The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-30
NO FLIRTATIONS.
TFrom the Chicago News


accuse her of being mercenary. She
would not take a doubtful boarder at
any price.
In the neighborhood of Lincoln park
Miss COnant's was a landmark model
of permanency and conservatism in the
shifting life of the city.
Miss Conant called her boarders my
children" She had the true mother in
stinct. And though time had brought
her gray hairs and fate had denied her
a husband and children of her own, she
had compensated by adopting her
bOarderS. She loved and ScOIded them
with an abandoned naturalness that
was almost. if not quite, maternal.
Miss Conant had one ironbound, unal-
terable rule; within her hospitable walls
there were to -be-no fiirtations. In the
beginning she believed this rule to be
necessary Her children" were of both
sexes and unmarried, and the landlady
had heard it said that entanglements
sometimes arose which destroyed the
peace and sedatenesS of home life. So
she made her rule. 1t had never been
violated. AS Miss Conant said, there
was no nonsense about her Young
ladies and gentlemen. They lived to-
gether like brethren The gentlemen
played SiXty-six and discussed horses
and DugilistS and otherwise occupied
usually do. They met the ladies re-
specially, even CALAMITY, but so far
as the tender passion was concerned
they might have been wooden men,
Perhaps the young ladies secretly
scorned the rule Perhaps if the young
men had tempted them there might
heartache and misery. But the tempta-
tions were lacking, there had been no
violations of the rule and no insurrec-
tiOns in Miss Conant's little realm.
Until AIarcella came.
MISS Conant was doubtful of MarcelIa
at the first moment, and the 1andlady
looked from the unquestionable refer
ence to the questionable young woman
xr-It has TOT
THE girl is too pretty" said Miss
Conant, speaking to herself, of course;
''she has no business to be so pretty,
though, of course, she can't help it. I'll
admit that she seems modest and quite
ladylil1e. But she is pretty, and my
young gentlemen are mere human
beings. I should hate to demoralize
them
Marcella was all unconscious of the
white haired landiady's thought and
never dreamed how near Miss Conant
came to saying there wasn't a spare
room In the mouse.
The girl stood there, looking so limo
cent and childlike and so altogether I'M
conscious of her bewildering beauty
that Miss Commits doubts vanished.
There can't be any harm in that
child and she certainly needs a home.
I'll take her. Bless her pretty hearth
So Miss Conant thought and so it was
decided.
Unwise Miss Conantl What have you
done? Do you really think you can
with safety bring this bright and Sc
ductiVe creature into your household
Your young men may be like wooden
men and utterly free from nonsense; yet
they have eyes in their heads and at
one time they had hearts in their
bosoms Unwise Miss Conant!
So whispered discretion, but the land
lady refused to listen. Perhaps it was
fate.
Within a day Miss Conant observed
subtle signs of decentralization. Mr..
Craig. who for years had regularly bolt
ed his food with great haste, now ate
daintily and fingered at the table. Mr..
Smith wore his best suit to the office.
The sixty-six game was neglected and
the gentlemen gathered in the parlor.
VIII Caruthers talked softly and en-
tertainingly to Miss Jones, though he
watched Marcella out of the corner of
his eye and biushed when she looked
his way. Yes; VIII blushed. 1t was
remarkable thing. Miss Jones glared
at Marcella and Miss Beavers called Mr..
Smiths attention to the fact that the
new girl painted her face. Mr.. Smith
pretended to believe it.
The next day MarcelIa had three
bouquets and though she hid them in
her room the land1ady was not blind.
The developments of a month filled
Miss Conant with dismay. She felt it
her duty to speak to Miss Jones.
I am really quite surprised at you"
said the landlady. why. if it were not
so impossible and absurd [ should say
that you and Will almost seem devoted
TO eacn OLner-
I'm trying to save him from that
doll. that-creature, said Miss Jones.
"Marcella?' asked the astonished
Iandlady.
fectly shameful. Haven't you seen how
boldly she angles for him?"
Miss COnant had not seen it In fact
she thought Marcella seemed rathers shy.
But perhaps Miss Jones was right. In
doubtedly something was wrong and as
everything had been right before Mar
celia came perhaps Miss Jones was JUS
titled in holding her responsible. At
all events Miss Conant decided to speak
to Marcella.
1t must be known that VIII was the
star boarder- He had a good business
and a bright future, and Miss COnant
was not going to have his head filed
with nonsense.
The landlady was a diplomat. She
called Marcella to her room and placed
her arm gently about the girls waist.
How old are you, my deary?' asked
Miss Conant.
Nineteen" said Marcella-
you are young and you are very
pretty, my child. You must be care
full
Il do not understand" said MarceIla.
81 am going to speak to you as a
mother might speak, my dear. do not
accuse you, mind. Perhaps you have
meant nothing wrong. But must
warn you. Flirtations are neither wise
nor proper.
MarcelIa looked at the landlady in
wonder.
This is not a summer hotel" con-
tinued Miss Conant; 'peither is 1t a
young ladies' seminary. 1t is a respect
able boarding house; and the require
ments of peace and propriety have rem
dered this rule imperative-no hirta-
tions.''
Marcella was indignant.
What unusual or outrageous thing
have 1 done. that you say this to me?''
she demanded. Il will not be treated
so. Tell me plainly what you mean"
Your innocence is very creditable
my child" said Miss Conant; but you
must have seen that Mr.. Smith is alb
surdly attentive to you"
Il have not encouraged him." And
coIa