" Ce-
ella tried to adjust her puzzled mind,
with the nimblenass of Murray's to a
country house and garden. A mist
filled her eyes. Her head slipped to
Murray's shoulder as he kissed her
and painted in words a rose-covered
2 cottage on the edge of a stream that
Y they were to occupy as soon as he
! could find it. The moon was shining
r on the little strip of park opposite the
: restaurant when Cecilia crept UP the
front steps and into the house
y At the next morning Cecilia was
, out of her bee. This was her wedding
: day, On a card inscribed, Murray
Fraser Kent" was scrubbed in lead