The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-02-16
Ecening Story
A Scarlet Woman.
BY MARTHA McC. WILLIAMS.

BY MARTHA McC. WILLIAMS.
You're not going a step. With
your jaw swelled till you look like that
heather idol the Cinnamon all wor-
ship, everybody would laugh at you
and wonder why in creation 1 let you
come" Mrs. Neal said, her tone less
unkind than her words.
She was not fond Of Amabel, her
stepdaughter, but conscientious in
duty toward the girl. Amabel was so
like her mother. who had carried off
the only man her successor had ever
fancied, it was hard not to hate her
still the two kept terms decently.
Mainly, it is said. thru Amabefs
Weddings to authority. She had never
thought of rebellion until Austin Ware
proved to her that her feet and her
spirit were equally made to dance.
The proving came to pass in a visit
Amabel had paid to a kinswoman at
the other side of the county. Her
neighborhood was gay, full of young
with the approval and example of
their elders, them 'Piscopalians."
Mrs. Neal named them scornfully-
herself and her environment were
evangelically hard-boiled. Even more
than her husband, she loved her
church and her dominance in it. To-
night she would queen it at the annual
supper, a fulfilled occasion when gorg-
ing could be reckoned piety, since ev-
cry edible was at round price.
"Your pa is so deaf he wouldn't go
anyway" she said to Amabel as she
set her bonnet in place. $50 nobody
can say a word about your staying
away-a jaw like that is excuse
enough for anything. Go to bed early
mi likely be home late, so I'll take
the key-nobody'll have to wait up for
me- I'll fetch you some little cheese
49, 20 IA
Don't trouble" Amabel mumbled;
at can't eat-g-good night. Maybe
can sleep-but-I don't feel like it
now"
That much at least was the truth.
Behind a locked door she flung OH
sober garments. freed her cheek or a
huge wad of chewing gum, nodded TO
it saucily.
StealthiIy, noiselessly, she slipped
into a giddy, airy scarlet frock. self
proclaimed a dancing frock by the Dig
black posy at the belt. 1t showed
beautifully sheer silk stockings match
ing its hue, red satin slippers witt
brilliant, paste buckles She had lei.
the outer door unlocked-as she heard
If carefully opened she slid down the
stairs, her long black wrap huddied
over her arm, her carriage boots
swinging in her hand. to meet Austln'
who after q suppressed whistle Iluns
the wrap about her, saying. in her
ear:
Mime. Mephisto-I shan't dare let
YOU out of my sight-not tonight
nor ever" the last words under
breath.
IT was bitter cold, the road hard
frozen yet beaten smooth as glass. The
motor purred over it at lightning
speed. Amabel had no sense of time
or distance. 1t seemed to her hardly
a minute before she found herself In
a warm, brilliantly lighted room, part
of gay, surging crowd simply dance
mad. The music was of the widest.
Something in the air set spirits on
edge. She was rapt away from
everything. Apprehension. reasonable
care, home and its drabness fell from
her. She was ready-reckless enough
to brave anything.
So it was Austin who at last hurried
her away, saying, one O'Clock
Cinderella, but you shall have more
dances"
"Oh, oh, stepmama will get home
ahead of us. 1 ought to have thought
But tonight 1 ana little bit mad,
Amabel began.
Austin's hand closed on hers. at
is catching" he said. Pm about
ready for anything except running out
of gas half way home"
NO SUCH CdldHllly DSlcll. 1iiStCat
they glided safely. stealthily up to the
Neal gate. Amabel forbade a neacer
approach. Go away. I can get in
best by myself" she said. Austin only
smiled. He drew her hand within his
arm and half carried her up the Slip
perry brick pavement that ran the
length of the lawn. He even lifted her
into the tiny porch and there pulled
away her wrap. II want to remem-
"a n xxyo 1nnIx
he said, standing back a pace or so to
see more clearly. His headlights
Illuminated the space with soft, suf-
fused radiance. 1t etherealized
Amabel. He tried to fling his arms
about her. but the door opened wide
and Mrs. Neal, candle in hand, stood
framed in it, her face a cross between
steel and ice.
This must be a-mistake." she said
with a hard breath. "Ours is a re-
spectacle house-it does not harbor
scarlet women. I should hate to dis
turb my sleeping husband-so please
go away--at once" turning at the last
word to shut and lock the door.
She was beside herself with rage
some STRINGS of compunction had
brought her home early. Amabers
room, untidy. untenanted. told her
how she had been fooled. This added
fuel to the flame of her anger-to
her rightful throne added insult to
her sense of injury. A burning sense.
it grew and mounted turnout two
hours of waiting, hardening her into a
desperate resolve.
A shut door was the only proper
answer to such trickery-she would
open it after a while-when Amabel.
reduced to abject fear, should make
proper supplication. She would have
to do it-there was nowhere she could
hope to find safe harborage-besides ,
if she stayed from home all night her
reputation would be gone. Mrs. Neal
believed herself devout Christian
yet the thought of that dread contin-
gency woke IN her an unholy joy.
Up in her own room she waited
tensely for the knocking that would
tell her she had won. It did not
come. Instead, she heard the motor
moving rapidly away. A feint, she
decided-meant to shake her resolu-