The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-16
Eoening Story
Alice the Vamp.
BY H. LOUIS RAYHOk

1T suppose So" said her mother re-
gretfully. True, one did wonder what
Tom would be up to next whenever
he was home, but it was pleasant hav-
ing him around the house, telling
stories about his college life, picking
out. with the finger, the latest popular
hits on the piano, denuding the pan
try shelves of everything edible.
Whenever Tom came home to Whit
NEVILLE, things simply hummed. His
freshman year he had decided to paint
the barn. and paint it he did, after
nearly killing himself by a fall from
the ridegpole and falling to match the
north side with the south side as to
color.
His sophomore year he had brought
home classmate with him and what
with straw rides. picnics and porch
parties Whitneyville developed almost
enough of a social calendar to fill
Sunday society column.
Last year-well. last year his ambi-
ton had been greater. He had fallen
in love with and wanted to marry on
the spot a girl in the next town, a
young slip of a thing with brown eyes
and golden hair and a dimple in her
hchin who answered to the name OF
Elsie Darlington.
Somehow or other between them,
his mother and sister had managed to
nip this absurdly youthful romance,
it seemed to them, in the bud, and
Tom had returned to college a sad
der. wiser, but unmarried man. sad
der, because of temporarily thwarted
plans; wiser, because-well, just wiser,
Wen say.
What form would his activities take
this year?
II hope the 'vamp' doesn't try for
him." said Julia bitterly, thereby volc-
ing the very fear in her mothers
mind. And both Of them knew that
if Tom Branford did not succumb to
Alice Haynes's vampishness it would
he because he had more strength of
character than the rest sof the WHIT
neville youth or else because he was
irrevocably attached to another.
Alice Haynes was not exactly new
conner to Whitneyville. She was an
old timer who had gone away to study
art and had come back in a new char
acter. That is, she returned an artist
of sorts. She dressed like one in
stenciled smocks, talked the lingo, and
lived in a studio.
Yes. she had taken over old man
Woodbridge's barn, replaced the horse
stall partitions with beaver board.
hung the walls with rep instead OF
harness. and imported by truck from
New York a collection of rugs, sam
ovars. easels and ash trays winch
would have done credit to LOCALITY
where such things were better appre-
ciated.
once settled, she began to entertain
sister artists over week-ends, mu-
steal comedy star, Russian Vlollnlst
and his literary wffe-in short so
many people that Whitneyville soon
lost all track of their numerous conn-
ings and goings.
Gradually, however. the young men
of the town managed an Introduction
to her, then dropped in to call. and
finally got the habit of going often.
One day some facetious town wit
spoke of her as the vamp. and from
that moment her stock dropped below
par with the women folks. The cpl
thet NAV or may not have been trues
What was individually true however,
was the fact that former popular
young women were forced 10 SIT OF
Sunday afternoon on their lonely We
randas tw-irling their thumbs and won
dering who invented vamps, anyway.
Into this disturbed social atmos-
Dhere dropped Tom Branford, now
graduate and his own master, with
promising job at his disposal the Ilrst
of September. And he had not been
In Whitneyville a week before, in spite
of the efforts of his mother and Julla.
he had not only discovered the vamp
but had become one of the most regu-
lar frequenters of the studio;
Hes lost his appetite!" iamented
Mrs. Branford one morning, viewing
InG array VI cup NoSNeAA 49,
tempt 1t back again.
More likely he's fed up with Russia
tea and Dutch cheeses and-and glace
fruits" said Julia, shortly. "What ne
can see in that woman!'
IT wish we had not put our foot
down so strongly about Miss CARING
ton" ventured her mother. Il didn I
really object to her. 1t was Just that
Tom was so young" To Mrs. Bran
ford the visions of last year, which at
the time seemed so dreadful-visions
of Tom marrying a young slip OF a
thing and setting up an establishment
of his own-now appeared altogether
heavenly beside pictures of Tom loung-
ing in the society of long-haired poets
and drinking tea poured by the hands
of short-haired women.
II have an idea" began Julia slowly
| "if it isn't too late. Let's tell Tom
that we have changed our minds about
thinking he was too young to be mar
ried, and suggest that he invite Miss
! Darlington here for a visit. She
wouldn't come unless they were en-
gagged, and if he still cares he might
persuade her to be engaged-ard
there's an end to Alice the Vamp!"
Mrs. Branford looked hopeful. Then
an expression of doubt clouded her
face. Would Tom haunt the home OF
one girl if still in love with another
If only it isn't too latei" she breathed
| That night when Tom sneaked in
some time nearer IL than IL, he found
to his surprise both his mother and his
sister awaiting his return. Usually the
task of sitting up for Tom" was as
sumed by them alternately. 1t was a
form of attention, moreover, which
greatly annoyed Tom. who had no de-
sire to be sat up for like young high
school girl.
| But tonight his face wore and ex.
preston of such radiant happiness
that nothing could have chilled it
| 'Mother-Julia!" he cried. "Congrat.
ulate mel She has said 'Yes'!"
The hearts of the two women con.
| late
I'm sure I hope you'll be very
happy" Julia rose to the occasion
with proper, if mild. politeness
Il do. too, dear" faltsred his moth
7 tATfhn IL -