The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-23
THE CONQUEST OF PHYLLIS.

Phyllis" I asked, will you marry
.me?" Seventeen" said Phyllis.
1 looked at her in establishment.
Seventeen 1 questioned. Seven
teen what?"
why the score. you silly" she re-
gponded demurely. Some one has to
keep track of it"
That's the trouble with Phyllis. If
her sense of humor was not so highly
her ages ago. She never will take me
seriously.
Bother the score" I cried desperate
ly. Anyhow we'll not count the other
sixteen tines
But I would very much rather"
Phyllis was staring into the fire. l
didn't know just what she meant.
never was much good at guessing.
We'll" 1 answered indifferently,
lust as you please. Count them If
you like. All mean was that none of
them mattered so much as this time"
Positively your last chance ladies
and gentlemen" she cried gaily.
assented in my most dignifed man
ner. Phyllis laughed. 1 do wish she
would take me seriously once in
while.
why do you keep on proposing to
me like this?" she asked
I shrugged my shoulders.
Some men there are love not
gaping pig; others are troubled If they
behold cat 1 quoted. Are you
answered."
That is no answer thou unfeeling
man
IF you must have it," I replied
fippantly Il suppose it's my form of
diversion. My hobby, II you Will. We
All have our hobbies, more or less, you
now"
immensely. Then she looked at me
quickly when I was not expecting it.
You appear to be enjoying your
self" she complained.
''Me?" I queried. in mock innocence.
"On, 1 protest; really. I'm not
Phyllis frowned again.
We'll, then you ought to be-"
Il know It," 1 agreed, Il ought to
be. Seventeen times ought to be pro-
ductive of more than it has shown so
far 1 wonder" 1 concluded, dreamily
DC DO m iss. wonder II eighteen VIII
You haven't been answered for sew
enteen yet" said Phyllis.
No" said I, nor for any of the 9TH
er sixteen either"
Now there was Darcy Graham"
said Phyllis inconsistently He asked
swore eternal devotion each time
whether 1 would have him or no.
There's a man for your
And then went and married Kitty
MCPHERSON said I, almost to myself.
No corrected Phyllis; kitty mar
ried him."
willie Atkinson came next" I ven
tured.
He only ran up to thirteen" said
Phyllis.
Which accounts for his failure" I
suggested.
Phyllis paid no attention to my re-
mark
Il think the little fellow from the
bank whom met in the summer came
after that?" she murmured interroga-
lively.
Surely. you don't count him?"
questioned in surprise Why, you told
me yourself that he only lasted till the
second round
He would probably have stayed long
er If you hadn't come down that Sun
day" said Phyllis, in a vexed way.
You always do turn up at the most in
7pportune moment"
Had l only known you didn't want
Ie-" l began.
Il can't remember who was next" in
terrupted Phyllis. quickly; do you
know" 49,
"I think" said I. reHectively. Il adj
ded about two to my own score that
way. I always like you in white, you
know"
There" corrected Phyllis. consulting
her tablets.
Hold your head that way again." I
said. What long eyelashes you havei"
Phyllis deliberately turned the other
way. Hold it around I commanded.
Il want to look at It." Phyllis held it
round Phyllis likes to be commanded
at times "A rather pretty mouth. too. -
very fair yet. One would never guess
you were getting up in years"
TIE DTeFeranoa