The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-29
EVENING STORY
The Country Girl.
(By Harrison Chase. }

L
Its because you are different from
any other girl 1 have ever known" he
answered finally. You're pretty and
you're clever. but at the same time
you don't think anything about clothes,
you don't powder your nose, and you
| don't go around fishing for compi-
ments."
Thank you," she curtesied quantity.
| But don't you know that I'm only
country rube and that L haven't very
many clothes to think about?
THAT doesn't make any difference;
you're not like other girls"
Her eyes grew serious.
How long have you known me,
| Bruce?" she asked suddenly.
Three weeks
THAT isn't very long, is it?"
1T has been all too short for me-"
| But you really don't know anything
about me-"
| 1T doesn't matter whether I do or
not; 1 only know that you're cute
Listen, Bruce" she interrupted.
you don't know what I'm doing UP
here, where 1 came from or who my
parents are"
II know" he answered in mock
seriousness "AH that I care about is
that L came up to Riverton Center
three weeks ago expecting to take a
rest. L met you, and 1 haven't had
any rest SINCE
The girl smiled.
I'm sorry that I spoiled your va
cation she said.
You haven't spoiled it; you've made
| it,
''And you're going home tomor
row."
He nodded
| Yes, but 1 want you to come down
to college next week and go with me
to the senior ball"
He looked up anxiously, but the
girl shook her head.
| I've read about college dances"
she answered, and I don't think that
! I'm the girl you want to take"
| 'Why?''
Because the girls at the house
parties wear beautiful clothes and are
accustomed to society: the men try to
Guido one another, and the senior who
takes a girl who doesn't measure up TO
| the standard is more or less OF
| laughing stock.
| Bruce's face redeemed.
1T isn't anything like that" he re-
torted. Il want you to come with me
Will your"
Mary hesitated for a moment.
II don't know she answered final
| ly I'm only a country girl. 1 have
| MT many dresses, and l hardly think
that you would be very proud of me
down there in college
Il would" he answered. I'D be
proud of you anywhere"
But somehow his words failed to
carry conviction, and the girl, sensing
his hesitancy, made her decision
| Wen compromise, she said
There are ten days before the dance.
If, after you go back to college and
| think over what I've told you, you
| still want me to go to the dance, YOU
may write and ask me next saturday:
If I don't get a letter III forget all
about it,
The next day, when Bruce Barton
returned to college, he found the mem
/ bers of his fraternity talking eagerly
of the approaching dance
I'm going to bring wonder OF a
girl" bud Chambers announced.
"She's coming in her dads car, and
she's got all kinds of money. SheH
make a hit all right"
| MY guest is one of the most popu-
lar girls in Vassar," Bob voorhees, re-
marked. AT the Yale prom she was
the hit of the house party
| Bruce said nothing. picture of
| Mary as he had learned to know her,
with her simple clothes and unaffect-
ed manner, flashed before him. For
three days he debated the question:
and it was not until Friday night that
he made his decision. Then he wrote
a letter, but it was addressed to a girl
he had met In New York, who he
knew, would make hit with his
fellow students.
On the afternoon of the dance his
| conscience troubled him a bit, but
when the guests began to arrive and
the members OF the house party
flocked around the girl he had invited,
he smiled satisfiedly-
| =. ''Mary'S all tight up in the wllds OF
Riverton Center he said to himself.
But she wouldn't fit in down here"
| He reached the big armory where
the dance was to be held rather early,
and having donned his gloves and ar
| ranged his tie, waited outside of the
/
He watched idly as girl after girl
strol1ed out of the room and joined
their escorts. He noticed with ap-
proval that his girl promised to eclipse
them all.
He was still enjoying this feeling of
self-satisfaction when the door open
ed and a veritable vision of loneliness
came forth. Bruce's heart stood still;
the girl was Mary Nelson. Involun-
tari1y, he stepped forward, but Ralph
Towers, the varsity football captain,
brushed him aside ard offered his arm
to the waiting girl Together they
made their way to the dance floor.
Bruce gazed after them. his mouth
opened in establishment Mary, whom
he had considered not good enough to
attend the dance, was the guest of the
biggest man in college. She wore a
dress of white satin, trimmed with sill
yer lace. 1t seemed as if she had al
ways attended dances; she walked
gracefully, greeted the reception COM
mittee, and then made her way to the
booth reserved for Towers fraternity.
Bruce resolved to solve the mystery
of her appearance, made his way
across the floor.
Hello, Mary" he said easily. "Are
you going to save dance for me?"
She smiled into his eyes.
I'm afraid you'll have to ask Ralph
about it, she answered. He is fill
ing out my order"
But surely you'll give me at least
onei!"
II don't know" She looked at him
strangely. I'm engaged to Mr. Tow
ers, you know"
what"
1--WE been engaged to him for six
months"