The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-17
Euening Story
A Summer IdylI.
BY JESSIE DOUGLAS.

with her slim arms clasped about her
knees and listened to the thin notes
of the victrola that drifted down to
her from the house above
1t was early summer and Helen and
Catharine and Jane were taking ad-
vantage of it. talking and laughing
and dancing away the summer night.
while here observation-disclosures getting
lonelier and lonelier every minute.
Not that she blamed any of those
girls, they were her friends; nor the
boys who had left her out. Instead
she thought they were quite right to
choose Helen and Catharine and Jane
and let her stay here on her white
steps alone.
For those men-as Priscilla called
them-frightened her SO. The more
she tried to talk to them, the more the
she longed to run away, until finally
she did run, wishing all the time that
someone would be bold enough to free
her from the prison-house of her shy
ness.
When she had climbed the stairs to
her own room much later she stood
before the mirror and looked in very
seriously and very sternly at herself
Altho she could not see them in this
light she knew how those seven
freckles lay across the bridge other
high little nose.
IL L W dSll QullS 81 IldAAs L liz
ella told the reflection sadly as she
turned away before-she saw the gilt
tering drops that made her wide
green eyes like the eyes of mer-
maid. She put out her light and knelt
down beside the open window.
She let down her hair about her
shoulders. hair that was like rusty
gold and framed her face softly like
the face of a Botticelli madonna.
She stayed there very still watching
the moonlight that did glamourous
things to the garden, and lent silver
her window. All the loneliness and
the tiny hurt smoothed itself away
and she fingered there feeling the ca
ressing fingers of stray breeze that
ruffled her hair about her white face.
But the very next day Priscilla had
forgotten that she was left out" She
always did forget it with girls, for
Helen and Catharine and Jane thought
she was "a dear" and no party would
be complete without her if it was just
girls.
"Priscilla's so different with girls!"
Helen laughed. "She's such a darling.
anyway. but any one can see she's
frightened to death of men: and it's
much kinder to let her do as she
pleases"
The girls had been down to 'the
village" as they called their over
grown town, to shop and Jane had Sc
lected blue dress because she said
Harris liked blue, while she blushed
just the tiniest bit.
Helen had chosen a yellow muslin.
to be made up with ruffles. altho she
did not say why she had chosen yell
low, and Catharine had picked out a
pink sprigged dimity. Priscilla could
not resist the temptation; she knew
she might not need that pale green or
candle that looked like the foam of a
CO NJ mead II in ia or
but it was not so expensive. And then
the girls were all going to make the
dresses themselves.
She might be left out when they
wore them, but not when they made
them. They had boarded the car. al
most taking up a whole seat them
selves, and while the others discussed
tucks and pockets. ruffles and gathers,
Priscilla fell to dreaming.
For right in front of her sat the
kind of man she had always wanted
to know. She knew he was the kind
just from the back of his head. His
ears were so well shaped and so close
to his head and his collar was so
white about his blue serge shoulders
and his hair was so satiny smooth
for as she watched him 2. red tide be-
gan to mount from that neck to the
very tips of those well shaped ears.
She saw then that the conductor
was standing beside him and saying.
Fare, pleased" while he searched first
in one pocket and then the other.
He didn't have a cent. Priscilla knew
it, She reachd forward and slipped
her last nickel into his hand and she
felt the GOODNESS of his fingers and
then she heard. "PriscillaI Priscilla!
Don't you know you get off here?"
Catherine and Helen and Jane had
already jumped off and were stand
inc IN 4laa
to her. Priscilla stepped down very
quickly, thankful from the depths of
her heart that they had not seen what
she had done.
They teased Priscilla a moment for
dreaming. and said. who is he, Pris-
ella flushed holly right up to the
roots of her hair; but fortunately they
didn't know of what she was thinking
and fortunately they had their
dresses to plan which was much the
more important
Priscilla stitched and sewede and
tucked and ruffled with the rest, and
when she had finished they all agreed
that her dress was adorable; but
she knew that there would be no one
TO care particularly If she did look
like tiny lost mermaid in that nile
green organdie.
But just the same she put it on that
evening anu went Out 10 SIT ulluSI IAO
moonshine on the white steps She
sat down very carefully, so that not
one of the precious ruffles would be
crushed, and she knew she was very
lovely.
But what she did not know was that
to teh man who came whistling along
the white walk she looked like a moon
fairy. Just then her mother called,
"Priscilla!" and she darted indoors. to
find when she had come out a few
minutes later that a tall figure was
standing on her white steps.
I e'eAiiss Priscilla?" he asked very
gravely.
And Priscillas heart began to beat
very hard. and a lump grew in her
! throat and she knew she would never
| be able to say a word to this good
| looking stranger.
| t'T think owe Won this " he said