The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-03-28
Epening Story
Pocahontas in Confusion.
by JANE OSBORN

tails that stood at right angles above
each ear. For want of a dressing robe
she wore black academic gown that
had been left hanging in the locker
room of the college gymnasium by
one of the seniors Thep she pulled
one of the pigtails around>the back OF
her head and one across the front,
fastened them down by hairpin here
and there and struggled into the con-
fines of wig made of horsehair that
was supposed to transform her into
ull-blooded Indian. But it did not.
For Polly's skin was of the pink and
white variety that only looked fairer
beneath the shadow Of the straight
black locks.
Polly was a sophomore in college
and was about to make her debut on
the college stage as Pocahontas in a
play written by one of her classmates.
Where's the makeup mann" she
called from the curtained-off section
of the locker room where she was
making her hasty toilet.
Makeup mani Why, there isn't
any such animal answered King
James in a high treble from the next
dressing room. They only have a
makeup man for big plays-not for
little class plays like this. You're sup
posed to make yourself up"
This was distressing, especially as
in the various makeup equipment of
the several actors in the play there
was nothing that would do in any way
coppery Indian. She was the only In
dian in the cast, as the play was laid
in England at the time that Pocahon-
tas went thither with John Rolfe; and
even il it was a humorous little farce
Pocahontas- had to look real.
For a few moments Polly described
wild circles thru the dressing rooms
of the gymnasium in search of some
thing that would help her. Then she
found a box containing dressing for
tan shoes, both liquid and paste. She
hurried hack to her little mirror on
the wall and did what she could. She
was praised, if not for her perfect
makeup. at least for her resourceful-
ness. 1t was the mistake of the COM
mittee that she had not been told to
get real Indian makeup.
1t was Friday afternoon. and Polly
had made arrangements to go home
mediately after the performance.
catching a 6 o'clock train and reach
ing home by 8 or 8.
That is why it was especially dis
tressiEg on returning to her dressing
room at the close of a performance, at
which the applause and appreciation
had made up for forgotten lines and
occasional slight embarrassment, to
find that the Indian complexion, put
on so easily with q. brush and bit of
cotton, didn't come off so easily. Polly
tried to wash it, but water did not
bulge it.
ITS not soluble in H-o," said the
feminine John Rolfe. still in his point
ed beard, assisting the Indian princess
to the end. You ought to. have
smeared cold cream on first. You
ought to have known enough
But I didn't" walled Polly at
was SO anxious to be ready in time
just put it on any way. And now
how can 1 go home with a face like
thisi'
There wasn't even time to hurry
back to the dOrmitory, for Polly had
to catch the o'clock train. But there
was time for one of the members of
the committee to go to the dornitory
for a heavy veil while Polly hurried
out of Pocahontass clothes into her
own.
Polly did not take a seat in the par-
Tor car, as she had been advised by
her careful parents always to do, be-
cause she thought she would be less
conspicuous in the day coach. The
man at the ticket office had stared at
her and so had the conductor who
helped her aboard and later punched
her ticket, and there was nothing of
admiration in the stare. 1t was enough
to convince her that even thru the
chiffon veil her reddish-broWn com
plexion with its coating of powder
that she had daubed on in the GYM
nasium dressing room was striking
and probably hideous.
she mad chosen the small compart-
ment seat at the end of one of the
coaches beside the brakeman's lam
tern. She sat with her face toward
the window
She looked timidly thru her veil as
passengers allghted at station that
lay midway of the journey from col
lege to her home, because she was
Fearful lest some one might seek to
share her narrow seat. That was
When she saw tall masculine figure
that made the color mount high un-
uer her taWny complexion. She was
quite sure it was Dalton Drew. Dali
ton Drew was her brothers roommate
IN colege and she had met him when
she was nome on Christmas vacation
The worst of it was that Dalton had
told her the second time he met her
that she was the prettiest girl he had
ever known, and she had naively re-
pied that she was glad he thought so
because she thought he was quite the
best looking man she had 'taInost"
ever seen. Now she knew she looked
fright and she didn't want to spoil
his impression.
or the fact that this same masculine
inquire had passed and then repassed
her compartment. With her face
averted toward the window she
thought he looked for a few moments
1ntently at her. She wore the same
nat she had worn on that day they
went skating together. He would
PROBABLY recognize 1t.
Therefore when Dalton had passed
she rose and went quickly to the car
beyond, found another iflconspicuous
seat at the end of the next car and
sat there. For an hour she rode in
misera BILE fear lest Dalton Drew
should find her, and breathed a sigh
OF relief when she alighted at her
home town. But her relief lasted
only until she saw that Dalton Drew
had also ahghted.
Then she fled. actually running
around the station, and stood for a
few minutes in the lea of the express
office. say Dalton Drew approaching
and fled againsto the place where the
waiting taxis stood and jumped into
the first one that presented itself and
gave her home address.