The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-07-28
Euening Story
Purple Doninoes.
BY KATE EDMONDs

over the humming wire from a great
distance-a thin. reedy voice spun out
to a mere thread in its effort to reach
him.
.'Inez." he cried in amazement, and
the thin voice came laughingly impor-
tuning. At last he shouted assent and
! hung up the receiver, her voice still
humming in his ears from her home
a thousand miles away. As he turned
back TO his desk he growled bitterly
about old loves who would not remain
buried in the past
That night he met Paula Dare. his
! fiancee, at a dinner. She mentioned
the bal masque at Watersedge. Ann
Caswell calls il moon fete'--no- one
I is to unmask-even at supper. I am
so thrilled-never to know ones part
neri"
| What are you wearing" he asked.
| "You could never guess" she chal-
| lenged merrily.
! Flower girl %
! Her eyes dropped. would you like
that, Noei?" she asked meekiy.
! Fine" he agreed. but there was a
! CLEAN of relief in his eyes that alarm
! ed her. Did he want to know so that
! he might avoid her? Ann Caswell had
| warned her that Noel was fickle-had
/ whispered to her of an old love az
! fair with Inez Murtha. but Paula had
sturdily refused to listen. Still. that
look in Noel's eyes made her restless.
And you? She raised luminous u:
j eyes to his. what shall you wear?
| "Oh. I suppose I shall do the usual
thing-become a bold pirate or DASH
ing cavalier. What better?"
"a monk-who knows what confess
sions you might hear?" she laughed.
h He smiled. Il believe 1 will You
may look for a good gray friar. my
| dear"
! Before she went to bed Paula re-
read a note she had received that
morning from Ann Caswen- My
dear-I was in the costumer's yester-
day and overheard them taking an
order for a purple domino for Noel.
Am I not clever to tell you, cherie
Also-Inez Murtha is coming on for
the ball and a little bird told me that
she was to wear a~pulple satin
domino"
Paula tossed the note into the fire
and sitting on a hassock she wrapped
her slim arms around her knees and
watched the licking flames with
thoughtful eyes She was a tiny thing
with hair like pale cornsilk and great
gray eyes oddly fringed with black
lashes; but she passoionately loved
Noel and she had his love and devo-
ton. She was bound to hold him to
her always-there was fighting in her
veins.
There was dancing in the moonlight
on the closely shaver grass and in the
softly lighted pavilion, where myriads
of richly attired dancers made ka-
leidoscope of colors. There were quiet
walks leading to the waters edge and
rose-covered arbors where lovers
| walked A Stringed orchestra played
intoxicatingly and among the dancers
there were always the pair of purple
dominos. A small Columbine. dane
ing biithely enough with an Arab
sheik, following with intent eyes.
- <~19f @1E h fa
beating heart, as they danced past, SC
alike; the same height and build,
slender, erect in long garments or fich
purple satin with pointed hoods con-
ceaIfng the hair. Behind those white
satin masks lurked-what?
And the purple dominos danced on
"Inez," whispered one, you have got
me into a rather bad scrape-my
fiancee-"
"Idiot-bother your fiancee." re-
torted Miss Murtha arrogantly- You
must spare me this one evening, Noe
you can be with her the rest of your
you do not aare-you never
cared" he said sulienly. You arr
only here now because you are no
on speaking terms with Mrs. Caswel
and you think it great lark to com'
to her house incognito!"
"Woof! Hear the old bear growl.'
Knocked Inez. Guess Ann Caswelli
my own cousin and I can come to hel
house-we fight like cats. but We al
ways make up---I shall tell her before
Noel was not listening. His eye
were anxiously searching the place fol
a flower girl, but not one of the spe
/ cies did he see.
81 am tired" said Inez petulantly
'I shall sit in the rose arbor yondel
and you must dance with someone
else. What is Miss Dare wearing"
Noel growled under his breath ant
moved away. Then she was all alon'
land she did not like to be alone
after all.
Timid feet crunched the gravelet
path and she lookedkup. In the door
way was poised a small Columhin'
who suddenly flew across the arbol
and sat down beside her. Noel" sh'
cried, putting out small hand 9
recognized you, dear-I want to ash
face-you have not forgotten me-yol
still love me-"
The purple-clad arms .engulfed he1
for a moment in a tight embrace, ther
Inez turned and fled.
The purple dominos met on tn
lower terrace.
j cinderella Is going" said one light
"A Iy. 1--WE had a most charming time
Noel. and IL was kind of you to in
dulge my freakish notion to conn
here Goodby, and CONGRATULATIONS
she is the sweetest thing. and fee
really wicked that I have caused he
a moments heartachel"
"You have met ?" he asked amazed
an the rose arbor. She thought !
was-hurry. she may escape" He
laughter floated back to him as sh.
vanished toward the house.
In the rose arbor he found small
Columbine sitting very stiff and whits
with tragic eyes.
You have returned she said DULY
He loked across at her sorrowfu
face.
z Il am sorry hurt you. dear" hF
said humbly. but really did moi
recognize you-you said a flower girl
and you are a Coiunabine."
And you said you would be a gray
friar-and you are not" she flashed
He watched her uncertainty. lie
knew that their future happiness va;