The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-06
THE FRIENDLY THING.
Fron the OnIooker.

4ESne was Sitting ana L was SldHuAi5
on the hearth rug with my back to the
fire. The situation was a trying one
So was the smile with which Irene ia
Vored me as she looked up from the
volume of poems in her lap thlnk
they are just splendid, she repeated
Splendid isn't the word!,' L exclaim-
Cd enthusiastically
The position was certainly a difficult
one. I had known Lady Calcroft for
considerable number of years. My IN
timacy with her niece, Irene Sanford,
dated back as far as the age of Elton
collars and abbreviated skirts. More
over, my friendship for the latter had
always been understood to be strictly
Of the platonic order.
The difficulty lay in the fact that It
was not-strictly.
This being the case, found it some
what embarrassing when Lady Calcrott
asked me as an old friend. to try to
ascertain how matters stood between
her niece and a certain young man
abOut-town of our acquaintance, OF I'M
deniably good family, and heir to i'm
mense estates somewhere in the north,
who had been of late paying Irene some
attention, and whom Lady Calcroft ap-
peared to consider as desirable in ev-
or way.
have involved an explanation obvious
ly impossible under the circumstances.
Consequently there was nothing for II
but to do the friendly thing, and 1t was
had contrived the present interesting
little tete-a-tete with Irene.
Speaking of BERTHE Bantock," 1 be-
gan for the third time.
Bother BERTHE BantOckl" This was
enigmaticaI and might mean anything.
ut seems to me"
why are you always dragging him
in?" demanded Irene. with behe-
mence that quite startled me.
"A mutual friend murmured. di-
Dramatically. One has to be Diplomatic
with a woman. And everything con-
sidered," I went on. really most de-
SRA ble--'
But 1 don't desire him. she inter-
rupted. I looked surprised. THAT is, l
don't desire to hear so much about him, ="
she added quickly.
The correction pleased me. To my
thinking it sounded hopeful. Lady Cal
croft might have thought differently.
proceeded:
You like him?"
Obi yes-in a way
Il thought that you and he were great
friends" 1 laid particular stress upon
the great"
Possibly" she replied shortly.
do I understand
mo, you don't understand" Her fing-
ers beat an impatient little tattoo upon
the volume of poems.
oh" said l, feebly. I felt that di-
Dramatically 1 wasn't doing the friend
ly thing well. Irene smiled sweetlv.
You silly boy" she laughed what
do we want to talk about BERTHE Ban
took for? I think these poems are ever
so much more interesting"
considered. The volume was enti
tied Lays of the Love-lorn."
What a pity they are anonymous"
she continued. Z" should so like to have
-9uI0s sBM 7L7QL ..LoqlnB 9ql uMouH
thing in the glance she gave me that
I found very disconcerting.
"Bantock writes. does he not?" I sug-
gested.
''Scribbles, yes. But then. for the
matter of that, so do you, and-and lots
of other people
felt hurt. I know that young Ban
took scribbles, but-welll
I wish you would try and find him out
for me- she went on.
Him ?"
The author. I suppose it is a man.
At least, hope"
I examined the pattern on the hearth
rug carefully.
1T win be very difficult" I observed.
will it, really?" she asked.
Very" I replied.
Il think I could find him out tiff 7
tried"
L wonder if you could" said I. She
nodded Then I suddenly remembered
my mission BERTHE Bantock." 1 COM
menced, heroically.
please don't!" she implored IF YOU
cannot talk about anything else"
But I can" said l, hastily, L can!''
4 was talking about something else
when Beatrice Seton burst in upon us.
Beatrice Seton is a bosom friend of
Irene's. and chiefly remarkable for the
suddenness of her appearances and dis
appearances.
Such funp' she exclaimed. after we
had shaken hands. I've been round to
the Crawleys -awfully jolly people, you
know, and We were playing 'strokelet'-
the new game, you know, awfully idi-
otto, but great FINLAND BERTHE Ban
took and +" She stopped suddenly in
some confusion, and exchanged a quick
glance with Irene.
And BERTHE Bantock and your" I de-
manded grimly.
"He-he plays dreadfully badly" she
concluded. lamely.
Yes" I remarked. "he plays dread
fully badly"
AS rose to go Irene said to me:
Don't forget your promise to find out
for me who wrote Lays of the Love
lorn,' will your"
Did I promise?" I asked
"Of course you did," she replied.
well, we shall see,'' said l. And win
that I took my leave.
The deuce of it is that I am the au-
thor of Lays of the Love-lorn."
Two days later I was driving with LADY
Calcroft in the park. We had exhausted
all the current small talk concerning the
passed. when suddenly Lady Calcroft 70
membered something. by the wav" she
said, have you seen her. yet?'
Lady Calcroft has a way of "doublino'
conversationally, that as often as not re-.
suits In throwing her hearer completely of
.the scent
At first I thought she alluded to tht
latest dramatic importation from America
Then light broke in upon me. Yes"
replied, Il saw Irene last Tuesday,
''WeH, how did you get on?''
s'Not very WE'LL 1 admitted IA
least 7 oaGsed
Not very well. Ell?
Had not known how she looked upor
the matter, I could have sworn she wa.
Laughing CON the 7
sumed with dignity. my mission on tina
occasion must be regarded as n failure.
Dear met" she exclaimed feelinglv
did you bring in Mr.. Bantock?"
I'D EENNEDsC