The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-06-18
Epening Story
Rosamond and Jane.
BY JESSIE DOUGLAS.

Mark Travis thrust his hands deep
into his pockets and began TO pace bis
room. He had plenty of room to walk,
for, besides the cot and the desk in
the corner, only a chair impeded his
progress. 1t was an empty room and
an empty life, he decided wryly.
'Lonelyi It reeks of lonelinessi" he
said to the listening walls.
AS he turned he saw a square of
paper lying on his floor. An envelope.
A letter. He wished it up and exam
feminine hand in black ink on gray
paper. He ripped it open jaggedly.
MY Dear Mr.. Travis:
MY cousin, Jimmy Cosgrove, has
written me that you have come to stay
in the city. 1 should be glad if you
some afternoon, perhaps some Sunday
at 5. Then we can talk over Jimmy
and Chicago, where lived as a child.
Sincerely, Rosamond Schuyler
Mark Travis read it thru twice be-
fore he laid it down. He liked the
Topped black writing and the address
engraved in blue on the gray paper.
Good old Jim hasn't forgotten me-"
he muttered. "Rosamond Schuyler
charming name"
He pictured the girl with deep blue
eyes and that same earnest look that
Jim had.
How jolly it would be to know
some one in New York; To go per-
haps to the little Italian restaurant
down on Eleventh street that he had
discovered and eat macaroni while the
blue smoke curled thickly about them
and the clatter of plates and voices
served as a background to their talk.
Life had rather lost its SAVIOR these
last three weeks alone here. Places
enough to go, and things enough to see
but always alone. No one to laugh
with him, nor to make him forget that
he was a stranger in a strange city.
He had come almost to hate New York
Ito call 1t cold-hard-mercenary-
Schuyler" he said. what a pretty
name Embellishments be
charming"
He threw his shoulders back next
afternoon as he walked up Fifth ave-
nue. in blaze of sunshine. His tweed
suit was pretty well worn, but he'd
had a sshoe shine, and his carried his
fair head with an air and swung along,
feeling for the first time that he was
a part of the life of the city, instead
OF being just the newest man in
Gresham & Minors"
But when he turned east at Fiftv-
third street and found that the house
was an imposing brownstone one, with
d1gmfied curtains of cream that shut
off the windows and an air of admit
I1AI5 Oi1ly Lie pest society, he heSitat6d
Inat was the number all right, but
would he go? Perhaps she wouldn't
be his kind at all.
But he found himself climbing the
steps and ringing the bell as tho he
Miss Schuyler to the stony-faced in
olvidual who must be her butler. he
knew he was in for it.
AS he crossed the thick rug and
came into the dim, beautiful drawing
room ne rued the day he had come.
He was aware of rugs that his feet
melted into and cleaning furniture
and color and flowers. He sank down
INTO great armchair, trying to feel
at ease and cursing his stupidity.
linen he saw that there was some
one else in the room. A girl silhouetted
at the window was playing with the
| taSsel of the curtain; her slim figure
in black was delicately outlined. She
turned and saw him, and came slowly
| toward him.
Mark Travis forgot the beautiful
room and the luxury and wealth, for
ne saw that she was sweet looking and
her iashes were wet with tears.
I'm Mark Travis" he said, rising
and taking the hand she held out to
him.
ooh. yes" her voice fluttered, and
he saw she was rather shy and fright
ened of him. II heard about you"
He heard his own voice talking and
llICL Lie girl SIlS HaQ gray eyes IN
stead OF blue and her brows were dark
and had a charming way of lifting.
She smiled once and he saw a dimple
! peep out near her mouth. Then he
forgot everything but the desire to
take away that unhappy look about
her eyes.
you've just come to New York,
haven't you? ?" she asked, land will
you have one lump or two?" she
handled the silver teapot so skillfully
and passed him white cup delicately
fragile.
"Have you been 1onely?" she ques-
toned. ''it's so hard at first"
And Mark Travis found himself tell
Ing her about his work with the old
lawyers and how desolate he had felt.
while she pushed the heavy carved
box of cigarets toward him and
begged, won't you smoke; like the
smell So"
But in little pause his eyes rested
carved mantel that must have cost
thousands of dollars and the long
| Renaissance table with its two lamps.
This girl and he were as widely sepa-
rated as tho they lived in different
worlds-he couldn't ask her to dine
| with him at a 6o-cent Italian restau-
rant, nor sit with him in the balcony
nor ride home on the 'bus-he
caught himself up with a jerk and
realized she had been asking him a
"oh, yes, like New York. that is
A rustic and a clatter of high-heeied
slippers on the polished floor and he
turned to see some one else entering
I the room.
! "Ah, Mr.. Travis, Jim wrote me
about you-yes." he saw her nod to
the other girl in her straight black
dress. She gave him a shy, sweet look
Of farewell as she slipped away.
| Rosamond Travis sank down In
chair by the fire
She was weedy and fair. with toe
much rouge and drawing, affected
| "Jim,s such a funny old thing" she