The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-11-05
EVENING STORY
Diana's DoIeful Dumps.

pink-cheeked Diana Wales curled up |
within the curtained window recess did |
not feel like talking just then. Indeed, |
she was only too glad to be hidden |
from sight for there were tears in her
eyes and she knew they would be dis |
covered by Bess Palmer if she came |
near here; SO. while her friend went |
off in search of her, Diana continued
to brood over her troubles which, as
everybody knows. is the best way in
the world to increase them, in fancy if
not in reality.
To begin with, there had been so
much of hilarity going on the night
before that she had not slept well, and
her head ached. The new hat of which
she had expected so much, was not
very becoming after all. She was dis
appointed in this house party. 1t had
not come up to those of previous years,
even tho it was made up of nearly the
same company. Worst of all was the
fact that Aida Goodrich was to take
the principal lady's part. and Earl
Raymond was to be the leading man
in the little play that was on foot. Earl
had been her stanch friend and open
admirer since their primary school
days. In all the little plays which
they had given hitherto, when she was
leading lady, he, a matter of course,
had been given the part of leading
man. Now, in the most ambitious
II,
with an audacity given to youth alone,
the club had elected to play, Romeo
and Juliet" now she, Diana Wales, had
been assigned the unimportant part of
Lady Capulet, Juliets mother of all
thingsi while Aida was to play Juliet
to EarTs Romeo.
1t seemed almost more than she
could bear. She would have with
drawn altogether only she feared that
that would be too noticeable, for some
Il
Jealous. She wasn't jealous but she
dreaded all those rehearsals with Earl
repeatedly making love to Aida, even
tho it was only in play. They would
both die in the end, however, and there
was some comfort to poor Diana in 4
@hat.
At length the girl reused herself.
She felt that she really must join the
others; so, touching up her hair bit
and wiping her eyes, she drew aside
the curtain and stepped out. But she
was hardly in a normal condition
when she took her place as one of the
merry company around the blazing
wood fire
spirits of the others that Bess Palmer
called: Whats the matter with |
Diana? She's not speaking a world"
What is it, Dip" asked someone |
else, mot in the dumps, are you?'
"Oh, yes" exclaimed Aida who had |
been looking over the play and stiu
had the book in her lap. "Oh, yes, |
she must be having the doleful dumps |
Let's see-hoW does that go?-here |
it is:
When gripping grief the heart doth wound
And dOleful dumps the mind Cypress,
Then music with her silver sound
With speedy help does lend redress
Cant somebody give us some
music?" she went on. Where's your |
mandolin, Jack? Has that a silver |
sound ?"'
. At this Diana laughed. a rather |
forced laugh, which she hoped no one |
noticed, and little later it was sug-
gested that as there was nothing |
special on the docket, they should |
read thru the chosen play of Romeo |
and Juliet
This would have to come sooner
or later SO with an effort Diana |
Joined the others and tried her best
to put as much spirit as possible into
the unsatisfac Glory part assigned her
as Lady Capulet. At length after |
much laughing and expressing of opin-
ions the reading was finished, and all
agreed that there was no reason in the |
world why this should not be the
greatest success of anything they had
undertaken. All this, however, was as
NORWOOD and gall to Diana Wales. |
Aida really did put a good deal of
expression into the part of Juliet, and
Tarl-wel, of course, he was always
good. Though it seemed to Diana
that he put rather needless emphasis |
into his words of admiration for
Juliet, still it was to be expected.
You make a fine Lady Capulet'
Aida complimented as the two girls |
CHANGED to be standing together |
Really I'm quite proud of my
mamma"
And for the remainder of the day. |
to Diana's intense disgust Aida per-
sisted in calling her mamma"
Matters were not improved for Di-
ana by the reading of the play, in
deed even less than before. was she
inclined to feel reconciled to the as
signment of parts. She felt nervous
and ready to cry, and then pride came
to the rescue. She was acting like a
child, she told herself severely, and
giving them all good reason to COM
ment on her unusual Quietness. She
would go out for a walk even if it was
foggy. With the aid of outdoor air she |
felt she could surely get herself in |
hand, and be able to appear like her
self Accordingly a little later she |
donned her hat and raincoat, and
stepped out into the. growing dark
ness of the afternoon unobserved, ats
she believed, even by the chaperon.
What a dismal day this was! Diana
believed she didn't like house parties
any way. She quite wished she had |
not come. There had not been ray
of sunshine for the last two days. |
What did the others all find so funny |
to laugh about, she wondered. They |
seemed to do nothing but laugh. Had |
she ever been like that? 1t was hard |
to believe it from her present point of
view. How she wished that something |
anything short of broken bones
would happen to prevent her from |
having to take part in this proposed |
play, the play that was. no doubt, To |
heap lanrels as never before on the
heads of the Club of Young Amateur
Players.
She had gone but a little way VIII
she became aware of some one be-
hind her, walking faster than she. |
1t sounded nke-only of course it |
couldn't be-Earl Raymond. who a |
moment later called boyishly:
7 toll L 4r,t