The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-01-18
Eoening Story
The Slater-Ashley Affair.
BY RAY LEWIS.

ID ma LIE w ASos
George Vanderbilt gazed from the
balcony down upon the animated scene
below, where many couples moved in
rhythm with the seductive cadences
of the palm-embowered orchestra. He
had wandered lto the Chapter House
in search of an old classmate and had
paused for a moment to look on.
Suddenly, "Who is that wonderful
woman" he exclaimed, grabbing the
arm of the young fellow nearest him
and pointing out slim figure sway
ing in the dance on the floor beneath.
who dye mean?" Billy Walters
leaned farther over the balcony. "Oh,
that! Why. that's Miss Slater, libra
rian of the Mary Webster Memorial
has been here several years"
The man who had addressed him
made no comment, but merely con-
tinued to wait for the Temperance
of the slender. silk-draped figure in
the round of the waltz. George Van
derpyle had seen many women in his
forty-o odd years of life. but never, so
he told himself. had he seen as beau
tiful. as graceful. as attractive a one.
And to think of her being incarcer-
ated in the Mary Webster Memorial.
Where were the men. to permit such
a thing?
NanQerpyle, DdcK Tor MS twentieth
reunion. had dutifully done what was
expected of him as a wealthy alum
NUS and made the rounds of the
various university buildings. He re-
called the Mary Webster Memorial.
erected since his time, as an architec-
turally perfect. severely classic build
ing of cold stucco. with dim, vault
like overwhelmingly adapted, no
doubt, for the preservation of fragile
first editions and rare manuscripts.
but hardly suitable environment for
the winsome, glowing bit of flesh and
blood he had just seen. He did not
remember having seen her there. No
doubt she had an assistant.
Suddenly. the man smiled, whimsical
ly. All his life. mere desire on his
part to see a thing accomplished had
predicated its accomplishment. And
altho thus far the field of matchmak-
ing was for him virgin soil, that fact
might make a venture there. all the
more interesting.
ance he could pick some well-favored
bachelor sufficiently cultured and
worthy to rescue the beautiful librarian
from the cluthes of the Mary Webster
Memorial and place her in the en-
vironment. to which her loneliness and
charm entitled her.
But first he would like to meet her
Ito make sure that she fulfilled upon
acquaintance the promise of her face.
Who'll introduce me to her?" he
asked young Walters, much to the lat
ter's amusement. These old fellows
coming back were dandy chaps and
all that, and demanded loyalty as fra
ternity brothers. but it was odd to
think of them being interested in the
female sexl He considered a moment,
Then, why. let me- see," he said
IAA s.t- 1-Ir IL A-I,
fey-he knows everybody"
Jack Ashley! The boy had hit it.
Jack Ashley not only knew everybody
but everybody knew Jack Ashley.
knew of him as one of the finest prod
ucts, mental and physical, ever turned
out by the university. Vanderbilt
knew little of his history since gradu-
alton. He had hunted big game in
Africa. had served with the Canadian
troops. had become an American ace,
and was now being spoken of for an
diplomatic post. And there
was the very man he was looking for:
What a pair they would make!
He found Ashley at the Union
cigars and stories with other
members of his class, which was about
ten years later than that of Wander
pyle. Like the canny financier he was,
the latter approached his object OBJ
liquely. For he was becoming as en-
custom in closing a business deal in
volving millions.
Settling himself in a deep-cushioned
chair. he joined in the conversation.
Not till its close did he direct his at
tention particularly to Ashley. Then,
Bereton Americana. Come over with
me IN the morning to the Mary Web
ster Memorial and tell me what you
think of the collection"
Ashley amiably agreed, and the con-
versation drifted to other channels.
Vanderbilt. regarding the man oppo-
site, wondered how he had escaped the
matrimonial net. Surely it could not
have been thru neglect on the part
of the wemsp! Perhaps he was await
ing an ideal, so perfect that he had
never found her.
At the thought. Vanderbilt nearly
chuckled aloud. She had been found
for himi
Next morning the two men met at
the small library which was Sc
dately situated ON a side street beyond
the campus, apart from the ways
trodden by the commencement week
crowds, and presently Vanderbilt
found himself shaking the slim fingers
of Anne Slater and looking into her
dark eyes. She was even more charm
ing than he had hoped with a simple
directness of glance. low contralto
voice, and fire eyes which looked flrst
at him. inquiringly, and then, almost
with startling surprise. at Ashley. Yes.
apparently Ashley had known her all
right, for they had called each ether
Immediately by name. That young
Walters chap had cen wise one.
Content to let whatever slight ac-
quaintance the two may have had de-
velop, he sauntered away, ostenta-
tiously displaying deep interest in the
glass cases displaying yel1ow-1eaved
books with ragged margins. To his
surprise. he ultimately did become OBJ
sorbed in an odd collection. and an
hour slipped by unnoticed.
When he looked UP from the last
pamphlet, he noticed that he was still
alone. Good for Ashley. by George!
Knew enough to recognize his oppor
tunity,
He found them still standing by the
desk 1Uhere he had left them and en-