The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-03-02

p0kS, haQ., 135 Kansas ave.
Chicago Herald.
personal by a man. Whether this action
was an insinuation on his part that 1 was
looking for just such a matrimonial
chance, do not know. 1 did not ask
him, but did determine to call at 735
and investigate.
So l put on my company smile, the
one reserved for use on my dearest foe,
and found my way up one flight of stairs,
at the number designated, wondering all
the while if there really were any such
person.
Yes, there it was. large as life, on the
door-Dr Furber.
While l read, man brushed by me
and when l entered the doctor was pre-
pairing to leave on this call and when
| he saw me said, "What can do for you
madam" just as the man went down
stairs
My heart, which had sunk a little at
sight of this hero bold, futtered till
could scarcely breathe; but l gathered
my courage and vouchsafed that had
called about notice in tho paper, hold
ing out the paper for him to look at
Immediately the doctor smiled blandly
and said. "Sit down, sit down."
I replied, 'If you are going out I'll
call again"
VERY we'll, ma'am, very well, I'll be
pleased to see you little later"
l made my way downstairs promising
myself that I would not go back, but
something got the better of me-
Was it that particular brand of curio-
sity proven bially peculiar to my sex?
Then it flashed on my mind that the
doctor might be count in disguise.
Anyway, l went back. This time l
| in ho 7
walked around and examined the several
testimonials and one diploma which the
doughty doctor had hung about the room
and decorated with wreaths of evergreen
la laurel wreath. His middle name
was Loring. How superior to plain John
Henry did John Loring sound.
After waiting few moments, cough
| ed slightly to attract attention, and The
doctor came in from the next room and
begged that l be seated for a few
| moments.
He soon returned, and drawing a chair
he sat down.
He said, land now ma'am will you tell
me your manner"
mad not anticipated this question, and
was not ready for it. SO 1 tried to parry 1
said: "Perhaps l only came up out of
curiosity, inspired by an advertisement
which was certainly little ont of the
ordinary. l did not bring bank book
to prove l am rich; my widest admirers,
in their cooler moments. would not have
described me as lovely, to others, at least;
as to being a Christian, people have diff
ferent views on the question of Christi
anity; last, but not least, belong to that
despised class known as widows"
The bland smile which had at first
spread itself over the doctors counten-
ance had retreated, but it came back and
he said: 81 am widower also; are you q
grass widow"
Having cleared myself of this imputa-
ton, he went on:
Nov this is purely business matter
as we'll as pleasure" smilingly, sand of
course I shall want to know your name"
Never; l could not tell this romantic
knight Of the pill that I reveled in any
such commonplace sobriquet as Becky,
so / said, IN aturally l am a little timid
about giving my name, when calling on
such an errand, and that, too, when /
cannot f1atter myself that l fill any of the
requirements" l have been told that l
have the American habit of talking too
loud. and just here, was reminded of it
by the gentleman saying, "Don't speak
SO loud. Now" he went on. 81 have
been perfectly honest with you and have
given my name; you must do the same"
l replied, 1.-The thousands of readers Of
the paper, all of whom you have been
just as honest with as you have with me,
have both eyes and ears, and apropos,
suppose you have received great many
answers to this advertisement o.
course there are any number of rich
, lovely, christian maidens pining fol
someone to love them for themselves
alone?" questioningly. Eyes, madame
l have received countless answers"
| ''And did they all give their names?'
2 ayes, madam; otherwise they would
have received no attention from me-"
''And have you any means of knowing
, that they gave you their own names?"
This staggered the doctor, apparently
!, His smile had vanished and he began t.
8 regard me with a suspicious manner a
q if he doubted that l was a bona f1d'
seeker after a matrimonial alliance.
J., He said, MADAM, I'm honest will
you, and you give must me you
d name; now everyone knows who l am,
) with a sweep of his hand toward the tes
}, timonials.
said, "WelI might give you an.
It name; you would not know that M
n name is not Mary Jones for instance"
9 MADAM, you could not deceive m
=, long"
9 ~Well, waving the question of names
y will you not admit that your course il
8 seeking a wife is an odd one to say til
! least?"
$ IN Madame, know a thousand goo
D women who would marry me if l asket
,, them, but think it requires a great dea
T of charity to be physicians wife; bu
madam, have too much respect TO
n women to ask one of them to marry me
4 and madam" with apparently growing
distrust. Il must refuse to talk to an
d woman who will not tell me her name.
n By this time the smile had disappeare
It and joined a lady friend who had bee
T waiting in the hall, with no prospect c
ever being able to write my name Mrs
n John Loring Furber instead of
is BECKY SHARP.
The Bells Must Ring.
BERNE. Switzerland March "A