The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-12-12
THE MAIN CHANCE
A THOROLY WESTERN STORY MEREDITH NICHOLSON
an1at
BIZ MEREDITH NICHOLSON
Copyright. 1908. BY Bobbs-Merrill Co.

ask you to tell me how to get out
Of this, but you seem to be urging
me in!''
Mrs. Whipple rallied her forces
while she poured the iced tea. which
a maid had brought.
I'VE can't always have our ruth
ers.' Now this looks like a very large
! sacrifice of comfort and dignity to
you. I'll grant you the discomfort,
but not any loss of dignity. If you
We're vain and foolish, d take your
side. You must not consider at all
that girls in eastern cities don't do
such things: that's because there
aren't the things to do. Our
great grandchildren won't be doing
them either. But these carnivals. and
things like that, are necessary evils of
ourselves, who have always been cared
for by d paternal government, can
hardly appreciate the troubles of bust
ness people; and girl like you, who
has always led a carefully sheltered
life. with both comforts and luxuries
given her without the asking. must
try to appreciate the fact that every
body is not SO fortunate. I don't
know whether these affairs are really
of any advantage to the town COM
mercially; 1 have heard business men
say that they are not; but so long as
they HAVE lllS11l, Tie rest Oh US uctVe
| got to submit to the confetti throwers
and the country brass bands, on the
theory that it's good for the town."
But what's good for the town isn't
necessarily good for me-" pleaded Eve
| lyn. Her animation was becoming,
and Mrs. Whipple was noting the
| points of the girls beauty with de-
light. Any other girls clothes would
look just as sweet to the multitude"
| Evelyn said.
That's where you are mistaken. If
it's a sacrifice, the town is offering
| Iphigenia, and only our fairest daugh-
| ter will do. I'll be talking fine Ian
/ guage in minute, and one of us will
be lost" She laughed; Mrs. Whipple
always laughed at herself at the right
moment. She said it discounted the
| pleasure other people might have in
laughing at her. I've lived in every
! part of this country, but the people
| in this region are simple and honest
and wholesome, and they have human
hearts in them, and at my age that
counts for a good deal. I love every
mile Of the country, and I don't want
you, who are the apple Of my eye, to
come home with patronizing airs
mot guilty. exclaimed Evelyn
throwing up her hands in protest. Il
have no such ideas and you know it;
but you ignore the point. What
can't see is that there's any question OF
patriotism in this Knights of Midas af-
fair, as far as I'm concerned, and Tn
not SO young as 1 was!> The queen OF
the ball should be much younger than
4 1 am
i. We'll, if you're reduced to that kino
Of argument, I think We'll have to cal
the debate closed. But remember
you're asked to give only an hour oil
your life to please your father, and 6
great many other people. And you'll
be doing your town great service
too
WELL" said Evelyn dolefully, as she
| got up to go, 'this isn't the kind 81
counsel I came for. If I'd expected
this from you, I'd have taken my
troubles elsewhere She had riser
and stood swinging her parasol bach
and forth and regarding the tip of he1
:. boot "You almost make it seen
right ,,.F.
You d better make a note Of it as
| one of those things that are not pleas
ant, but necessary. If I thought i
would harm you, child, I'd certainly
| warn you against it'd do that fol
your mothers sake
81 like your saying that, sale
, Evelyn softly.
Mrs Whipple had been a beauty il
the old army days, and was still {
handsome woman. She had retained
the slenderness of her girlhood, an(
the hot suns and blighting winds O.
the plains and mountains had deal
|, gently with her. She took both O.
Evelyn's hands at the door ant
, | kissed her.
, Don't go away hating me, dear
Come up often; and after it's all owe
I'll tell you how good you've BEEN
ooh, I'll go to a convent after
+ ward Evelyn answered; that is, i
) I find that you've really persuaded
met"