The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-12-12
V.-Continued.
Debatable Questions

Debatable Questions.
. ER father continued to joke
about the school Director
ship, and a few weeks later,
when they were alone, re-
LII III. ferred to it III a way which
she knew by experience was
merely q feint that con-
cealed some serious purpose. Men of
Porter's age are usually clumsy in
dealing with their own children. and
Porter was no exception. When he
had anything of weight on his mind
to discuss with Evelyn, he brooded
over it for several days before attack
ing her. His manner with men was
easy, and he was known down town
as Il good buffer: but he stood not
a little in awe of his daughter
L suppose things will be gay here
this winter" he said, as they sat to-
gether on the porch
About the same old story, [ ina
g1ne. The people and their ways
don't seem to have changed much
You must have some parties your
self. Better start them up early. Get
some of the college girls out and turn
it'on strong"
well, sha'n't want to overdo it.
/ don't want to be a nuisance to you,
and entertaining isn't as easy as it
looks"
It'll do me good, too" he replied.
He fidgeted in his chair and played
with his hat, which, however, he did
not remove. but shifted from one side
to the other, smoking his cigar mean
while without taking it from his
mouth. He rose and walked out to
one of his sprinklers which had been
placed too near the walk and kicked
1t off into the grass. She watched
him with a twinkle in her eyes, and
then laughed. What is it, father?"
she asked, when he came back to the
porch
Whats what?' he replied, with
assumed irritation. He knew that he
must now face the music and grew
composed at once.
We'll, it's this with sudden de-
ctsion.
Yes, 1 knew it was something" she
said, still laughing and not willing to
make it too easy for him.
H-"You know the Knights Of Midas
are quite an institution here--boom
the town, and give fall festival every
year. The idea is to get the country
people in to spend their money. Lots
Of tom-foolishness about it--swords
and plumes and that kind Of rubbish;
but we all have to go in for it. Local
pride and so on"
yes; do you want me to join the
Knights?'
mo, not precisely. But you see,
they have d ball every year in
connection with the festival, with a
queen and maids of honor. L guess
you've never seen one of these
things as they have them in
October, and you've always been
away at school. Now the committee on
entertainment has been after me to
see if you'd be queen of the ball this
year"
"Oh!"-ominously
Just hold on a minute He was
wholly at ease now, and assumed the
manner which he had found effective
in dealing with obstreperous custom
ers of his bank. I'm free to say that
I don't like the idea OF this myself
particularly Theresa lot of publicity
about it and you know I don't like
that-and the newspapers make an
awful fuss. But you see it isn't wise
for us'-he laid emphasis on the pro-
noun-'to set UP to be better thar
other people. Now" with a twinkl lie
in his eye, you turned down this
school board business the other day
and said you wanted to have a GOOD
time, just like other girls, and ]
reckon most of the girls in town
would be tickled at a chance like
this
And you want me to do it, father
is that what you mean? But it mus
be perfectly aWful--the crowd anC
the foolish mummery."
'Well, there's one thing sure, you'll
never have to do it q second time
Porter smiled reassuringly.
But [ haven't said I'd do it once
father"
I'D like to have you; I'd like i
b, very much, and should appreciate
your doing it: But don't say any
thing about it, Some callers were
coming up the walk so the matter
was dropped.
Porter required to the subject agair
next day, and Evelyn saw that HI
wished very much to have her take
part in the carnival. but the idea die
not grow pleasanter as she considers
it. It was quite true, as she had tolt
her father. that she wanted to enjo,
herself after the manner Of othe
young women, and without constan
reference to her advantages, as sh
q had heard them called; but tn
thought of a public appearance il
what she felt to be a very ridiculou
function did not please her. On tn
anything of her and he would no
have made this request without con
sidering it carefully beforehand.
In her uncertainty she went 70
advice to Mrs. Wh1pple, the wife of
retired army officer, who had bee
her mothers friend. Mrs. Whipp1e wa
Il a woman of wide social experience
and unusual common sense, She ha
settled in her day many of those dis
tressing complications which arise a
military posts in times of nationa
peace. Young officers still came t
her for advice if their love affair.
which she always took seriously, bu
not too seriously.
My dear child" Mrs. Whipple be
gan, when Evelyn had explained he
errand; this is a very pretty com
pliment they're paying you-.-don't 70
know that?"
Yes, but [ don't want it, de
clared the girl, with emphasis
That is wholly unreasonable. Their
are girls in Clarkson that could nc
afford to take it; the strength of you
position is that you can afford to d
1t! It's not going to iniure you i
any way: can't you see that? Every
body knows all about you---that yo
naturally wouldn't want it. VIII!
there's that Margrave girl, who's
father does something or other i
one of the railways-she had thj
honor that is worrying you two yeal
ago. and her father and all hi
friends worked hard to get it for her.
Evelyn laughed at her friend
earnestness. I'm afraid you're try
ing to lift this to an ilnpersonal PLAN
but I'm considering myself in tn
matter. [ simply don't want to b
mixed UP in that kind of thing
These business men work awful
hard for all of u.s. Mrs. Whippl