The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-04
ABOUT PRISCILLA.
ny SARA LINDSAY COLEMAN.

It was late afternoon of a golden
spring day when Priscilla first tramped
with Norton.
Shirt-waisted and walking-skirted
she came down the street with a fine.
swinging gait, by no means the Priscilla
that Norton, who had been absent some
months, remembered The Priscilla of
his acquaintance affected dim-Iit cor
ners where she lounged, it seemed to
him, eternally, in gowns that made him
think Of snakes, SO slippery and shiny
were they; or, perhaps, it was Priscilla's
sinuousness that was snaky.
Norton was healthy and unesthetic
young American. The rose forever
trembling in Priscilla's hair irritated
him, because it did not fall. Some other
things that irritated him were the poses
OF Priscilla and the man who hung over
her dim corner, and their Browning at
mosphere.
The new Priscilla stopped and held
out her hand to Norton most cordially.
1 hear you had been ILL.," he said.
How am I to believe it?'
Don't, she laughed. "and, some day,
come tramp with me-" She swung on
down the street-Norton followed.
They left the town far behind them.
Most girls would have hesitated to cross
creek without a footlog. Priscilla
sprang from log to log, and called back
to Norton, who said he would have car
ried more ethereal woman, that she
hoped he would borrow a rope and haul
her out il she slipped in.
You are stouter," said Norton, catch
ing UP.
Yes" Priscilla's voice had been in
the water If she hadn't
I adore plumpness in women and ba-
bies," said Norton, innocently. Pris-
elias smile flashed out on him.
The summer fairly swept itself along
to another late afternoon. when Priscilla
and Norton found themselves alone
upon the river-drifting in the sunset
glare. Norton didn't know what he
said, he didn't know how it happened
Priscilla found herself with wonder
ing eyes looking over the river that
widened into sea, the sea of an honest
and unesthetic mans love-
But memory held Priscilla. Walk
ing home in the afterRlow, she slipped
her hand for a moment into Norton,s.
Don't take your friendship from me-"
she pleaded.
Norton thought he understood Priscil-
las refusal. The esthetic man, who
had been travelling for months, re-
turned. Norton looked in on a dance,
to find Priscilla in the old shadowy cor
ner. wearing one of the old clingy gowns
her companion the travelling man. He
turned away sick at heart
But there was good southern fighting
blood in his veins. and before the even
ing was over he stood before Priscilla,
with resoIute eyes, and claimed her for
dance. She went without demur
Afterwards he led her into a curtained
recess away from the crowd The
music drifted in on their silence-and
mans voice that said:
when left her she was one of Bottf-
celii beautiful angels-wheE return she
is blue-ribbon prize pig-aw-I say
let's 60" The tones, thrilled with es-
thetic disgust, trailed into silence as
the speaker walked on.
Norton knew the voice and sat still,
almost afraid to speak; Priscilla recog-
nized 1t, and covered her face with ner
pretty. plump hands.
Priscilla" her heaving shoulders
were straining at Norton's heart
strings; don't! Stop it! III gladly kill
him"
Don't" said a choked voice. "Oh,
Tom, one goes on being fool for a
| year, and grows wise in minutes flash.
After what I've done for him, to be
called prize pig" Priscilla emerged
from her hands, and went off into a
peal Of laughter. isn't it-beautifu1"-
she gasped-"tnat I-can-see the-fun
in it."
Norton's blood sang in his veins It
was mirth that had moved Priscillas
shoulders.
And, after little, she stopped laugh
ing and said. with only an occasional
giggle:
II had a bad case. believe wept
myself into that typhoid. because he left.
almost got gray over my looks[I
knew he'd never love me fat, and the
things did to get thin. I boiled myself
in hot water, l blued myself in cold,
dined on lettuce leaves, ate lemon pie
for dessert, l turned somersaults,
swayed on my right and circled on my
left foot, punched and pounded myself,
and bag-to be called prize pig. Why,
/ was walking to get thin when I met
you that morning, and was calling it a
beastly typhoid. Tonight 1 wore the
old dress and tried the old atmosphere
IL wanted to be sure"
"And are your" eagerly.
Priscilla smiled at Norton, for youth
who claimed her for a dance was at her
elbow.
Norton carried her home. At the
top porch step she stopped in the moon
light, an anxious quicker on her brow.
Dearest" Norton held his breath
the word had slipped from him.