The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-07-13
Et'cning Story
For a Day.
BY RUBY DOUGLAS.

family were fortunate enough TO nave
office positions which paid them suf-
them to give up work to help with the
nursing of their mother.
TT isn't that 1 don't love mother
you know that-but sometimes II
seems as If I could not stand it
another minute. 1t seems as If, in
of us who care for her most with least
consideration" she confided to a
friend, Mary Lindsay. one afternoon
when she had been able to get down to
the village tea room for an hours
change.
Mary took her young friends hand
across the table. Dear, no one knows
better than I do what you are going
thru just now. My own dear mother
was the same way for nearly four
live with her. But can't you get
away for a week? You are thin and
tired and worn out yourself. 1t isn't
quite fair"
Helen shook her head. Mother
wouldn't let me come down here if one
of the neighbors hadn't been in and
insisted"
Mary looked serious for moment.
II will change. places with you for a
day"
"Oh. mother wouldn't hear of it.
broke in Helen.
Leave that to me. shall be a
wonderful daughter to her for day
and a. night, and you shall go to town
to my dear little studio and forget that
there is such a thing as responsibility"
In spite of Helen's protests and mis-
givings the arrangements We're made,
and the foIl0wing week she found her
self sitting in one of Mary's big COM
Portable chairs in Mary's studio. There
was a table at her side with books
and magazines. a window at her other
shines 70 in the
tiny icebox and an electric teakettle in
which to boil water for her tea
ut is too good to be real" Helen
said. stretching out in the chair and
looking about her.
She could not read for her vivid in
terests in the things outside of the
window. 1t was spring. and girl
opposite was planting seeds in little
window box. In another window a
woman was brushing out a lot of
clothes, apparently looking for moths
A man inside of an unwashed window
sat smoking and reading; typewriters
clicked out on the warm spring air
from other directions.
AS she sat thus, looking at a scene
that to her was most interesting, she
found herself being observed by a
young man who sat over a drawing
board in a window nearly opposite.
Helen blushed. Why. she knew not.
She had been staring, perhaps rudely,
, and the young man must have OBJ
served.
Almost unconsciously she looked
again and this time she knew that she
had seen that face before. She tried
to place him, but only the indistinct
vision of the boys face came between
her and complete recognition.
Several times during that day of rest
in the quiet. honey studio she found
herself looking at the window where
> ~ Fall Il x1rfv7
o'clock when he busted off his board
and replaced his linen smock with a
coat and waistcoat, Helen began to be
lonely.
She went out for dinner and came
in again to read and go to sleep in
| she saw that night in her semi-con-
| seriousness was the face she had seen
| in the window.
The next morning she almost
| thought the man smiled a greeting to
her, but she dared not acknowledge it
since she had not yet been able to
| place him among those whom she
knew.
| Rested. with something else to think
about and with an uniformed hope
coming to life within her again, Helen
reached home that afternoon to find
that her mother was no worse and had
really enjoyed the gay companionship
of Mary Lindsay.
| I'll never be able to thank you
enough" Helen said after she had re-
ceived a report of her mothers condi-
ton. sit was too wonderful to be a
true place-it seemed like q fairy
! land" She did not say anything about
the man across the court.
| ITS been rest for day anyway
dear, and 1 believe your eyes look
| brighter already. Wen try it again
was Marys parting assurance.
When she. went back to nursing her
mother Helen seemed to find 1T less
| irksome. The change had done both
her and her parent good.
It was weeks before she saw Mary
again and when she did she met her
at the tearoom where they had met
| before.
81 want to talk to you alone" Mary
had said over the telephone. 'It isn't
SO important, but I just want to have
a little fun with you and it might an
noy your mother, dear. Four o'clock.
| Helen was waiting for Mary. "Oi
course you know I am crazy with
curiosity" she began.
And 1t is a real tonic to you-you
look positively beaming."
They sat down and ordered tea
while Mary aggravatingly talked about
all the conventional things she could
think of.
MARY. you are mean" Helen said
at last.
Mary's eyes twinkIed. Ibid you
ever know a boy at the art school out
lin Omaha boy who studied at the
same time you did under a. Mr.. Wal
Lace"
A light of understanding shone forth
! in Helens eyes. Then she blushed a
rosy red and avoided looking at Mary.
did your" persisted Mary, enjoying
the girls confusion and admiring her
beauty.
/ -
artist who sits opposite your studio
window and-and stares." admitted
Helen.
'He doesn't stare at me- Mary
laughed.
"Then-how do you know about 1t?
He found me out and told me al
about it. He saw you for a day and
recognized you as the little Helen LIE.