The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-04-20
EVENING STORY
The Visiting Speaker.

(By Earl Reed SllVerS-
The dignified principal of the Mill
town high school cleared his throat
Importantly.
Il have the pleasure of announcing
that on Friday afternoon we shall be
honored by visit from the assistant
to the president of Belmont college,"
he advised the school body, who will
deliver a lecture upon college Days
The students took the announce
ment philosophically Friday after
noon lectures failed to thrill them to
any considerable extent; the speakers
were generally bearded professors
who ree1ed off page after page of un-
interesting statistics while the pupils
novels Under the cover of their desks.
But to little Miss Browne, the
youngest member of the faculty, the
announcement was of surprising I'M
portance. 1t caused a slight gasp to
issue from between her crimson lips,
and a light of "reminiscences to shine
from her sky-blue eyes. For the men
ton of Belmont college brought back
memories-the most cherished mem
cries she had ever known.
Thru the long Gay the reminiscent
light continued in her eyes, and when
school was dismissed she walked
rather hastily to her small room in
large boarding house and closed the
door leading to the hall. She wanted
to be alone.
Belmont college. 1t was a long time
since she had permitted herself the
repetition of that name, but the men
ton of it by the pompous principal
had suddenly broken her long-nur-
tured resolution never to think of Bel
mont again. And now, in the seclu-
sion of her room, she left her Thoughts
dwell upon it longingly, lovingly. For
there she had met Bob 'Prentiss-
She remembered it all as if it We're
II TO T,ai in
prom and its attendant festivities with
her cousin Budd Sands, who had asked
her because he couldn't think of any
one else to take, and who, having given
the invitation, considered his obliga-
ton at an end But little Miss Browne
hadn't minded at all. for on the very
first evening she had been introduced
to Bob Prentiss. The name of Bob's
guest was Belle Bentley, and until
Bob's eyes had rested upon those of
attentive to Belle. After that there
had been a noticeable difference until,
by the time the house party was two
days old, a casual observer would
have supposed that Bob had invited
Miss Browne and Budd Miss Bentley.
Everybody seemed perfectly well salts
fled except the last mentioned young
lady, who, altho she laughed more
loudly than any of the others, spent
good part of the time watching Miss
Browne from beneath half-closed eye
lids. The expression in her eyes
changed gradually from resentment to
jealousy.
But little Miss Browne was oblivious
to everything except the Hghtness of
Bob Premises laugh and the droning
softness of his deep voice. When the
final day of the house party arrived
Bob Prentiss and the girl Budd Sands
had invited found themselves hope
lessly, helplessly in love. Neither
seemed to care 3, whit what the others
thought about it; they escaped from
the crowd whenever they could. to sit
in the corner and look at each other
and say meaningless things. Both
agreed that it was the most wonder
full house party that was ever con-
ceived.
There was one person, however, who
Belle Bentley, who. as the time for the
conclusion of the prom. drew near, re-
solved to speak kindly but plainly to
little Miss Browne The opportunity
up of the house party By some within
of fate the two girls had been as
signed to the same room for the final
evening. It was while they were
dressing for the farewell dance that
Miss Bentley delivered what she con-
sidered a masterpiece OF sarcastic elo-
quence.
Bob Prentiss and 1 are practically
engaged" she informed the other girl
in the course of ner remarks. land he
is only playing with you for this one
dance You're something new, and
you amuse him.
Little Miss Brown hadn't said
much. except to assure her wrathfuI
companion that she had no intention
of being a plaything for any one. And
when Bob had come gayly forward "a
short time later to claim the first
| dance Miss Browne had told him firm