The Topeka state journal., 1919-11-14
EVENING STORY
Rejuvenated Jane.
By LILLIAN HALL CROWLl

her mother Joined them.
Jane. darling, the evening is chilly;
let me wrap you in this" She had
heavy, erocheted wool shawl of a dull,
dismal aspect which Immediately alb
sorbed all of James bright color and
spirits. The young man frowned.
S"You're not in a comfortable chair,
dear, and you know you're dead
tired" Her mother, all solicitation,
was lowering over her.
The young man, who, had risen to
his feet when James mother came out,
and had remained standing during tn tins Is
scene, at once offered Jane the chair
he had occupied.
"Oh, yes,'' said Mrs. Mathews, 'it
is more comfortable. Do sit here
Jane" She pulled the protesting girl
to the other chair.
chair 1 have and this shawl is too
warm"
mo, it isn't.'' answered Mrs. Math-
ews with decision. Jane is SO dell
cate" turning to the young man.
~ feel like a brute" said he, and
I'm sorry that L overlooked James
comfort.
mo! No!' said lane.
Her mother silenced her with low
ing look and went oni to enumerate
her daughters weaknesses, mentioning
the vegetables and fruits and other
things that did not agree with her
James wretchedness was increased
by the look of boredom on the face
of the young man.
Pardon me. Mrs. Mathews he IN
terrupted tbut I must be going.
Good-by, Jane-see you tomorrow
night at the dance
"If she's feeling strong enough,
answered Jane,s mother for her.
Another night finds Jane seated on
the veranda and in the same chair
from which her solicitous mother had
ousted her before. Another young
man came along and seeing Jane de
cided to drop in. Jane, expecting
him, smiled happily.
Mrs Mathews nodded from the win
dow and the young man raised his
hat and bowling to them both--passed
Jane looked puzzled \and gdisap-
pointed.
The young people feeling annoyed
by Mrs. Mathews care of Jane, decided
TO have Jane with them without going
to her house. They telephoned her
to come to the home of Penelope
Jones, one summer evening. for an in
formal dance. One of the boys would
go home with her.
Jane went and was having the time
of her young life. Eyes sparkling,
c1eekS 3iOWluSr IlliiptC 1ctt
when her father arrived at 10 o'clock
with a heavy, ~dust-co1ored cloak. to
take her home. They begged that
Jane might stay an hour longer.
mo, Jane isn't strong, you know.
and her mother worries about her.
She won't sleep wink until Jane is
in bed"
No one felt very gay after this and
the party broke up.
Several years of this kind of thing
passed until nobody wanted to IN
cludea Jane in the social affairs. 1t
was too much much bother and they
always had to reckon with Mrs. Ma tn
ews in some way by apolegiZing for
heat or, cold, or the weather or the
salad. They were bored to death
and out of patience with their old
friend, too+
Jane had lost. her bright color and
her charming smile. She had become
listless and lacked initiative and the
men were not interested in her any
more. very few childhood friends
remained faithful.
Some of the girls We're married and
some were engaged, some had lovers,
and all had attention except Jane. One
young man remarked:
IF I took a box of candy to Jane
her mother would think I meant her
to have ptomaine poisoning, and if l
took flowers they would be expected
to give her hay fever"
The worst of it was that Mrs. Math-
ews was always home, or if she went
for short trip she took Jane with
her. Jane never went anywhere
alone.
At last Mrs Mathews was called
away by the serious illness of her sis
ter. She could not take her daughter
on this trip as she might have to stay
a long time and Jane was to oversee
the house and be company for her
her sister made her put Jane in a
secondary place for the first time.
Mary Mapes and Bessie Longley, the
two stanch friends of the girl, put
their heads together.
Now is the time for Jane to re-
vive,' said Bessie, ''and 1 have a
scheme. When Jim comes in August" /"
Jim was Bessie's fiance. "he is going
to bring his college chum. Grant Bris-
tow, here to meet me and to. show
him a good time for that month. Now
let's make Jane leave off all that cod
ding
She's as strong as a horse.'' ex-
claimed Mary.
"Of course she is agreed Bessie,
"but she's stood it wonderfully con-
sidering-Fd be dead by this time.
Let's make her get busy on her clothes
and be ready for the stunts we've
planned for the boys
''We'll go and see her now" So.
they went.
They found Jane wearing a warm
dress in July seated with a dab of
crocheting.
They told her their plan and James
listIess figure began to straighten.
I'm have to get some clothes and
you know 1 don't care much for
them" Jane looked worried.
you're to get up charming ward
robe for Bessie's sake, enthused
Mary. Because she wants to be
proud of her friends and we've all
got to look the best we can. Come
on, let's look at your things, Jane, be-
cause we haven't much time"
Upstairs Bessie said: Make all
these skirts narrower and the evening
gowns lower. Why, I'd smother in
this high thing
Mother thinks my lungs are weak
replied Jane alphabetically.
Never mind if they are" said
y