The Topeka state journal., 1919-12-27
Evenings
At Home, January 1.
BY DORA NOLAN.

BY DORA MOLLAN.
Never again will 1 play goat for
any relative who wants to be kind by
proxy to some forIorn young damsel
in this great city!' Howard Smith
made this resolution aloud in .the pri-
vacy of his own room as he struggled
into his overcoat. 1t has become
axiomatic that New Years resolu-
tions are made 10 break. However,
this particular one was kept, and by
following young Smith thruout the re-
mainder of that afternoon and far
into the evening, when he returned
to his room intoxicated by wine
which no glass can hold, we shall find
the reason why
Thru its underground passage
lurched the subway express. Smith,
holding on to an overhead grip with
one hand, with the other ransacked
numerous pockets Because of his
unsteady footing the search was diff
cult; also it was unsuccessful. Even
after Howard detrained at a station,
and could prosecute the hunt under
more favorable conditions, he only
succeeded in bringing to light wrong
letter after wrong letter. Presently
he gave it up.
"Darnl" exclaimed Smith, ..Pye l-f.
it home. But this is the third time
Cousin Ella has written and asked
me to call on this girl and this time
made it mandatory, SO I'll do it now
or bust! If there's more than one by
that name in the house, which there's
of EN- has a cousin named Ella; that's
simple enogh.'
The street, a downtown one with a
name instead of number, and the
house number an even 100, stuck in
Howard's. tickle memory, tho the
me m az alx-f fo to
lister a certain Christian name. He
climbed the stone steps confidently
enough and inquired of the pert maid
who opened the door whether Miss
Smith were in.
Two flights ~up, first door to the
ically. Smith climbed the stairs and
knocked.
The door was opened by a girl
Smith was glad he had come. Are
you Miss Smith and have You a Cousin
Ella? Smiths inquiry was accom-
panied by hopeful grin. for he
ardently desired that she was and
had.
Long eyelashes swept over hazel
eyes as the girl monentarily seemed
to be searching her memory. But al
most at once she replied positively.
even a little triumphantly: Il can't
deny it. Ny name is Smith and /
have Cousin Ella
"eHs tONSAH ESlid lS my cOuSlIl,
too. She sent me a letter of intro
duction to you and somehow i lost it."
Smiths manner betokened apology,
but still more plainly enthusiastic
hope of forgiveness. 4
"Fm glad you-this is. mean
won't you come in? Letters of intro
ductior are a bore, after aH-don't
you think? And it's just as easy to
get acquainted without them
The tiny sitting room into which
:. SaIl 1
an air OF hospitality A coal fire
burned in the little CRATE. Smiths |
hostess gave him a chair at one side 4
Of it and seated herself opposite. At
her elbow stood tea table. A great |
bunch OF yellow ehrysanthemums oc- !
cupied its center. The girl of the |
hazel eyes was garbed in brown vel |
vet that exactly matched her hair. She |
was delightful picture in a befitting |
frame. Smith heaved sigh of huge |
content, even as he wondered vaguely |
how it had come about tht Cousin |
Ella had made an intimate of so /
charming relative unbeautiful |
women rarely cultivate good-lookers,
-uminated Howard, the contrast is too
obvious.
But Smiths hostess was asking him
| question: and before he was aware
ne had been talking a solid hour, ex-
,lusiveiy about himself; even Cousin
ella had not been mentioned.
The confused sound of many voices
vith frequent laughter. arising from
he floor below, was becoming more
nsistent 1t interfered with Smiths
asst growing impression of lone
world: two people in it,
Some one in the house having a
tew Years party?" inquired Howard. i
Yes; the girl who has the rooms
Underneath Her guest of honor is to
,e social lion so every one in the
louse. including the furnace man, has /
cyiU Tn da- r,d |
quizzical look in the hazel eyes hent
ipon him that Smith couldn't under
tand.
Accepting the suggestion that he
nave another cup of tea-the tea ta-
lie had been put to service half an
lour beforc-Smith remarked grudg-
ngly that he hoped he wasn't keep
ng his hostess from meeting the ce-
ehrity-.
"oh. no." the girl replied cheerful
V. You see, 1 wasn't invited to. thon
his is an everybody know everybody
house"
just then from the hall below came
shrill voice whose carrying Qualf-
les seemed to have been especially
nhanced for the occasion. "You say
-ou. let in a man answering my de-
cription who asked for Miss Smith
md directed him to that 'vamp's
Lpartment upstairs" ?"
Yes, and he's there yet; SO I guess
mere am no MISTAKE. MISS oinitH- 4
toward recognized the voice of the
,ert little maid who had admitted
him.
Call nae Miss LueIla. IL you please"
the shriH voiced one
Luellai Howard Smith started.
Why, of course: that was the name
f the Miss Smith in the lost letter of
But the girl of the hazel eyes gave
10 sign of having heard the alterca-
ion. Leaning over to stir the fire. she
,egan the narration of an incident she
lad encountered in her capacity as
ettlement house worker. 1t was an
interesting story and Howard listened
0 it-with half his mind. The other Il
Ialf was busy disposing of the perfect
y improbabiy hypothesis, to which he
Iad roomenta riIy ciung that there