The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-10-11
EVENING STORY
Pierrette Comes 10 ToMn.
BY LILY WANDEL.

"Boo!" The kitchen door flew open
and very pretty brown-haired, olive
skinned girl, suitcase in hand. laughed
herself into the room.
Aunt Marcia, just removing a cake
of fat from a bowl of cold broth,
dropped her spoon and gasped: pier
rette! You hcrei My dear child. you
should have written Or
You darling old slow-pokel" kiss
ing the surprised and somewhat an
noyed lady on both cheeks. Don't
you know that it's half the fun to just
swoop dew on people and surprise
theml Why, If you had seen your face
when 1 opened that door. Purposely
came up the alley and thru the back
yard; I knew you'd be in the kitchen!'
But, Pierrette. really you should
have let me know; you see
"Oh, Aunt Marcia, you ought to
know me by this time. l never tell
people when I'm coming. Don't you
know last year when 1 came unex-
pectedly and you were going away and
had to postpone your trip? It didn't
really make the slightest difference
that you started three days later"
Yes, yes; but this time it's differ
emit We
II won't be the least bit OF trouble;
not bit! Let me explain. You see,
L
chance to write and announce myself
formally. The Evanses are stopping
at the Belfonte and just begged me to
take a trip to town; they know q lot
of people and it will be just one con-
tinual string of good timesi No. not a
word of objectioni I'll be out for
nearly every meal; you see, I won't be
any trouble"
Nevertheless, my dear" began Aunt
Marcia desperately, you should have
written, because"
Pierrette smothere6 her with a kiss.
II see that 1 must take you into M.
confidence. Listen! You know last
month I was at the Evanses' house
party and, Aunt Marcia, 1 met the
lOveliest man, DR.. Edgar Warner. Oh,
auntie, 1 can't tell you, but somehow
L know that if l don't get him don't
want any other mani, I'm almost sure
he likes me very much. but do you
know. Glen Evans's cousin, that tall
girl who is perfectly stunning? Well,
she's trying her best to get him, and
when Glenn wrote me that Elsbeth was
In town and gaining Roadway with
Edgar Warner l thought it was high
time for me to pack my suitcase and
take the next train"
Il am very sorry for you, my child.
but 1t is quite your own fault 1 told
you last year not to do it again, this
dropping in without notice. You
sec"
Where's Katie?" Pierrette had
opened her suitcase and~was shaking
out two pretty dresses. st must have
these pressed at once"
Katie left two weeks ago and fur
thermore, you won't need those geor-
gette dresses at all. If you'll stop
chattering and listen
You're much mistaken, Aunt Mar
cha. II YOU refuse TO have ma hare
III simply go to a hotel L"
You won't leave this house. Pier
rette Melville" Selling the girl by the
shoulders to obtain her undivided at
tentlon. We are quarantined! Tim
othy and Pet have the scarletina. and
tho they are out of danger the board
of health is dreadfully strict here"
The georgette dresses slipped unno-
ticed to the linoleum and Pierrette
Topped on the next chair unable to
speak.
If you had telegraphed I could
have warned you, or If you had come
in at the front door you would have
noticed the placard. AS it is, make
up your mind for months stay.
do need some help and 1 guess my
house dresses will fit you fairly well. y
Aunt Marcia" in a pitiful voice, all
the gay spirits flown away. lis it real
ly true? Can't 1 possibly sneak out
some way? Oh, why did 1 GOMEZ"
trolled sobbing, ''Auntie. who is your
doctor? Not by any chance Doctor
Warner?" A faint hope sparkled in
the lovely brown eyes.
Aunt Marcia placidly seasoned the
soup. II never heard of the man. Ny
ly."
Pierrette stumbled upstairs to Aunt
Marcia's spare room and flung her
self. without regard for the crocheted
bedspread, across the bed, a hopeless,
sobbing bit of humanity. The dream
was over; she had lost. and the beau
tiful Elsbeth would win. Had not
Glenn written, You'd better hurry
here, because Elsbeth is making an
awful hit with Edgar. He's taking
her everywhere and they're always
dancing together"
A miserable week dragged itself to
a close. The weather had been love-
ly. Pierrette could imagine the de-
lightful motor trips Edgar Warner and
Elsbeth were having, while she. in
Aunt Marcia's clumsy. slate-colored
house dress, carried up trays and
measured out medicine and what mott
Old Doctor Greedy, stout and red
faced, puffed in and out OF the house
once day; that was the only break
in the dreary routine.
If Aunt Marcia felt sorry for her
niece. she certainly did not show it,
and Pierrette decided she was cold
hearted and unsympathetic.
One morning, however. putting the
patients beds in order, Pierrette
stopped and listened. Surely Doctor
Greedy had a very light foot this
morning, not a wheeze out of him as
he climbed the stairs. Then an ex-
planning voice, very deep but boyish,
Miss Grey, I hope I will do as a sub
stitute; Doctor Greely's asthma pre-
vented his coming; I'm Doctor War
neri"
His eyes opened very wide when he
saw who the nurse was No wonder,
thought Pierrette, for what a sight
she must be in Aunt Marcia's horrible
dress. a mile too big!
II heard that you were going to join
the Evanses. Miss Melville remarked
the young doctor politely, chow
MY doing" said brisk voice. Aunt
Marcia stood in the doorway. It tele-
era nhed for her and Of course my