The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-24
EVENING STORY
Unexpected Sunshine.
(Ry Ellis Pyne.)

at luncheon in a downtown hotel. |
Have you noticed the GOODNESS be- |
tween Elsie and Fred Hartmann"
Yes, everybody's noticed it" said |
Philip. "but neither Elsie nor Fred !
will tell the cause of it, 1 understand. |
Amy Moore. who will rush in where |
others would fear to tread, sounded |
them both. but got only an Indifferent !
shrug from Elsie and a grouchy one |
from Fred"
I'm inclined to think that Elsie's |
allowing that old roue to dance at |
tendance on her is an effect rather
than a cause, of the quarrel" said
Jack.
Same thing is true of Fred's recent
tendency to hit it up a bit more than
he ever did before, 1 fancy said
Philip, with regretful shake of his
head. Its shame for two fine peo-
way. but an outsider can't butt in; so
here's hoping they'll come to their
senses without our aid
by George!" exclaimed Jack, a mo-
menI later. THE plot thickens, for
here come Fred and Amy Moore, this
minute
And if I'm not mistaken, that spar
kle in Amy's eye means she's got
something up her sleeve. 1t can't be
that she has designs on Fred, for she's
happily engaged to his brother in
Cleveland. She must be trying to an
noy Elsie
! Amy, slim and trim in white cordu-
roy. and with laughing brown eyes
| taking in the admiring glanceS that
came toward her from the people at
the tables all about her, looked up
into Fred'S serious gray eyes and
brought her white gloved hands to-
gether ecstatically.
What a darling little table right at
the open window" she exclaimed. DO
latse z;f
The table she indicated was near the
one at which sat Elsie and her elderly
escort. Without any apparent design
except to allow herself to look out of
) the window at the street scene below,
Amy seated herself SO that tired was
facing Elsie, only two tables away.
The man who could have sat tete-a-
tete with Amy without smiling fire.
quentiy would have had to be blind
and deaf, and as Fred Hartman was
not SO afflicted, his smiles were so
many and so spontaneous that they
made Elsie Morton decidedly uncom-
: sickeningly tired of the simpering
l smirks with which her escort empha-
sized his glances at her, and in re-
turn for them she could now muster
: only family indulgent smile that had
in it a suggestion of the boredom she
felt
Except for a friendly nod upon first
: seating themselves. Amy and Fred
Amy ordered only the Ightest lunch,
insisting that she must be away in
half an hour at the latest. When she
had almost finished her light lunch
) Boyd and Philip Ware sauntering to-
ward the doorway. which brought
3 them near her table. She flashed
s them a smile of greeting and babe
9 Fred call them over es she wanted
s to ask them something about the
< coming dinner dance Mt the country
c club next evening. Nobody refused
to obey Amy's commands. SO Fred
men and they. obediently, came
over beside her table, where they
: stood listening to her chatter and put
' ting in word when she gave them
a chance.
: Although her luncheon was fin
ished, Amy made no move to leave
4 her seat until she saw Elsie and
Simpson leave their table. Then she
r contrived to have the party of six
acquaintance reach the elevator at
e the same time ard make the descent
= together. Her only object was to
3 bring Elsie and Fred into the gem
r eral conversation, but an unexpected
: occurrence did far more than all her
maneuvering to clear up the clouded
atmosphere surrounding the es-
/: tranged pair. When they reached the
p main floor they found that a sum-
+. mer shower was coming down in driv-
k ing sheets. A man and woman
y rushed from a taMcab at the curb into
h the lobby where the group of six
e stood. reluctant to venture until the
n shower passed. The woman, who
r dressed. gave a pleased exclamation
t when she saw Fred Hartman
!, why; Mr. Hartman. what an I'M
v expected pleasure" Fred advanced
s thusiastic greeting, and the lady
t added: I'm so glad to have an op-
A portunity to present my husband to
:. you. for we owe you a lot for your
9 Mr.. Smith, Mr.. Hartman" she con-
cluded, and the two men shook
hands. Smith was a big man, with
{ a frank look about him which helped
) taste in dress.
: "Mr. Hartman" he said warmly
J Mrs. Smith has told me all about
that narrowing hour and half in a
stuck elevator and of your lightning
u trip to the station afterward. Believe
me, we appreciate your courtesy to a
a client in distress. She could never
have got the deeds Strengthened out
n and made that train without your
help, but she's still worrying because
n yea missed a luncheon engagement
- with a lady who had deserted the
. tryst before you could get to tele-
phone"
lie well, that misfortune was the
is fault of the stupid elevator man, and
couldn't have been even remotely
Id blamed upon Mrs. Smith, who was a:
is unwilling prisoner as L. It's toe
bad that unpleasant experiences are
a. your lot on another visit to the city
4, - Fred motioned toward the door
! against which the rain was still pour.
ing.
at 'Oh. we don't mind the rain" said
h Mrs Smith, as they entered the ele
yator.
al Come, Fred Hartman, and Tess VI
n Mt r af air- fria a,
have mentioned" commanded Amy
as the elevator disappeared. ITS
% good thing L wasn't the girl who hat
\ the luncheon engagement with you