The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-08-24
EVENING STORY
just for a Lark.


Miss Geraldine Langtrn was a |
daughter of very rich w.dow. living
in suburb of New York, and she had
arrived at the age of twenty. There
are more cases like hers than you
dream of. Here was an intelligent,
educated and good looking girl of
twenty who had never had a real
beau. There is no reason at all why
such girls should not be IN love and
engaged. Philosophers have tired to
find a reason. but all the reason they
can give is that such girls are some
how passed by. The right young man
does not come along. oh, yes, plenty
of young men had chatted with Miss
Geraldine, and they had admired her
looks and said she was a very nice
young lady. but they hadn't come a
counting. A girl likes to be praised
and admired. but it should go beyond
that. She should at least have a
chance to refuse the hearl and hand
to a homcly young man.
Miss Geraldine had thought of these
| things. Why not? Marriage is the
thing to interest a girl as much as a
| young man. In fact, shA has even
| more at stake, and must move with
more caution. Yes, she had wondered
| what kept the young men away. Was
| it her mothers wealth. Was it that
they had heard she was extravagant
in her dress. and knew nothing what
| ever about managing house? Miss
| Geraldine thought and thought, but
she could not solve the problem.
Neither could her mother. tho the lat
ter didn't try very hard. Whenever
she thought about it, she said to her
self:
| "Oh, Geraldine is all right She
| wants her freedom for a while yet.
| The right young man will come along
some day, and she will have her
bridal tour and her happy home. I
| don't believe she would marry now,
| anyhow, and, as long SIZE isn't wor-
ried about it there's no occasion for
| me to fret
One day Miss Geraldine had to go
to the city to do some shopping. She
went alone very often and she knew
| her way about. She never mistook
| Broadway for Seventh avenue and she
never got run over while crossing Her
aid square at Thirty-fourth street. AS
she rode into the city on the train
an inspiration came to her and she
| smiled and laughed to herself. She
was going to have lark. 1t would
be funny one. and there could be
| no harm in it All she needed was
little courage, and she thought she
could summon that up. There wasn't
time to plan every particular, but she
thought they would work out them
selves.
The young ladys usual plan on COM
ing to the city was to take a Fourth
avenue car at the Grand Central sta
ton and ride down to Thirty-third
street. There she would leave the
car, and walk across Thirty-fourth
street to the great retail stores She
knew them all, and never went fur
Their down town to do her purchasing.
She shopped an hour or two, all the
time thinking of her lark, and, when
ready to go home, she carried a little
bundle with her AS she was going
back to the train she saw a fine-look-
ing man approaching. He carried
cane and wore a high hat. His cloth
ing fitted him perfectly and he had
the air of a gentleman. AS he was
about to pass her. Geraldine stopped
dead still and appealed to him:
II am in trouble and l wish your
assistance"
The>man looked into her face. and
thought he saw signs of fright and
perturbation. He lifted his hat and
replied:
81. shall be only too happy, miss.
What has happened to your"
| 'Why-why,' carrying her hand to
her forehead, something came over
me all at once, and I can't tell you
who 1 am or where I live. My MEM
ory seems to have gone all of a sud
deni'
'It is a case of aphasia,'' he said.
1--WE read of three or four cases of it
this year, but there is nothing to be
L
had a touch of it myself, but was all
right in a short while"
But what shall 1 de?" she asked.
in a helpless. childish sort of way.
Come into this store for moment.
The open street is hardly the place for
a talk. Now then, you have evidently
been shopping. Can you member
the stores you have just visited?"
Not a one, though I may have Wis
tied half a dozen. 1 don't think
| J, nr.otc hnd in n
who knows me. have no account
with any of them"
Well, let's see.' he unused. You
came in this morning That isl sup
pose You live out of town some
| where? he went on Haven't you
got any of your address cards in your
purse %
Miss Geraldine opened her bag, and
there was no cardcase.
i Now, try and think of the name of
the town you live in" said the gentle
| man.
/ 'If-if-if I could think of the
name of the town, could tell you who
am" answered the victim.
you came in on train. didn't
Eyes, I think I did, for 1 seem to
remember a big station"
And then you took the street car
| down here?''
: Il believe 1 did"
Well. you probably got off at Thir-
: ty-third street and it was only a short
walk here. Then you went to the
stores You had finished your shop
ping and started back for Thirty-third
! street to go up town. You are going
| | to get off at the Grand Central, prob
ably. and there take train for your
home"
II guess that was the way of it,
said Miss Geraldine. II will go up and
, see if 1 remember the station; but
everything seems strange to me-"
n "Of course it does. and 1 shan't let
you go up to the station alone. / will
, go with you, and we will see if we
: can't find the right train. Your mem
DRY will come back as suddenly as il
went