The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-11-28
EVENING STORY
interviewing Marie TeIlett.
(By George Gray.D

he jumped back just in time to es-
tape being struck by a runabout that
had switched around from the side
road. He faced the driver angrily but
his frown turned to a smile as he met
the frightened gaze of a young girl
the driver and sole occupant of the
car.
I'm so sorry" she apoIogized, 1.-The
road was so dusty and I didn't see
you. Those country roads are-for
goodness sakei Aren't you Frank
Morrison?"
"Margie!" he cried as he recognized
her and seized her hand. Marjorie
Thompson, you are the last person on
earth 1 expected to seei This is
surprise, indeed"
Jump into the car" she invited.
I'VE can talk it all over a lot better
when we get out of this dust.
Nov, tell me all about yourself, >"
she said as Frank settled down beside
her and the car was moving again.
What have you been doing since last
we met and what are you doing here 2"
Well" he began, the last time we
met was the night of the graduation
at high school, wasn't it? You were
going abroad to study music and 1
was leaving the next day for the city
to take a whirl at reporting on Uncle
Joe's newspaper. The job suited me
and I've plugged at it ever since and
am now special feature writer at $40
per. I'm on my way to interview an
actress, Marie Tellett Shes all the
craze this year. You've heard of her,
I'll bet?"
Eyes, go on"
There's nothing more to tell, ex-
cept I haven't found this actress
home yet, although I've been wad-
ing through this dust for over an
hour. It's the worst job I've tackled
since I was a cub. It's just like an
actress to live away out of the world
like this to cause a fellow no end of
inconvenience. AS a rule they are
the freakiest bunch alive and this one
doesn't Seent~to be an exception. They
all have some pet within and living in
this dusty out-of-the-way place seems
to be Marie's. I have never seen her,
but they say she is some actress and
has wonderful voice. She's young,
too, but they all look that way with
their makeup on. She'll sup tea,
pose and talk about her art and all
that silly stuff that I've heard a dozen
times and I'll have to write it up as
if it was all new. But you're not in
terested! What about yourself?"
"Oh, l have very little to tell"
she replied with just a little con-
fusion in the accompanying laugh.
Il got my fill of music abroad and
was glad to get back to my own
although 1 was busy I couldn't help
being lonesome for my friends.
have been home over two years and
1t has hurt little to think that one
of those friends didn't take time to
look me up"
Forgive me, Marge: I didn't think
you cared to hear from me. You
meant whole lot to me when we
went to school and when you went
away ! thought I couldn't stand it for
while. The thoughts of you sort OF
took the sharp edge of some of nv
big early Disappointment, but whep
Uncle Joe died and 1 didn't get his
fortune as had expected, I knew it
wasn't much use thinking of you. L
thought You would meet some fine
feilaw abroad who could afford to
Keep you as you had been accustomed
to living. 1 was only getting $45 a
month then and prospects didn't look
any too bright. It\was pretty hard to
give you up, but realized it was use
less to ask you to marry a bum re-
porter with nothing but small sal
airy ana suit of clothes, a couple of
shirts and a few paper collars" Frank
tried to laugh it off
How foolish of you'll AS if I
haven't money enough to look after
us both. If 1 had known about the
one suit and the rest of it 7 would
have come right home and hauled you
on to the minister's or sued you for
breach of promise. 1 thought you
had met some one else, tho, and that
you considered our promises, that
meant SO much to me, part of a silly
schoolday's love affair. I'm glad you
really cared and I'm glad I didn't ac-
cept that other person abroad, who.
as you say, could have kept me as 1
had been accustomed to living" While
she had been speaking she had slowed
the car down and the engine stopped,
and neither of them noticed it. AS
he put his arms around her and drew
her to him their thoughts went back
to the night Of the high school gradu-
alton, the night of their first kiss,
when they had pledged to love until
the end.
Marjorie was the first to regain her
self. You'll be late for that inter-
view with that horrible actress" she
told Frank.
Il don't care if I never see an ac-
tress again." he answered. ITO think
of spending an afternoon in the COM
pany of Marie Tellett when l can
spend it with you. I'll report Marie
sick in bed, unable to see me until
| tomorrow afternoon. I'll phone the
| office as soon as we get near a tele-
phone"
TN drive you to my nome. 1t isn't
far from here and you can telephone
from there Marjorie offered as she
started the car.
The car drove up to a pretty bun
galow, nestled in among some trees
Il hadn't any idea there was such a
pretty place in this dusty country
Frank said admiringly as he jumped
out and helped Marjorie from the car
You should see the lake at the
back of the house. This is the most
delightful spot in the world, 1 think, "
she replied.
| 1T sure is and the most delight
full person in the world lives here!
But lead me to the telephone so ]
| can get that fib out of my system. -
he said, trying to cover up the com
pliment.
| Perhaps you won't Have to tele-
| phone. can tell you all about Marie
rellett-1 know her we1l-and you
can write 1t Just as if it was an inter-
view with her. It will be great fun.
Marjorie was finding it hard not tc
laugh.
Fire ahead!". Frank said in sur.