The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-12-12
EDening Story
The Queer Little Feeling.
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at Dick and shook her head. The
eyes that looked at him from under
hat, set at an exaggerated angle or
her tightly curIed bobbed hair, were
tired. Little lines were beginning to
show at the edges.
''Dick, old boy. you're a bum actor;
more out of work than in, you'll ad-
NIT, and Maisie Rawley isn't going to
get married to go on the road, believe
me! I'm tired of this" She looked
at the cheap furnishings of the shabby
clearinghouse parlor. I'm dog-gone
cheap restaurants and cheap shows!
And I'm not going to get married to
continue that line
Jaw, Maisie, we may have some
vile circuit. Now. couldn't we do an
act together and"
NIX. When I marry, my husband
is going to support me- I'm tired OF
"AiI right. Maisie I'll get an act
"oh, cut it out, Dick. and come
down to earth! You've never been
able to get on a circuit-been trying
for the last fifteen years, too She
began to powder an already whitened
nose, sending little clouds of dust over
her cheap satin skirt.
''Maisie,'' there was tenderness
mixed with humor in Dick Burns
voice, we III the same DOdls OIO
girl? You're tired of five and ten
cosmetics and I'm sick of trimmin g
my cuffs and pasting adhesive plaster
on the shiny seams of this checked
suit. Maisie, let's break away!" He
looked at her breathlessly.
Maisie calmly slipped the powder
pad in the of her dress and shook
her skirt. Dick she answered gem
tly, THAT would be plain suicide.
you're forty and I'm almost thirty.
You can't teach an old dog new tricks.
You'll go on this way Dick, working
starving a little 1t would be the
same with me. Dick, if Joined forces
with you. Ny dancing isn't much,
and in a few years I'll be faded, living
serve woman's beauty, not hash and
cheap hotel rooms, three in a bed,
catching early trains in drizzling rains.
I'll be frank, Dick. I want to marry
we'll; want little comfort and good
food, and I think I see a chance of
getting it,
Dick got slowly to his feet at don't
blame you" He made an effort to
speak jovially. Here's good luck to
you. I wish you TIE best
When he had gone Maisie's throat
felt queer and she hastily dabbed at
her eyes with a pink cotton ha1dker-
chief to save her complexion froh the
tears that were about to fall.
Miss Rawley!" Mrs. Snyder put in
a frowsy head. Mail carrier has a
registered letter fer you"
A few hours later Maisie sat in the
train, a bulging old suitcase at her
feet, a trembling, wondering smile on
her carmined lips. II think I'd better
pinch myself to make sure-after all
1t might be a dream. Gee, what a
blessing I didn't accept Dick Burns!
being engaged to him, that
poor hambone" She snickered a iit-
lie to herself in sheer joy. Now
don't even have to marry any one if
don't want to; maybe I will, tho,
some day. I'll marry for love. I'll
meet some man at a country club.
One of the first things I'll do will be
TO Join smart country club. I'll buy
lie horse"
Maisie fairly Rugged herself. ''And
hat Uncle Timothy Rawley-course,
knew he was as rich as the dickens,
but I thought he'd live to be ninety,
and here I am, Maisie Rawley, ex-
chorus lady, sole heir of all his real
and personal estate! I can hardly be-
ieve it, can just family remem Der
hat big country place he had I was
always so sorry that my dad had quar-
-eled with him. I thought it would be
10 nice to visit there. And now 1 own
t! 1 wish I had had the money to fix
myself up a little better. What'H the
think? Oh well, I'll be get
ting all the clothes I want in a few
laysi" Thus Maisies thoughts and
plans spun along as the train few past
fields and hills.
At last they pulled in at HilIsboro,
l tiny dusty town that Maisie family
remembered leaving with her parents
when she was a child. Hurriedly she
her way to the office of the
attorneys, Briggs & Brill" and
hastened down Main street with her
heavy suitcase Her eyes were shin
iced the weight of her burden.
Mr.. Brill proved to be a thin-lipped.
'our-faced old man and Mr.. Briggs a
naughty, fat-stomached snob and the
couple of clerks, disinterested, cold
eyed Maise felt somewhat chilled;
the was sure Mr.. Briggs resented her
presence and that Mr.. Brill did not
approve of her spangled hat nor her
She had expected a diff |
erent reception; it was little disap-
please" and then, "That is ALL |
Maisie, confused, gazed helplessly
bout.
CLOUD you call taxi-or a hack to |
lrive me out?" she stammered.
Old Brill said to one of the clerks, |
Call jenkins; he'll be your neighbor |
md he'll take you out for fifty cents"
Still in a daze Maisie stepped into |
! rnoldy old buggy beside an over
lied wrinkled-faced farmer, but at
east he smiled in friendly way.
"'Wall, wall, so you be old Rawley's |
iece, Ell? Going to live on his place? '
Iaisie nodded. "And be that his bank
'ook you're clutching?"
Maisie hastily looked at what old /
Brill had put in her hand.
The old farmer chuckled and
Tapped the reins on the white nags
'ack. Maisie, sitting beside him, I'M
omfortable, confused, wondered why
e kept chuckling.
wall" refining in his horse before
broken gate that led to a weedy
arden and a tiny, dilapidated cot
age, here We arei"
as this where you live?'' asked
1aisie, making no move to get out
NO, 1 live right beyond that hill.
his is your uncle's place" Climbing
ut he deposited Maisie's suitcase on
he ground. Now, jump! There!
Vail, goodnight, wish you luck in