The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-24
EVENING STORY
How Things Can Happen.
(By Catherine Cranmer.)


h adopting a career. the effect was
much the same as if the rusty old
Revolutionary cannon on the court
house square had opened fire upon
her native town of nfooresville-
Now daughter, no dramatics," said
her father.
st don't want to be dramatic. father,
but 1 can't face the thought of doing
for all the rest of my days the aim
| less things I've been doing ever since
I left boarding school,
| '.Just what specific work do you
| propose to do for the rest of your
days?'' Her fathers directness was
disconcerting.
.T can't tell until I've seen more of
the world, but I've got money enough
left from what grandmother gave me
to go to New York ana look about I'M
til can make up my mind"
| Alberta" began her mother, with
barely enough breath left to gasp,
You would deliberately throw away
| a splendid matrimonial opportunity,
| for YOU know you could marry Lash
lev Graves tomorrow if you'd say the
word Why, the whole town knows
| that"
| .Yes. mother. the whole town knows
| everything that any one person IN IL
knows: but if I ever marry I'll marry
a man who is making things happen
and not one who sits and talks OF
| what some of his ancestors did,
IF YOU go off on this wild goose
chase. your chances to meet any sort
of man except in business way Will
be few and far between. have you
| thought how you will be looked upon
if YOU go alone to New York without
a definite object 2" Her father eyed
1 her SternlY.
yes, and I may take a course in
applied arts. 1t will take only part or
my time, and in my leisure can De
eide upon my permanent work some
day you'll be proud of me-" she added
lightly.
Some day, about a month after you
land in New York, you'll be good ana
glad TO come home" said her tatn per
| may, you don't intend to let her
really attempt this impossible thing z!
Eyes, let her have a fling at ner
career, It's the surest cure Tor the
ffever,'' said Thomas Randall, with
tsfinality, as he resumed his reading.
/ The weeks passed until Alberta had
been in New York six months without
| her fathers prediction coming true
| After considering various f1elds IN
which she might realize her ambition
to make things happen" she had
| decided upon interior house decoration
as the least doubtful and discouraging
for one Of her talents and training.
After a years hard study, she began
to plan a vacation at home beIore TAX
! ing up headquarters in a studio build
ing but Just then her services were
| sought by a firm of decorators whose
appreciation meant much to q beginner
in the profession. They employed Al
| berta to furnish and decorate a mod
| ernized colonial country house from
the spacious porches of which the
Hudson was visible thru the big trees
in the park in front. She took hold
of the work with enthusiasm and
made a great success of the house, as
we'll as of an old-fashioned flower gar
den on the grounds OF the owner of
the place she knew only what the head
of the decorating firm had told her
that he was "a cranky bachelor with
too many hobbies to bother with what
he considered a woman's job
When Alberta completed her work
and started for visit to her parents
| she could not restrain sigh of regret
at leaving the lovely house to its
eccentric owner, who might not even
appreciate its beauty
| My dear child said her mother,
in greeting Alberta. You are much
the same, though changed, too" To
Mrs. Randall a career seemed a
vague means of Transforming wo-
man into some unlovely hybrid.
$50 you fooled your dad by making
good in the melting pot, did your"
Her father was plainly proud of her,
which made Alberta very happy.
/ After dinner the family went out
upon the front veranda, and from
| where Alberta sat she could see
through the trees low, white stucco
| building surrounded by a smooth lawn
with its gravel walks bordered with
petunias.
who had the ingenuity to make
such a beauty spot of that old vacant
lot opposite Wellingtons?" Her in
curry brought a twinkle into her faith
er's eyes.
so you are surprised that there are
folks in sleepy old Mooresvflle VINO can
make things happen. are your
Eyes, and also curious. Who built
that house? 1t reminds one of a con-
| tented white COW standing in shady
pasture
ct is one of many gifts to our city
from an enterprising young citizen IL
is a resting place and general rendez-
yous for tired women shoppers from
the country. or for visitors in town be-
tween trains. Since the old public
n square is being converted into a CIVIC
center. this town is sought by the
tourists" Mr.. Randall chose to be
non-committa1.
But who had the get-up to do such
things in Mooresville. dad?"
Nobody but your old friend, LASH
lev Graves said her father quietly
"And here he comes now to pay his
RESPECTS to the prodigal-
Following her fathers glance, AL
berta. saw Lashley Graves alight from
a shining roadster at the curb. As
he came up the walk she saw that
he had changed greatly. A f1rmness
of step and steadiness of carriage
had transformed his lazy nonchalance
into a commanding dignity She be-
gan to think he was altogether differ
emit, but when she looked into his eyes
knew that his feeling for her had not
changed, and it was not an unpleasant
: discovery. Half an hour later, she
: coaxed him to take her in his car to
: ~ civic reptor ard a@1,o- i'm