The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-05-20
EDeningStory
Vamping For Pity.
BY MARTHA McC. WILLIAMS

When one is frankly fiftY-and-some-
thing, with no beauty parlor mitiga-
tons, it appears she might reasonably
escape any suspicion of vamping, even
tho appearances might be against her.
Mrs. Frances Lane was firmly of that
opinion-untiI facts disproved it. In
this wise:
She was not impressively Thin, al
most whifetty, indeed, with lash-gray
hair and skin like aged rose leaves.
she was yet somehow distinguished
possibly because of eyes which con-
tradicted the hair, refusing to be old
or even elderly For the rest, she had
good taste. good manners, a modestly
sufficient income, rather a pretty wit,
and very kind heart. Twenty years
a. widow. she might several times have
changed her name and estate to great
worldly advantage. That she had re-
Trained spoke no exceptional constancy
to her dead-rather whimsical joy
in ordering her life strictly according
to her own pleasure.
Her position was so assured. She
refused to be Gin society''-soclety
even with the capital letter often en-
treated her to come out and play with
it. Such times as she went, swathed
and filny. she never played wall
flower-and if she danced rarely 1t
was of choice not necessity. She pre-
ferred dinners to dances for several
reasons. but had vagaries of choice
among them. The Windsors, for ex-
ample. sinfully rich, old and close
friends found it next to impossible to
have her at their big gathering
cause she knew they would feature"
her-and she loathed being featured.
A great man, you see. had said after
encountering her. She is the most
amusing person in all New York"
After that. she might have had fine
| indirect retainer from the Windsors
to keep on being amusing the
| role did not in the least appeal to
| her.
Power abode with the Windsors-
social, political, financial. They could
make or break-and, being kindly,
| loved making better than breaking.
So Mrs. Lane, who never pulled wires
| for herself felt no conjunction
| the young Marshes, who had come
from the provinces, bringing letters
to her from her husbands people. An
engaging couple-well bred and good
to look at. Ambitious. too-Jemmy
at the law, with a slant toward pol
itics; LucilIa at her art-a very fine
art of cookery. They could be helped
| by the Windsors, Mrs. Lane decided
If they could meet she could feel hap
PLY quit of responsibility for them.
asking only the potential patrons,
with Judge Benton to balance herself,
things went so beautifully it was with
a light heart she accepted Nine.
Windsor's invitation, not to a grand
spread. but to a particular and init
mate dinner that meant much more.
Judge her dismay when Jenny ap-
peared in that state of amorous in
ebriety that will make love to a
broomstick provided it wears a petit
coat. The Marshes were next to last
arrivals-she stood waiting for her
| "a r>dxy nd lam nv
Possessed himself of her hand, kissed
it and said with a languishing glance.
I've been living for this all day."
| She understood-he would ruin
into the breach. sacrificed her even
ing and kept the poor soul from max
ing a pretty spectacle of himself
Judge Benton was coming to claim
her-she gave him an entreating look,
laid her hand upon Jemmy's arm and
steered him safely toward the feast.
There, by dint of woman's art, wom-
ans wit, she managed to keep him
decently quiet and so to maneuver
that after dinner he did not leave her.
More than once she sent soul wire
lesses to Lucilla, bidding her keep
heart. Lucilla was dumb and dull.
She would not join the pair, do what
Mrs. Lane might, nor show the least
interest in anything or anybody else.
Mrs. Windsor was less obdurate. She
Ldu SldE0Q 1dIIllly WIFI lips
thruout dinner, but when Friend
Frances drew her within range of
Jemmy's fascinating tongue, made
him tell stories of back home in a
voice that was music's own, she
tIawed visibly. Enough to mention
the opera and her box-tho quite
vaguely.
Even Nightmares end, so did this
dreadful evening. Mrs. Lane, her
face hot at thought of it all, nodded
to her image saying; 'Never again
am forever done with good deeds;
tired of suffering for my virtues. As
for the Marshes, I wipe them off the
slate.'
She meant it, but Fate has a trick
of rewriting states. Next day but one
white and drawn of face, her eyes red
with weeping.
"I-have-come Toto give him
up-to you" she said without pre-
. lude II am going baek-as soon
as possible, I will give him his
Explain, please" Mrs. Lane de-
/ manded in her great manner Lu-
ella wept loudly. ''You-you car
face me-and say that-when you
! thought you were safe-and old
81 am said Nine. Frances, sup.
pressing smile. Then by dint o.
cross-examination that would have
/ been creditable to Judge Benton, She
got at the truth-Lucilla had taxed
> Jenny round1y with his "infatuation'
he had smilingly admitted hel
charge-having fortified m e
afresh with a long drink of Windsor
Scotch in the dressing room. Their
laughing loudly, he had hidden hi
= weeping one not to be a foo1-th'
, combat thickened-aftef two hours o
it he had whisked out, slamming tn
l door hard behind him. The rest wa
= blank silence and emptiness. Lhcill;
= had stood it as long as possible, thei
. descended upon the home-wrecker t,
shame her with her own nagnani1n
ity. I'm going to leave a letter 70
S him-with you," she said at the end
81 don't want to make trouble 70
him at the office-and know h
won't come-home"-gu over tn
r | word-"unless YOU make him."