The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-09
Eoening Story
A Good Catch.
BY r. RAY BAKER.

ing"
Mrs. Hendricks, erstwhile society
matron, now Ion her uppers," and
serving Glare Hawley as general bust
ness manager. social mentor. book
| keeper, housekeeper and maid,
punched a sofa pillow in the face and
reversed it against the back of the
| davenport, then stood off, arms AKIN
| DO, and surveyed the offending object
with a no less critical eye than she
| would have used in arranging drap-
| cries in a royal palace
Clare Hawley, artist, clad in dress
ing gown and slippers. smiled some
| what tolerantly, as tho the subject in
| terested her about as much as the
price of Ice in the Arctic, and went on
munching meditatively on pile of
dry toast while she reclined -lazily in
a deep, luxurious chair. Now and
then she slipped from cup of steam
ing coffee. g.
Success had been, dwelling with
Clare for three months Her picture.
| '"The Water Lilys Dance" had met
with such favor, once it got on exhi-
bition, that she was carried in twenty
four hours from the bottom rung of
| the ladder, where she had plodded
and groveled and half starved. to the
| top, where she worked when it struck
| her fancy and lived on the best the
land afforded.
| Much of her success with THE Wa
ter Lily's Dance" was due to the eff
| forts and influence of Mrs. Hendricks,
who was largely responsible for plac-
ing the picture on exhibition; so when
Mrs. Hendricks suffered a decided re-
verse in fortune thru the eccentricities
of Wall street, and came to her with
a tale of woe, Glare gave her place
in the studio Mrs. Hendricks never
would have served any one else in the
same capacity; but she worshiped art
and artists, and especially did she wor-
ship her protegee.
"Mr Pontello, tho, is the best look
Ier." Mrs. Hendricks observed. Selling
a dustless buster and getting busy
with it about the legs of a table. And
they're both rich-thats the best part
of it," she added as an afterthought,
as tho that phase of the subject mad
never before occurred to her.
Clare drained the coffee cup, wiped
lsome remnants of toast from her lap
and laid the cup and p2te on the
table.
ooh, they're both fine fellows, and
both good-looking. and both very &C
icomplished musicians, and both rich, y
she said, standing and making few
alterations in the arrangement of her
hair Mr.. Seldom plays wonderfully
on the violin and Mr.. Pontello has no
peer at the piano"
If Mrs. Hendricks could have be-
come cognizant of the workings OF
lClare's mind just then, she would
have gasped with establishment for
neither the pale Blue eyes of Mr.. Sell
don nor the midnight orbs of Mr..
Pontello played even a minor role in
the meditations of the procrastihating
artist. f,
The picture that Clare visualized
had to do with a country town. She
visioned herself IN a sunbonnet ana
bingham dress walking along the
street in company of a freckled youth
who was carrying her books.
tz4f hn NOV nv
might have been called six Years
Later If it had been part of a film
lplay. In her fancy she was attending
a barn dance, where country LADS ana
Iassies cavorted and eoquetted and
| flirted in their rustic way, and all OF
them we're smiling and happy, altho
none was handsome or accomplished
or rich.
The music was furnished by tall,
gangling youth, mounted on a plat
form. saving on violin and stafnptns
his foot loudly to make UP for the
absence of drums. The sangins
youth was the freckled boy grown up.
Another scene showed Clare on the
rear platform of the. last coach OF
train, which was moving from a sta
ltion The gangling youth stood on the
platform, forlorn-looking object, ana
ICIares eyes filled with tears as the
train carried her out of sight.
Clare sighed. and took from draw
er of the table a letter which she
opened and read. Her mouth took on
| a wistful expression, and her eyes gls-
Mrs. Hendricks hustled into the
room an hour later and found Clare
busy at her easel.
Have you decided. dearie?" she
asked Have you chosen?'
''I have. At our little party tonight
you will announce my engagenent
ITO Mr.. seldom" breathed Mrs.
Hendricks hopefully.
| Clare shook her head.
'Tm not telling you who it is to be.
You will know no sooner than the
others. When you get ready to make
the announcement / will slip you
folded paper containing the name
Mrs Hendricks looks disappointed
and crestfallen.
from my old home town lis coming to
see me today-and he's going to be
guest at the party.
Mrs. Hendricks's lips framed re-
monstrance. but an idea struck her
and she exclaimed instead:
That's a good idea. 1t viii be
something novel; he'll furnish some
amusement and be no END Oh run. Is
he an entertainer
yes. he plays the violin; not like
Mr. Seldom. but he plays WELL In MS
own peculiar way"
All was ready for the party except
that Clare and the newly invited guest
were absent Mrs. Hendricks told Mr..
Seldom and Mr.. Pontello of the treat
that was in store-a selection by a
rustic violinist, and also that Clare S
choice of a husband would be an
nounced. Both Seldom and Mr.. Pom
telio looked hopeful.
Presently Glare entered followed by
| a Young man. The latter's face was
not unattractiye, in spite of the deep
tan and freckles peeping thru it.
| Introductions followed and soon
dinner was served. Then the eve
lning's impromptu entertainment be
gan, Mr.. Seldom opening it with the
very latest of classical selections. Sam
: Hilton, the newcomer, looked on in
awe and stared helplessly at the bat
.. tered violin case he had lugged in with
, him.