The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-05-13
Eoening Story
Veni, Vidi, Wei.
BY MARTHA-MeC. WILLIAM

BY AAhIHA-MeN. WILLIAMS
1t was odd. Plenty of people did
not really look at Evelyn, but seme-
how those who did looked again and
| again. There was nothing arFestins
to the casual eye, not salient of
shape or coloring or motion. Demond
told his sister that her friend was
remarkably unremarkable" the first
day of her visit to Waysend. Nor did
he revise the verdict until Cecile Ware
appeared on sthe scene
CeeiIe was arresting = dimpied,
rosy, almost loud in her coloring, with
merry dark eyes, and tendrilly hair
from whose soft dusks sun rays struck
vivid Titan flashes Audacious in eN-
erything from clothes to creeds, full
of life even to overlooking, with u
bird in her throat that piped sweetlys
If bit shrilly at times, and a pair
of dancing feet, she was commoniy
justified in writing upon her spirits
banner: "Veni, Vidi, Yici," and getting
away with it.
Thus she was Evelyn's compile
mentary color. After the manner of
complementaries she brought out her
opposite surprisingly 1t took Demond
three days to realize the fact. The
freshet helped a bit. For three days
it inclosed Waysend with a flooding
silver wall even the hardest might
not pass. AT first Cecile fadored it,
sleeping until noon, then springing up
on the turf inches deep in water. over
her shoulder she dared Demond to
join her. Don't be a fraid cat like
Bah and Eve,' she half chanted. This
water is fine once you are in
He only laughed, shaking his head.
She too laughed, but there was sedi-
ment of pique below her mirth- 1t
got more ponderable when no word
was spoken regarding her exploit IN
calling up the young new minister and
saying: "If you want any first-hand
evidence about the flood, come over
ana let me tell you. hear you are
giving a series of acles-this Will
help to make your next sermon
corker."
Cecile's heart, unlike the moon, did
not always have a man in it. But
man within her sphere of influence,
several men, indeed, added to her joy
in living. 81
Demond had played up to her so
calamity she had set him down as tov
easy. And that Evelyn, coming first,
had not captiVated a creature SO sus-
ceptible-if only she had done it, what
Joy in taking him away! Cecile was,
you see, predacious by instinct, no less
practice-even the helpless innocence
of the young new minister had not
disarmed her. Yet, she felt curious
envy of EVELYN, who went here serene
way, troubling naught. How did she
manage not to resent the indifference
Demond showed? That was puzzle
One that made Cecile froWn at her
image in the mirror.
If only she had known. Evelyn was
not on conquest bent. ShyIy, in the
mistiest depths of consciousness, she
Visioned love and a lover. Both would
come in their own good time Until
then it was hers to be happy In life,
sunshine, flowers, and singing birds
human comradery, and the joys or
friendly service. Intuitively she saw
thru Cecile-her arts. graces and
.grimaces, with tolerant amusement
that made either criticism or thought
of rivalry out of the question. Allen
Demond, as head of the house, owed
her hospitable CORRESPONDING more.
Receiving it in unstinted measure, she
would have blushed redder than any
rose at thought of demandihGrany-
thing beyond.
She had no mind to cast herself for
the part of Little Sunshine while the
rains descended and the floods came.
little knitting a great deal Her
fingers, slim, tapering and deft
wrought rainbow miracles of gay wool,
but it was Cecile who snatched them
away to exhibit them, and demand
praise for them, as excuse, it seemed,
for swathing herself in their filmy
softness. The rainbows, she knew set
off her gypsy beauty, especially in a
world all gray and sodden- But she
tired of the pastime as she did of
most things, so upon the third WeepNl
afternoon she burst out tempestuously:
put away that basket = those
needles-everything. Unless you DO
shall scream; 1 may even hit you.
You-you insult me playing statue all
thru this beastly weather. Patient
Griselda, is that your game? Do you
think seeing the difference, Allen De-
mond will hate me?"
''Why, no. The contrast-if there
is one-should be all in your favor"
Evelyn said softly, quick color
flashing into her face. Cecile flung
away the knitting bag, clutched
right and said shrilly:
''You-you know better. Know
I'm a riot-and you a dove of peace.
On the surface, that is. on the surface.
1 also know better. Deep down you're
a woman the same as am. That
means you have devil. only you keep
it in leash. 1t shall break loese-I
will make it. Unless I do I shall go
mad
She was painting heavily. her eyes
CLASSY with stress of anger. Her tenn
per had got beyond controi-she made
to shake Evelyn Violently-but sud
denly stood stock stillr-ssdll a pattern
of Amusement. The two were OF
height, but Evelyn was slighter and
slenderer. Yet. no longer passive. she
stood like a pillar, upright, mistaken,
firm on her small fGet, the while Ce-
Gle strove to bend or overthrow her.
Like lightning one hand freed Itself
to be grasped about Cecile's wrist and
hold it powerless.
Then gently but irresistibly. she
pressed her advantage-bore Ceeile
backward toward a soft couch, and
ended by forcing her down upon it.
Lie there. Still. Don't speak until
tell YOU" she said clearly, yet hard
~ above a whisper. Cecile hid her
eyes but snapped viciously: Now
you have cowed the animal. call in the
audience. I want to hear what your