The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-24
Euening Story
Journeys End"
BY JESSIE DOUGLAS.

- OGSOAG OOOoA<<Aos
81 know you'll like Harry" Mrs
lounge and passing her hand YEARLY
across her forehead. Hes thirty-five,
has enough money. good habits and a
really remarkable taste in old china"
Lila Gilbert answered, YES"
doubtfuIly.
She had heard nothing except Harry
and Harry's eligibility during her
week end at Mrs. Craig's. She had
come to hate his very name.
II suppose he doesn't even smoker"
she asked a. bit scornfuliy.
Look here. my deari" Mrs. Craig
sat up straight for a moment and
spoke forcefully and to the point. II
like you and I want you to be happy!
] know what kind of life you lead in
that one wretched room. going out for
your meals every day of your life. I
know you launder your own waists and
paste your handkerchiefs to the mir
ror and color your last years straw
instead OF buying a new one.
Il know because ! did it once my
self. You've never said anything, but
can imagine just what kind of man
old Mr.. Hemingway is to work for
al4d~here you have a perfectly good
chance chance to say g0od-bys to all that and
Lila Redeemed perceptibly and
opened her mouth to speak, but Mrs.
Craig went on quickly:
You may be younger, but you look
twenty-seven. and yet you have all the
illusions of youth"
A faint smile curved Lila's lips.
Tn Twenty-Five and not an illusion
left"
"There-rve been beast and I'm
sorry" Mrs. Craig went on. sitting up
and patting Lila's arm. That's the
danger of red hair--you will say
things you think in spite of years of
social training. I want to tell you
something else, too. I think you're
sweet. You are too sweet to go on
working your life out and pretending
that you're happy"
She stopped. for Liia's eyes looked
periiously bright and her lower lip was
caught between her teeth.
The very first time I came into
! Hen1ingway's office and saw you and
you were SO dear to me, thought you
were rare. I'm going to tell you a
little secret When l married Robert
I promised myself the satisfaction of
doing eccentric things IL chose, and
one OF those was to make friends
where and how wished"
She leaned her head back against
her cushions and lifted ringed white
hand to her temple. "And now as I
told you. I'm going to ask to be ex-
cused. Lost sleep must be made up.
and I've had two late nights
Lila went across to her own charm
ing room that overlooked the gardens
| Nothing was quite real to her yet; it
was as tho she had unexpectedly
stepped on to the stage and this was
one OF those luxurious scenes in the
first act
She leaned her hot cheeks against
the window pane and looked down
across the sweep of lawns to the
Italian pergola and the terraccd gar
| den beyond.
She ought to begin to dress now for
dinner.
IT know he'll hate me-" Lila thought,
looking pensively in the mirror at her
self. I'm not pretty-only at times"
| She studied her face with the dark
sweet eyes and level line of brow. the
| white forehead. the dusky hair. She
could see nothing to allure in it. for
she saw it in repose. without the
sparkle Of animation, the sweetness of
deep tones Of her own voice as others
| heard them.
Excuse be, mademoiselle," a laven-
| der clad maid said, but madame has
retired and asks that you will take her
place at dinner"
Lila. alone, felt a moment of panic.
To be responsible for Harry's enter
| tainment! she shivered at the thought
She was shy anyway, and the idea of
sitting with him at that round table,
while the butler moved noiselessly be-
| hind them, was terribly painful.
And I know Mrs. Craig has talked
| to him as much about me as she has
! talked to me about him!" she groaned.
'Ah, Miss Gilbert. Anne told me
was to have this pleasure!"
| Lila bowed, seeing in one glance
that Harry" was a fat dumping of
a man with a shining bald head and
small blue eyes behind thick glasses.
| He spoke in a hurried tone and
chuckled occasionally at remarks that
meant nothing to Lila. But she found
herself seated opposite him under the
| light of shaded candles with great yell
low roses separating them. while
silent stepping butler served them per-
fectly.
This was Harry! She didn't like
anything about him. His ridiculous
way of talking. his way of tasting his
food before he ate 1t, his chuckle, his
peculiar way of staring at her thru
those glasses that made his eyes SO
bullying.
Harry didn't seem to find her inter-
! esting.
When after dinner she stole out on
the terrace a moment to find herself
free for the time being, she gave a
sigh of relief; the sky was embroid-
cred with silver stars, the ghostly light
of the moon gave a fairy-like aspect
to the world.
She walked on and on-farther
away from Harry-until stopping in a
graveled path she heard car drive up.
| 1t swept past down the bend of the
road to the garage. A moment later 1t
seemed the chauffeur in a cap pulled
| down over his eyes walked slowly
back.
He pulled off his cap and said po-
| litely. "Good-evening," and then turn
| ed as Lila gave a little cry of dfscom-
fort as her dress caught in the thorns
of climbing rose.
There" he said, now you are
free"
| His voice was pleasant, deep and
rich, and Lila. aware that he was the
chauffeur, yet found him more attrac-
tive than the rich man back in the
house. She walked slowly along be-
| side him.
ST think you're new here? ?" he asked.
| She knew in a moment that he fan