The Topeka state journal., 1919-06-30
EVENING STORY
July First.
BY DORA NOLAN.

the late spring OF the year 1913. 10
Ardine the world was synonymous
with Bruce Stebbins, and love was the
rose-colored glass through which
every event of her life was trans
| formed.
Old Tom Twist, the town bum. had
/ once looked out on the world thru
rosy spectacles himself, but tha4 was
| long ago. Now he was standing be-
fore the bar in Marooneys saloon,
surlily gazing into a glass Of a potent
something that Marooney labeled
rye"
Great stuff, Tom" the barkeeper
remark with cynical grin as he re-
placed the bottle under the bar; the
old mans putting glue in it now"
What for, the glue!" grunted Tom.
"Sos it'll stick to the ribs of the like
| of you and save you from seeing the
pink and green wigglers after the
first of July"
you 60 to hlazes!" And Tom swal-
lowed the dubious liquid at a gulp
and lurched away. Out thru the
swinging door staggered the repro
bate, stumbling across the sidewalk
even as Ardine, wrapped in dreams of
her approaching wedding. floated
along the pavement as II on air.
Brought rudely back TO material
things by the sight of this pitia BILE
creature, the distrait Miss Hunter
side-stepped just in time to avoid per-
I.
nant with disgust. continued on her
way.
l. That way led 10 the house of Miss
Tanning, "modiste.' for this was the
occasion of the all-irnportant last fit
ting of the wedding gown. But an
ever so tiny speck had appeared on
the unblemished surface of the rose
colored glass, an infinitesimal fly in
the ointment of her bliss. Ardines
feet again trod mere earth. and a
|
head above the straight penciled
brows.
1t was caused by some words of her
uncle. sharply resented at the time but
quickly forgotten until now. Bruce
was n membeI of the uncle's club.
"Ardine," her relative had said "the
boys drinking a bit too much. Better
head him off now while your influence
is strong" Old Tom Twists plunging
appearance in her path had brought
the advice to mind. of course.
But it was ridiculous. Ardine solilo-
conservative anyway. All their crowd
drank more or less, to be sure. But
July the first was not far off-that
sort of thing would die a natural
| death. Meanwhile. why let the ad-
! monition of a fussy man mar such
that she wouldn't.
BY the time the prospective bride,
attired in the nearly completed we'd
ding gown, gazed with approving eyes
at her own image reflected in Miss
Fanning's pier glass, the slight .speck
on her radiant happiness had vanished
utterly
Miss Tanning was reminiscing
This is the twenty-fifth bridal gown
L have made. Let's see: the first one
was for poor, unfortunate Isabelle
stanners. She little knew. when she
stood right where you are standing
what life had in store for her when
she married Ton-Twfst." The Dress
| maker sighed as she continued:
''PH slit the skirt just trifle more.
my dear. so you can take decent
sized step. You look very sweet in
deed" But Ardine's thoughts were on
the first part of Miss Fanning's
speech.
do you mean that drunken bum Of
a Tom Twist? Did you really make
his wife's wedding gown"
Yes; but he wasn't a drunken bum
| in those days. Miss Hunter. He was a
good looking young fellow. who drank
just a bit too much Disgrace and
poverty killed his wife eventually
and now look at him!"
From then on the talk had to do
with such technical things as the
length of sleeves and the new waist
line. On the way home, however
warning haunted Ardine. but she
resolutely dismissed them for the sec
ond time until Bruce himself brought
| the subject to mind that evening.
When the somewhat prolonged greet
ings were over Bruce exclaimed. en-
| thusia stically:
"Say, Ardine, I've got a dandy
chance to buy a stock of liquors that
with care ought to last us two or three
years. They're dirt cheap. compared
with present prices. too. Old Feather
stones estate-Bflly Johnston is the
! before its all gone. The country won't
stand this prohibition stuff long, be-
! lieve mel"
Ardine looked thoughtful. How
much will it cost. Bruce?"
About eight hundred dollars-less
than half value. Wen have to cut
out something else, maybe that new
sun parlor; but we can have that later.
/ And of course we've got to have
something for the crowd of men when
they drop in. The best people will ex-
pect II, usual"
such as Tom Twist?" returned Ar
dine. Bruce, won't stand for do
| ing without that sun parlor. 1t would
simply spoil the house!"
But why relate in detail the discuss
sion which followed? For the first
time since the engagement they disa-
| greed. The goodnight kiss was omit
! ted and angry words took its place.
! That night Ardine had a terrible
dream. She was passing once more
| by Marooney's saloon and again old
Tom Twist lurched thru the door. But
this time he made directly toward her
! with upraised fist--and his features
were those of Bruce Stebbins. With a
scream the girl awakened. but there
was no more sleep for her that night.
Bruce was thoroly angry when he
left the Hunters house. and in no
mood to go home. Instead he stopped
in at the club. and running into a
! crowd who were celebrating for the
1 thtrtieth time the funeral of John
Barleycorn," joined the mourners.
| 1t was morning when the joyful OBJ
sequies were finished: and 1t was
| much later, too late to report at the
office, even had he felt in condition