The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-05-06
E0ening Story
Evergreen Memories.

By A. MARIA CRAWFORD.
Mrs. Milton Fordyce had definitely
made up her mind to nip in the bud
her sons infatuation for airy, fairy
little Gale Mccoy. After weighing all
desirable feminine attributes carefully
in the balance and celebrating at
length on the tangible evidence in
! hand, she had reached the conclusion
that Stella Hamilton was the ideal
mate for staid. matter-of-fact Peter,
who had taken his fathers place at
| the bank and at the age of thirty
three was enjoying the enviable posi-
| ton of vice president of that we'll
known institution.
1t was high time for him to marry
to settle down and to do his part in
| the great scheme of things by leaving
| other hands to take up his work of life
when his own should have grown
weary of their task
Altho these thoughts, like Tapping
bats in dusty belfry, were eternally
milling around in the smoothly
coiffed head of Mrs Fordyce she did
not grow Historically voluble on the
subject until she learned, quite acct
dentally-by the time worn method of
| searching mems pockets before their
clothes are sent to the cleaners-that
son. the only heir to the house and
fortune of Fordyce, had been going to
see cinema queen.
Not to see her on the screen, mind
you, but to see her in person, a small.
five feet four and half person of
glowing, youthful flesh and beauty
visiting her in her apartment, where
he had tea only the afternoon before
the awful discovery of his Doctor
Jekyll and Mr.. Hyde conduct.
There was only one thing to be done
at that late hour of his ENHANCEMENT
grimly considered his distraught
mother. So she bravely decided to
cast her all on one turn of the smooth
| ly worn wheel of convention. In a
group of girls who belonged to Peters
own class in society she would show
the girl up, and Peters perilous little
flight among the comets of the stage
would soon be a thing of the past.
Then. to hide his own chagrin and
modification, Peter would docilely
agree to marry Stella and presto the
| house of Fordyce would be insured
! against social pirates-like little Gale
Mccoy.
Accordingly, without taking Peter
into her confidence, Mrs. Fordyce,
having fortified herself against shock
by taking a tablespoonful of ammonia
in a half a glass of water. went forth
in her shining limousine to call upon
Miss Mccoy at an hour that had been
agreed upon by use of the telephone,
an hara ssing little instrument which is
some times employed for such useful
purposes.
Mrs. Fordyce was ushered in by a
stoical looking Jap and she gave a real
start of genuine surprise when she saw
what an artistic place the creature
had secured. Probably some decora-
tor had done it all. There were no
yapping Pekinese or squawking par
rots, no cigaret butts on floor and
chairs, no idle. rich, bald headed old
gentleman sinking out as she swept
| in, no giddily blondined, disheveled
woman splitting a too abundant bust
out of a bizarre, many colored kimono.
Instead, quiet, sweet young girl,
about nineteen. who wore a plain little
blue serge with Immaculate collar and
cuffs of snowy organdie, rose deferen-
TALLY to greet her and straigltway
presented her to a gracious, middle
aged woman, her mother, who ap-
peared to be as familiar with social
usages and. customs as the aristocratic
caller herself.
1T is certainly charming of you to
want me for the week end at your
! country place, Mrs. Fordyce, and
will be very happy indeed to CO." the
girl said, in answer to Mrs. Fordyce's
carefully planned invitation. peter
has told me so many interesting things
about your lovely home that L gladly
welcome an opportunity to see it for
myself"
Peter! She called him Peter just
| as casually friendly as you please.
Perhaps she was too latei Well. she
was gambling and she would have to
\ take a chance, thought Mrs. Fordyce.
her arrogant spirit dropping a little
| like the feathers on her hat.
Within twenty-four hours after the
gay house party began, Mrs. Fordyce
knew that she had figuratively put
her foot into it, into sucking sands
that tugged painfully. For Gale Nc
Coy was easily the belle of the crowd,
and Peter. who had never before even
looked cross at his mother in all his
thirty-three years, snapped at her.
viciously she thought, when she tried
to tactfully suggest that he, as be-
| fitted a young host, must leave the