The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-07-01
Why She Wouldn't Marry Him.

Z
kin's sitting-room.
Penelope was making 3 Braided rug and
Mrs. AlSls Skinner was knitting q stock
Ing. A silence had fallen between them
after the first half-hoarr Of chat. and each
seemed occupied with her own work.
Penelope was, in fact, thinking OF the
black strip she was going to put around
the edge of her rug, but Mrs. Skinner was
| trying to think Of some way to lead up to
the subject OF Job Llscomb. She was on
| from the West visiting her sister, Mrs.
Simeon Quincy, and she had chosen this
kin.
Have you ever found out why she
wouldn't marry Job Liscomb?" Mrs
Amos had asked when they were talk
i ing about Penelope that forenoon.
No, we haven't" Mrs. Simeon had re-
piled.
II believe I'll find out this afternoon.
I'd just as lief ask her right out"
20, l don't believe you want to-"
Eyes, l would She and ! used to be
! good friends, and it's so many years
since I've seen her that she'll be feeling
like telling me things that she wouldn't
tell the rest Of you that have lived right
along with her, as you might say. Yes,
I'd just as lief ask her as not"
But now, as she looked at Penelope,
she hesitated. She decided not to ask
her right out. but to lead up to the ques<
ton cautiously.
You do seem to be real comfortably
situated" she said at last. AR you amt
grown old like me. YOU house Is just
as pretty as can be, and, well, I guess
you've done better than some thai mar
ried."
She laughed a little nervously. It
wasn't as easy as she expected. She Won
dered IL that was too abrupt a begin
ming.
Penelope smiled placidly. "Im greatly
favored" she said, land don't feel any
reason for complaint with my lot"
Mrs. Skinner went on with more conf
dence. II guess you didn't make any
mistake that time you gave Job Liscomb
the mitten. They say they're as poor as
picry. and now he's had to go and break
his leg. and well, they seem to be In a
peck Of trouble all the time"
Mrs. Skinner waited a moment, but
there was silence.
NO" she went on hastily, fearing that
Penelope would change the subject. no
guess you knew what you were about"
She waited till the pause was the right
length for the effect she wished to pro-
duce. then said: But I've always Won
dered how you happened not to have
him."
IT suppose there's a good many who
would like TO know that" said Penelope,
calmly.
Mrs. Skinner had held her breath and
looked at her friend with bright, pierre
ing eyes, but at this answer disappoint-
ed expression came over her face.
well, you can't deny twas curious"
she said. with the slightest trace OF irri-
tation in her voice. There he'd been
going with you steady that spring and
then all at once he stopped short. and
neither Of you gave any reason for IT,
that / ever heard Of"
NO" said Penelope, I'm sure I never
have"
A tinge of color famed up in Mrs. Skin
ner's face. This was rather dlsappolnt-
ing. She controlled her voice with an
effort and went on patiently:
at was awful strange. My! I can re-
member just how you looked that spring.
You had a lavender delalne and IL was
terribly becoming, and everybody said
that you and Job were the best-looking
couple in town. That hit me. for that
was the year Amos and I began to keep
company. But you were good looking
that year" she said generously, glancing
at Penelope to see the effect Of her words.
swell, everybody was thunderstruck
when 1t came to an end so sudden. and
everybody guessed a different reason.
Some thought it was his mother made
the trouble, and some said you hated
smokin' so bad. but I always thought 1t
was her he married afterwards"
She paused and looked at Penelope,
trying to decide II she was going too far.
''You know, he began to go with her
pretty soon after you got through with
him. Well, I thought p'rhaps he didn't
know his own mind, and maybe you'd
seen him larkin' round her"
"Well," said Penelope, suddenly, DO
you blame a girl for being mad under
such clrcumstancesT
Mrs! skinner caught her breath. 1t was
coming out now.
so that was the reason?" she said. her
voice shrill with excitement. 80 that
was the reason. You don't say?'
mo, don't say" said Penelope. There
was a mischievous CLEAN In her eyes.
SCI don't say so. and that wasn't the rea-
son. / was just fooling you"
Mrs. Skinner knit fast, and her mouth
was closed like a trap. Penelope looked
at her now and then.
''They say Jobs fat now" che said,
mildly, land bald. too"
Mrs. Skinner picked up courage for one
more trial. Eyes" she said, "he Is. 1
knew he'd be bald; II runs In the family.
Say, Penelope" she pleaded. ct wish you'd
tell me the reason you wouldn't marry
him."
wen. j VIII SAID teHelope, Ie4eHl4iB.
''I'n tell you the real reason"
She paused and Mrs. Skinner laid down
her knitting and leaned forward eagerly.
HE never asked me-" Penelope said,
impressively.
Mrs. Skinner looked blank for moment,
then she rose TO her feet.
ITS awful late. MirandY'll be expect
ing me-" She put on her things in haste,
then she said good-by and went out.
= Penelope stood in the door. with an
amused smile on her lips, and watched
her visitor till she reached the road; then
she stepped out and ran lightly after
| her.
mis- Skinner" she called.
Mrs. Skinner paused and waited impa-
| tiently.
you forgot to inquire why he didn't
ask me?" she said
''Well?" said Mrs Skinner.
There was a quiet dignity about Pene-
| lone as she answered: IT always held
! that II a girl wasn't going TO marry a
man, she had no business to let him pro-
pose and so didn't let him ask.
| She turned and went swiftly back to
| the house.
! Mrs. Skinner stood still. We'll" she
| said. AZ don't sees I've found out much.
after ALL" and she walked slowly along,
defeated and detected-Boston Globe.