The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-12-01
Eoening Story
A Pink Geraniurn.


never felt really at home in New
York"
How perfectly lovely" returned
Grace, wistful dark eyes on the others
face, ito move into cottage and feel
that the roof is really all your own
to step out into grassy yard and be
free to dig about and set out shrubs.
Why, Betty, 1 wouldn't care if the
cottage was only three rooms and far
out in the country
Betty smiled. "Just as romantic as
ever" she teased. you used to talk
about a kitchen done in blue and
white, with crisp white curtains blow
ing cut from easement windows, and
1 believe you insisted upon a pink
geranlum in the pot on the shelf
above the sink. Now, for myself, am
quite willing to leave culinary decora-
tions to the.servants."
Shall you keep a maid? ?" asked
Grace, who went downtown daily to
an office and chung to a strap twice
day.
Betty's head lifted pridefuIly my
dear, 1 haven't had q chance to tell
you yet, but that uncle of mothers
in Australia died and left us a pot of
money. We never cared for the east,
and We decided to come back here and
get a fine little home where we know
everybody"
Then of course you'll buy in Briar
Cliff" said Grace confidently. you
never lived right there, but you could
MT find leYelier suburb anywhere. I
wish I could stay there now, but I
couldn't get board there after" she
broke off, here dark eyes suddenly
dim, and Betty forgot her newly rich
airs and squeezed her hand lovingly.
She knew how much Grace had lost
two years before.
Don't think about the past" she
advised. Look how poor mother and
I were a few months past, living in
one-room and kitchenette in New
York and both of us working. You
never know what's just ahead of you
I'm determined to get q house on the
lake, and think how you'n enjoy your
week ends out there. Well golf every
spare-"
81 don't know how" Grace thought
of an old friend of hers, back in that
happy past, who had discouraged the
learning of the popular game. He had
told her how he admired her domestic
tastes and she, thinking confidently
of the little blue-and white kitchen,
had not learned to play. That Don
had not been to call on her for over
two months had been a source of keen
disappointment to her.
You'll soon pick it up" laughed
Cliff this afternoon and look at
houses? Mother is tired out from her
trip and wants to rest, but I like to
be doing something every minute
Grace looked about the handsome
foyer of the Michigan boulevard hotel
with rather awed eyes. She had never
been there before and she rather won
dered at her chum's high spirits. She
usually spent her Saturday half-hoh-
day. sewing or resting for her work
was teXhausting. Betty, however. look
ed at h n with brilliant. happy eyes
that urged her to respond to her high
spirits.
During the swift ride out to the sub
urb the bracing lake air sent a dash of
color into Grace's white cheeks. She
scarcely listened to her chum, who
chartered on of sunrooms, terraces
and refrigerators cooled by electricity.
AT last we can have just what we
want, went on Betty, "a low rambling
bungalow type that will have really
large rooms under the steeply sloping
roof and still have that air of COIL
ness that is lost ina regular house.
I like those red-tiled roofs; don't you?
Or do you prefer the green-roof and
greenland white awnings to match ?"
Grace reused herself: won't
bungalow of that type cost lot or
money!"
Betty nodded: eve expect TO spend
about thirty thousand dollars for it"
she said, enjoying Grace's stare of
and" here the tender
hearted youth of her was crystallized
into rather shy speech-"I remember
how dreadfulIy we wanted a home of
our own, never dreaming that Uncle
Don would think of us in his will.
and I have made up my mind that 1
will buy from a young salesman some
one who really needs that commission
to get a start I told the chauffeur to
go to Van-Murray real estate office,
but I'm not going to talk to any
old head. I'm going to look
about and select the young man who
looks the poorest. Don't you think
that is glorious idea ??
Grace, mentally computing the per
cent, that would be paid to a real es-
tate firms assistant, gasped. On
thirty thousand dollars even the
smallest per cent usual to the sales
man would be considerable. Don had
in Briar Cliff and she wondered II ne
had a little office near the station. 81
would love to ask her to let me look
around a little before she goes to Van
Murray's officep she thought, but
perhaps Don would be vexed." She
had a lively RECOLLECTION of DonFS
pride. It had come between them
more than once and she was pretty
sure that this same pride had pre-
vented his proposal. He had told her
once that he'd never ask girl to I'VE
in a rented flat. His theory was that
the uncertain mode of life tired a girl
out and the high rents made saving
for home almost impossible.
Betty did not notice her chum's
silence, for already the taxi man had
been paid off and Betty entered the
office of Van-Murray. She locked
about her swiftly and her eager,
amused eyes went past the portly man
seated at a handsome desk who rose
to receive her. The young
man by the window did not look up
until Betty stood before him and
voiced her request. wouldn't you
prefer to have Mr.. Van Murray show
you the list for such a place"
NO" said the caller briefly, you
will do I will look at the photo
graphs. for 1 want style, and my
friend" she indicated Grace. who had
flushed a lovely rose, will look into
the drains and culinary arrangements |
She is domestic whereas Il she