The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-07-14
Eocning Story
Nobody's Darling.
BY MARTHA McC. WILLIAMs

neck of a giraffe. so distant was the
crown from the spread of shoulders.
But with draping of thick homespun
linen, outlines were matters of faith
4 rather than sight. This was true OF
the whole company-of gay youths
gathered for a phantom party
wherein sheets. pillow and bolster
cases. napkins and such small deer.
had been impressed for masquerade
duty.
"This is-no this ain't-nobody's
darling" the giraffe answered in
plaintive falsetto; 81 amt fat-not a
little bit-but nobody loves me either
weekdays or Sundays
what a shame-if there's enough
of you to love-" Warren returned,
making a fumbling clutch at shroud-
ed arm. Lets feel; I thought sol"
as his fingers identified buttons clearly
begin to deceive this early. You're
hardly more than a cock sparrow"
With that he tried to swing the
giraffe across his hip-but met with
amazing resistance. His captive
writhed eellike from his hold and set
painting out. Let go, unless you want
a hole stamped in your socks, Sammy
Warren"
Lets see your socks" Warren be-
gan bending and grabbing the foot
At his touch it was jerked free of the
heavy shoe, revealing itself. small.
dainty, Enthusiastically feminine-its
owner the while whispering angrily;
Nov you've done it-spoiled my fun
all evening"
put on your shoe and come out
on the piazza-nobody saw your foot"
Warren countered. dragging the girl
away. Giggles followed them In the
encounter her high-spiked headdress
had got awry, letting the sheet droop
like a court train over one elbow and
falling scantily below the other. The
wearer tugged spitefully at it. saying
under breath. I'm sight know
am-and they pick on me enough
when I'm all set"
LET them-no matter who they
are" Warren said soothingly. Tell
me your name and I'll say enough
sweet things to make up"
| mot If keep my hearin'. Ugh!
hate sweet things!" the girl flung
warren laughed softly. at see. No
body has said them-to YOU he said.
Blind bats! I know you're pretty.
even thru linen sheet"
| I'D ram you for that, If only were
| q submarine" with menacingly low
cred head, for making fun Of me.
You know I'm Zarah ZeH, and, every
body says, ugly enough to chaw wool
with the burrs in it.
"Hearsay is not evidence" Warren
linen to look into a piquant olive
skinned face, now iIIumined by deep
shining eyes and dashed with damask
bloom. Dimly he recalled the Zarah
Dell he knew; this could not be the
same, yet certainly was. It's lucky
you didn't swear to what you said,'' he
went on. 1T would have been rank
perjury. Every girl here tonight is
prettier than you are-but not one of
them half so beautiful"
| Paint makes a heap of difference.
if you put it on right" Zarah
answered, with an artless giggle.
| The phantoms were in full tide of
ghoulish glee. They had spread over
the lamp-lit lawn, by twos or threes,
or blotches of curious half dozens.
Zarah looked at them thru fingers
held under the sheet, saying judieiaIly:
Its a mighty fine party"
Shall we go out to play with the
rest ?" Warren asked. She nodded.
Under the brightest light she paused
to say in Warren's ear: "Can you
understand how it feels to be finer
than anybody, when all along you
have been the commonest looking?"
| Il don't know, can you from War
rem.
Its heavenly-Im feeling it now"
Zarah whispered. you see, at all the
other parties I've looked like g. rag
tag-tonight in granny's fine linen
sheet, nobody can touch me. shall
slip away before the undressing
then nobody will know what's under it.
But they'll all guess who wore en-
broidered linen-nobody else has any,"
I'VE won't unmask,'' Warren said.
I"I'u declare ourselves Guardian
Ghouls charged to keep the others in
order. And they will have to feed us
! in private just the things we like. If
| thew don't we'll mil al SORTS Of Sy1aIIS
on them"
Seems like somebody has already
put a spell on you," a mincing voice
said behind them. Warren laughed
it wasn't you" he said. Run along
and play with Jack Durden-he is the
man after your heart"
II hate Jacky Durden," Mincing
Minny complained. I'D rather play
with anybody else any time. And I've
got something to tell you-ever as fine
and funny"
Keep it till next week" Warren
interrupted, right now I have other
uses for my ears"
Rude men deserve punishment"
Zarah said primly at am going to
leave you strictly to yourself"
How nice of you! 1 can think of
you undisturbed." Warren murmured.
Zarah tossed her head so violently as
almost to dislodge her headspike.
| warren caught II OdreIy IN L1fnes set
tied it in place again and tucked her
hand over his arm, saying: ct cease
the struggle. You are my fate. Come
along and let's get 1t over with.
When will you marry me?'
The year after never" Zarah re-
torted. He shook his head, murmur-
ing, IF nobody loves her. where, oh,
where did she get experienced?
So it went all evening. Along
toward second cock crow, that is to
say, near 3 o. the morning clock,
Warren handing a slim figure. frows-
lily shawled, into a very decrepit fam
lily carriage, noted upon its panel q
lozenge with a crest recalling the
lines OF the sheet embroidery. He
said nothing beyond q gay good-by-
But betimes next day he was rum
maging thru dusty papers in the Of
flee of the clerk, searching out
names, dates. dusty deeds and wills