The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-11-16
THREE CALLS.

Mabel Robbins in Mainly About People1
And do you find many changes"
The girl was leaning back in her chair,
thoughtfully regarding the man she
had not seen for ten years.
mo, can't say do
ssYou are changed"
"Am I?''
you are changed both outwardly and
inwardly Then you were no one, now
you are some one"
She looked at him for a moment in
silence. Il WONDER she said at last, if
you find me as much changed as 1 do
your
He took advantage of the opportunity
she gave him and looked long at her fair
face.
He ignored her remark altogether.
why have you never married?" he
asked.
She Chased her hands at the back of
her charming head with a little ySwn.
II have been unfortunate she said.
"All the men who wanted to marry me
1 did not care for, and all the men
cared for did not want to marry me!
1t is the general 'cussedness' of Fate
she finished, with a low laugh.
Il think it is due more to the general
'cussedness' of your own nature, he an
SWered gravely.
Her dark eyes twinkled. 81 am afraid
you are out of practice she said, in
making pretty speeches. And what are
you going to do now you are home
again ~
II haven't decided about my future
except in one respect hope to marry
She turned to him in surprise. Are
you engaged, them she asked
He shook his head Il want to know
if you will be my Wife,"
A little color crept into her cheeks
Il wish you wouldn't she said. You
should remember that you were always
one of the men L did not want to
marry.
THAT was in the old days''-quietly.
why should there be any difference
now? One could not change ones op1n-
ion during an hours CALL
No he said; it was not so much any
change in me that l thought would
make you give me a different answer
than you did ten years ago as the
change in yourself and your circum-
stances
My circumstances are unaltered,"
she said wonderingly, land as to myself
you are a good deal older than you
were ten yearsfago."
She flushed
Then if you think have aged so
much" she cried sarcaStically, why do
you want to marry me?''
Il never said l wanted to marry you,
coolly but occasionally ones sympa-
thies become aroused and carry one
away with them in spite of ones self.
Her dark eyes flashed fire
"Sympathies?' she cried. why
should I arouse your sympathies?"
4 don't know exactly, but somehow
I always feel sorry for girls like you,
who have to give way to younger gen
eration.''
Her hands fell to her side. The enor-
nifty of his words seemed to stun her
You are very kind" she cried iron
ically, but will you please remember
that 1 do not require your compassion,
my gratitude for your disinterestedness
in asking me to marry you to save me
from such an endi
mot at all''-calm1y.
ha old cha 90 a c
he rose, but 1 have not sunk quite so
low to require your charity. There
are at least four men who would marry
me tomorrow tiff / consented-men
who really want to marry me-
Il don't doubt it" he said gravely,
land 1. hope you will forgive me if 7
have said anything which wounded you
Ones sympathies are often misplaced.
You will let me come again, won't
your
Il shall be charmed to see you" with
frigid formality, and then she placed a
listless hand in his
But when he had gone she went and
peered in the mirror
do I look so old?" she cried with a
catch in her breath; but she looked for
wrinkles and gray hairs in vain
when I refused him before she said,
refiectively, he cried Today-he
away.
1T is a long while since you came to
see me- she said, as she sat down in
her chair after receiving him.
yes a long while. But l have had so
much to do that 1 really haven't had
time
MOP" She smiled, but her fingers
were beating an impa tient tattoo on the
arm of her chair.
Il saw you al Nottingham on Satur-
day." she went on. You were walking
about with one girl the whole after
noon Who is she?"
''Oh, you must mean little Milly Dan
vers. Did you notice her? Did you
ever see such a pretty grip
Just UP from the country, I sup
pose"
Yes Any one could tell that at once
with the fresh color in her face"
1T was not her face that made me
think so"-scathingly. TT was her hat
Her hat?" he repeated, blankly-
Yes; and the way she had put it on.
Instead of the hat being on her head,
her head was rammed inside her hat.
BY their hats we shall know them -
scornfully.
He shook his head in a mystified way.
Men don't notice such things" he
said.
Don't they ?"-skeptically. ST think
they know pretty we'll if a woman looks
smart or not"
fiji Smart? Oh, daresay But, then one
would never associate such a word with
Milly Danvers. Sweet simplicity is her
STYLE
She tossed her head contemptuously.
you called me old the other day. she
said. land now I have discovered that
it is you who have aged. most. 1t is
only old men who discover charms just
out of the nursery
"Milly has left school some months"
trying to defend himself; but she only
tapped her foot on the ground with
some irritability.
Don't you think we have talked
enough about Miss Danvers ?'' she said.
Let start a topic of some interest"
Then we will talk about you
prOrnDfIv