The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-04-22
WOMAN PROPOSES.

IT am very glad I met you this
morning" said Major Dick Lorrimer
There's something i want to talk to
you about"
The something seemed neither easy
nor pleasant to explain. for after this
one remark he sat in silence. with his
head bent, scowling heavily at the turf
beneath his feet
IT was a glorious June day. and the
Park was brilliant with sunshine, flow
ors and gay frocks but Lorrimer and
Joan Atherley-the girl from New
Zealand-sat we'll apart from the
crowd. alone together in the shade of
one of the big trees.
Joan was a beautiful woman-a fact
of which LOrrimer had been keenly
aware for the past five years-but
there was more than beauty in the fine
brow and dark eyes and the splendid
lines of che figure. There was
q sense of power, an intense vital
itv. and that indehnable charm of per
sonalty which. in spite of the smart
gown and Paris hat, made her so utter
ly different to other fashionable dressed
women.
I.orrimer. after wondering in what
way he had best unburden himself ulu-
mately jerked out the something IN
the toughest possible fashion
You must marry" he said at last.
mo woman i'm your position should De
single at twenty-seveu.
The girl started at the sudden remark
and then glanced at him sideways with
81 quaint little smile Need we be so
brutality accurate with regard to my
advancing years2" she asked, evading
the main point
''Oh. it isn't subject to joke about. -
he returned almost saVagely, at when
Joan laughed outright and then sud
denly became serious as she saw the
trouble in his face. You are a beauti
"A passably good-looking young
woman" he went on, and are abso-
iutely alone in the world. Besides hay
ing yearly income of $4,000, you We
written a book which some impression
able critics call the success of the year,
and consequently you've become the
fashion in society. / think society was
so astOnished in finding that, though
you came from New zealand, You
weren't black and you didn't wear a
Maori mat. that it took you to its ma
ternal bosom at once. You know that
before ne died your father asked me to
be a friend to you and advise you IN
the future. I've given you plenty OF
advice (of. sorts) since them which
needless to add. you've never taken,
but this time the advice is good; you
must take it,
Dear old Daddy" said the girl, soft
~. He was so fond of you. You have
been very kind and patient with me
always"
There isn't any question Of kind
ness" answered Lorrimer gruffly
YOU'RE likely to find good many
men who'll be quite willing to be much
kinder to you than I've been, but SONS
one ought to have the right toto kick
a cad like Carton when he annoys you
Don't you see how impossible it is for q
girl situated as you are to be utterly
alone? The world is bound to say un.
kind things"
But this isn't the world" objected
Joan with a wave of her hand in Thu
direction Of the moving throng befor
them. "Of course they think it is, bu
it's merely
'The Flesh and the Devil2" querie'
I.orrimer.
Miss Atherley smiled round at him.
Don't be rude" she said. "They'v
been very kind to me. and I wasn't go
ing to say that at all I meant tina
they're merely a corner of the big out