The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-10-24
The Last Of Nina'S Lovers.
.eYou WON'T find her that way."

Sheldon stopped short on the path to |
the cottage. and looked back. There
was an old half-sunk pier at Dexter's
Landing One side sloped almost to the
water, but the other was high and safe
on its picturesque piling, stained green
by the tapping river.
A figure in pink was perched at the
far end of the pier Nina never wore
pink. She said it was ordinary. Nina's
gowns We're all in pastel tints. Also. the
figure wore a large sunbonnet- Nina
said that sunbonnets were ordinary, too.
and topped her own pretty blond curls
with an airy creation in chiffon and tea
roses.
Therefore, taking these points into
consideration. Sheldon waved his cap in
comrade fashion at the figure, and
started for the pier.
Don't whistle rag-time.'' said Sally.
severely, when he was beside her. 1t
fidgets the fish,
II don't see any fish," he returned,
mildly
There are lots and lots If you keep
looking steadily at the water you can
see them. L just saw a great big perch
come along, and he chewed my bait
right off, and sailed away with it Fish
are the meanest, smartest things you
ever saw. Want to fish?''
mot today, thanks, Sally"
'Oh, 1 forgot. You want to md Nina
If you go down past the boathouse, up
the board walk to the hotel, then over
to the beach,
It's too warm to travel said Shell
don. IN fish. Lend me your pole"
Sally watched him thoughtfully as he
rebaited the hook and cast out with
broad sweep.
"F'ishing's awfully soothing, when
you re worried" she said after time
''You have to keep still, anyway, and
the water makes you SO sleepy and
rested when you hear it tapping against
the pier
notice it. but everyone else does. And
I'm awfully sorry for you-about Nina.
you know" The white sunbonnet nod
ded at him syrnpathetically. you
really haven't the ghost of a chance
You know Harry Barton, and Wallace
Stevans and old Mr.. Dean? They all
had it, too. Wallace had it worse He
| wanted to jump off the lighthouse pier
until I told him that Harry and Mr..
Dean had chosen the same place, and
he changed his mind. They all tell me
about it, you know, because I'm her
sister. L can tell when ones in love
with her before she can. First they
give me candy and loan me their frat
pins, and say I'm a bully chum- Then
after a while they say they wish they
me to tell them all about Nina ever
since 1 can remember. and I fill them
I'D"
Fill them up?"
| sally
a lot of fairy tales about how lovely
she has always been, and how she saved
my life three or four times, and never
told a lie, and won't use powder, or curl
her hair on an iron, or anything. And
they keep on liking me until Nina lets
| them fall over, and after that they
come and I sympathize with them, and
they tell me how they would like to die.
It's awfully interesting. VIII you take
to the pier when Nina let's you fall
over?
I'm not in danger of taking a tum-
BILE thank you, sister Sally,
"Oh, don't be morose and grumpy. It's
a sure sign you're worried. And it's
nothing at all to be ashamed of. Nearly
every one falls in love with Nina. It's
part of their vacation, Wallace says
And she doesn't mind, only she says she
does wish they'd all propose by moon
light, as it's more effective and inter-
esting.'
Did any one ever propose to you
Sally?"
'Oh, my, yes. And it was lovely. Las
year-no, two years ago-I was eleven
going on twelve, and the Seventy second
regiment came down here to camp. Ant
there was a bugler boy. He was COINS
on Is. He wasn't very pretty, but yo'
know how they look all dressed up cute
and he could blow the bugle so it sait
| Sally And he used to write me notes
and hide them in trees and after suppe
| we'd sit on the porch and talk an
|
night before he went away he pro
posed
what did he say?''
Sally hesitated and her eyes were ten
der. Don't you laugh, and tell Nina :?
Gross your heart, hope to die, if eve
you tell you'll lose your eye chante
Sally.
(Which eye?"
you're laughing now. I don't care
| 10 low how nd n ca
Sally, let's run away. and never com
back any more And I said. No; ar
sorry to hurt your feelings, but neve
will forget you or the honor you hay
done me as long as I live That's VIVA
Nina always says. And then 1 let hir
kiss me: and he wanted a lock of m
hair so cut off piece of Nina's lon
curl that she tackS on the back of he
head when there's hop. 1t wasn't jus
the color of my hair, but he didn't kno
and that's what Nina does when the
all beg locks of her hair. Why, 81
wouldn't have any hair left at all, yo
know. And then 7 let him kiss me
few times more Just to let him know
was really and truly sorry. and he wei
away. You've got a bitter!
Sheldon did not notice the bobbin
cork. He was staring at white sa
that dipped blithely to the breeze at II
north end of the island.
Isn't that Creston's yacht ~
THE White Ladye? Yes, that's his
She looked at it attentively. and sighe
: It's just as well you didn't hunt Min
/ because she's out there. Crestons splel
j did He's got money, too; but that isn
. it I know Nina's in love with hfT
and it will all be fixed when they con
:. back I'd never let anybody propo
y to me on yacht. Just get nice
4 started, and have the sail flap at 70
l. or something. And no one can hai
4 die yacht when there's proposing, CT
$ they? Isn't she going a little topp
now?'
t. Sheldon said something beneath /
}. breath, and turned back to the confer
81 pla ton of the cork
= But Nina won't mind this time.
!, guess you don't mind anything VIII