The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-04
EVENING STORY
Sylvia's Breakaway.
fBy Ernest A. Young.)

v
girls would call a good time. On that
anniversary her Aunt Dorcas went
with her to the city, and made the
rounds of the department stores,
bought Sylvia $7.9S ready-to-wear
suit and a s2.4S hat, and ended the
days debauch by going to a moving
picture play.
All thru the following week Aunt
Dorcas was kept in a panic because
Sylvia Gale would talk of nothing else
but that picture play.
You can see for yourself, JONAS"
she told her husband, that Sylvia has
inherited a restless streak from her
mother. We never oughter let her go
to that play. It's stirred her all up
"Sylvia's a powerful willing worker
round the house." defended Uncle
Jonas.
Except hopping floors" said Aunt
Dorcas. Il never knew anybody that
hated to mop a floor as bad as Sylvia
does''
The next time that they decided to
visit the city they said nothing about
it before the girl. She overheard them
talking of their intentions and at the
same time learned that there were to
be no more such excursions for her
what have L done,' Sylvia asked
herself, that they shouldn't trust
me?''
Then she thought of Dr. Edison
halT
out of her wits almost year ago by
asking her to marry him, when it had
never occurred to her that she was old
enough to think of marrying anybody
Doctor Edison must be crazy to
think of marrying me-" she had
thought. But now, as she brooded
over Aunt Dorcass show of distrust
she recalled the doctors attentions
with quickened heart-beats.
1T was sweet of him, anyway, to
put SO much confidence in me- she
decided.
The afternoon before the projected
trip to the city Aunt Dorcas remarked
to Sylvia:
81 was telling your Uncle Jonas last
night we'd better get a new rug for
your ROOM
The girl was looking out of a win
dow and did not reply.
Then" Dorcas Gale continued.
'some new wall paper, and two or
three sort of cheerful pictures would
brighten up your room. Then the
window curtains would look dingy
| with everything else new. We might
about as well git everything while
we're gittin'.''
It don't stay in my room enough SO
it makes much difference how it
looks said Sylvia. Which caused
Aunt Dorcas to wonder what had
come over the girl
| The next morning Sylvia drove her
aunt and uncle to the railway station,
| five miles distant.
Hurry right back. Sylvia" admon-
! ished her aunt as they heard the whis-
tie of the incoming train. There's
the chickens to feed and breakfast
dishes to wash
Don't forgit to shut the barn door
if it should happen to RAIN Uncle
/ Jonas reminded her.
Nor the chamber winders." added
When she was out of sight of the
station Sylvia laughed derisively.
Then she consulted a pocket railway
time table.
The s:S4 at HaIe's Crossing may be
| tagged for passengers or express, -
she read from the folder.
After she was fairly aboard the
train at Hale's Crossing. having left
Dolly and the buggy under a shed,
Sylvia laughed again. Breakfast
dishes-chickens to feed-shut the
/ barn door-and chamber windows -
] she scoffed. But first of all, Aunt
Dorcas, for my shadow on the films. -
| A newspaper clipping in her purse
gave the address, 81 Fillmore place,
where young ladies were wanted to
drill for moving picture scenes. Sit
( uations, with good pay and advance
ment, were guaranteed in the adver-
! tisement
/ But when Sylvia reached Fillmore
place she was disappointed to find it a
dingy court shut in by cheap tene-
ments, with glimpses of a back area
where clothes lines Haunted a shame
less display Of straddling and gesticu-
| lating apparel.
Her ring at the door of No. 81 was
answered by a young man with black,
curly hair, black mustache and a face
| that looked for all the world like that
| of a Corsican bandit in the picture
! play that had haunted Sylvia's MEM
DRY. The dashing, bandit-loking face
smiled and the door was opened wide.
You come to drill for our great
spectacular drama. Miss said the
man. You will step in and register
Sylvia's heart sank in sudden dis
may. Was this the portal, she asked
herself, by which she was to enter
upon her career of fame and fortune
'I-don't think 1 will try it at ALL
me. Good day
"waitt'' the man commanded.
Why do yop not try? 1t is easy, and
with your face
Because do not like your looks,
she told him in a flash of anger. Then
she fled from Fillmore place in an
ovcrpowerirg panic of fear.
She spent the rest of the day fol-
lowing up advertisements for Female
Help Wanted" and found that the
situations were either already filled
or LnaI they were Oh u sort InaI Sue
was too inexperienced to undertake.
| When evening came she slipped with
| WEAKNESS into moving picture
| theatre in the hope of soothing her
| tired nerves.
When she came out upon the
crowded street she remembered that
she had engaged no lodgings for the
night. Somehow, in the chatterine
| throng, she could not settle her mind
upon anything, for she was used to
thinking out her problems in solitude
So she made her way into a quiet side
street.
AS she did so a touring car gIided
close to the sidewalk curbing and
stopped and the one who was driving
| it leaned forward and spoke. Without
looking at him she knew who it was
Lila Il Dr. L.