The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-02-21
Eoening Story
Willard Revisited
BY JANE OSBORN.

lege, and now he was revisiting the
little college town for the first time
in all that long lapse of years. To be
sure, it was matter of business. A
client of the law firm of which he was
a junior partner lived in the outskirts
of Willard, and Dalton Drew had been
detailed to take this necessary trip
to see him. Dalton arrived at o'clock
of the evening preceding the morning
when he was booked to cab on the
client, and at the railroad station got
in touch with one of his fraternity
brothers whom he knew to be still
resident of Willard. Benson Forsyth
had married and lived at home, but he
apologiZed to Dalton, as his wife was
taking vacation, and as the cook
had taken French leave, he could not
play a very good host.
Dalton, however, took taxi to the
home of Benson Forsyth
There is nothing to eat in the
house." explained. Benson, land there
isn't thing in town by way of amuse-
ment. Sometimes we have a good
show. You'll have to go down to the
Willard house and have dinner and
then come home here with me for a
quiet evening"
What is the matter with Barlow's %
asked Dalton, recalling the confection-
cry restaurant that had been a YER
table institution among the college
boys when he was in college. Bar
low hasn't gone out of business?"
That's the trouble" complained
Benson. Barlow still gets all the
business. Tonight is junior prom. The
whole junior class will be dining at
Barlows with their girls We could
probably get a table-Barlow always
puts Up extra tables and has extra
walters, but it's enough to take your
appetite away
Dalton did not understand. so Ben
CON ax-T1Iained strTO soc III those girls
most of them just foolish girls from
country homes-coming to their first
big college dance. Going to Barlow's
with some grass green college student
is a great event. Some of them are
pretty enough, but no style. After
what you're used to in the city, I'm
afraid you would be disgusted.'
STILL" deliberated Dalton, eve
were just as green when we were
juniors, and the girls we thought per-
lection were probably just as simple
and demure. Fact is, Benson, I've an
great admirer of the self-possessed
self-satisfied girl of the big city.
Let's go to Barlow's."
That is how it happened that Drew
and Forsyth, of the class of 1915,
looking quite worldly wise and middle
aged to the boys and girls who Were
dining at Barlows that night, took
theT places at a small table set up in
one of the aisles. It was they. not the
students, who felt a little embarrassed
at the contrast. They made no COM
mentS until the waiter had set before
them the first course of the famous
Barlow table d'hote, especially elao-
crate on the night of one of the big
college dances.
They're not so tame looking as
thought" said Benson Forsyth with
considerable self-consciousness as he
became of tho IN hof ho had
been looking with considerable intent
ness at the diners at u table near ov,
which, however, Dalton Drew could
not have seen without turning around
in his chair Il dare say girls, even
country girls, are-more sophisticated,
know how to dress better and all that
than girls of that sort used to. AT
the table behind youzyou can't see
them nowhere are a couple of cal
low looking juniors and two of the
trimmest looking little twins you over
saW-bobbed bair, jade earrings,
caches and cream compilations. Do
you see anything that looks good to
your"
Yes" said Dalton. ''the girl at the
little table to the right
Benson Forsyth turned enough to
notice the girl in question. You're
joking-poor girl, she looks scared
enough to choke. And she's with her
brother. He's Jack Mateland's
younger brother, fraternity brothers
Of ours. Poor girl. Funny she's SO
plain-Jack and Tom are cookbook
i.g fellows
ing on the OBVIOUS difference in his
| own and Benson Forsyth's taste To
be sure, the girl he admired was not
well dressed. Likewise she was lack
| ing in assurance. The stiff hat that
crowned her smoothly brushed hair
/ scanned LARGO RI
! time the girl lifted a slender but awl1-
| ward index finger straight before her
| nose to raise the brim of the hat that
| seemed to peril of eclfpsing her face
| entirely. When she did this. her round
| eyes that she kept wide open and that
| looked a little humid from excitement
| seemed to cross just a small fraction
/ of a degree. Awkward as this gesture
| and expression was, it struck Dalton
| Drew as amusing and really delight
full. He enjoyed his feeling of admit
| ration the more because it took com
| siderable perspicacity to realize that
| she was really very pretty. He cast
| his eyes about the dining room, turned
enough to catch glimpse of the twins
| and reflected that this Jane Maitland
was undoubtedly the prettiest girl al
| Barlow s-a fact that he did not
! vouchsafe to the unappreciative Ben
| son Forsyth.
| When Benson and Dalton rose to
| leave their table it happened that Tom
Maitland, junior, and his sister had
| also risen at the same time. At the
/ door there were introductions and an
! exchange of the fraternity handshake
| between the men.
Dalton Forsyth stepped ahead with
Jane Maitland when they had gone
| out. You are going to the prom?" he
| asked, and Jane, with some confusion
| said that she was not.
/ sis will go some other time -
| laughed Tom with obvious embarrass-
ment, and they parted, Tom and Jane
| in one direction and Dalton and Ben
| son in another.
You put your foot in it," laughed
| Benson. THE women have been gos-
siping about it for a week. Jane was
going to be allowed to go to the prom
this year. Her grandmother gave hel
$50 to buy her first evening dress, sand
she bought it and all the fixings. But
none of the boys asked her. CAM
| blame them. Then they counted or
having Tom II