The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-05
TRAINING HIM.

ough course of sprouts You can't
expect to win Mans heart with five
pound boxes of candy and expensive
flowers alone"
Il imagine am a trife-er-raw
In these things" said Hicks, smiling
at the earnest face before him
1t was an attractive face. full of
pretty dimples and prone to flash upon
you some surprising expression you
had never dreamed could be SO en-
trancing.
Il am a rather faint-hearted cour-
tier, I'll admit" he added with an
easy laugh
You are. that's true" said Miss
ROdman. .Giris-especially girls like
Nan-admire aggressiveness in men,
You are altogether too passive 1t
fairly made my blood boil the way
you LEI that presumptuous young VIII
liams take Nan from you for a drive
Just now What made you let her
go?" she asked suddenly.
My dear Miss Rodman,' said he,
Il am not Mans keeper What right
had to say whether she should go
or stay2'
Act as if you had the right. any
way" she advised.
Hicks laughed.
I'm fearful of the consequences
n did" said he You see all those
years when / dwelt at the mines with
only the society of half breeds and
Greasers have done their full work
In the society of such women as your
sister I'm as bashful as a school
boy
She looked at him, and a frank
smile curved the corners of her mouth.
I'll help YOU she said. IF you
were like the other men here I'd never
offer my services; but you're so big
and good natured and so helpless.
III take pity on YOU
Thanks he said. II need help
badly. What do you intend to do?"
Educate you" she said. 'or edu-
cate the fear of women out of you.
believe I'm the only girl here you're
not afraid Of
May 7 ask for some hints as to
your Methods" he said.
I'll serve as a dummy and in
structor in one" she explained. You
must devote two weeks to me. Be
gin as if you had just met me; take
me driving and to the dances and all
that sort of thing. In short. make
love to me and finally propose. I'll
watch you carefully and give you
points. When you've taken your dip
Iona in this course strike out for
Nan"
Hicks Strengthened himself on the
veranda rail.
I'm awfully grateful to you," he
said. with conviction ITS no end
kind of you to take this interest and
trouble When do we begin?"
No time like the present" she
laughed You may go down to the
stable and get the cob and take me
Look here" said Hicks. "I'n do
my very best. and I'll try to get my
lessons thoroughly. III bring some
candy along, too"
Not yet" she said. THAT will
come in the advanced lessons"
She watched him walk briskly down
the walk. and bewildering smile
brought out all her dimples.
wouldn't have gone with Will
iiams if I'd been Nan she said. point
eddy, as she went into the house to
array herself for the drive.
The next two weeks were busy ones
for Hicks. He was devotion itself to
the younger Miss Rodman. He took
her to the Casino dances and sent
her endless supplies of candy and
flowers They drove together through
the surrounding country; they poked
cred all sorts of jolly retreats and
quaint little lovers hooks.
The elder Miss Rodman looked on
with condescending approval. She be-
gan to treat Hicks with sisterly frank |
ness Two weeks earlier this would |
have made him extremely uneasy. |
Now he did not care.
Hicks and his instructor were punt |
ing on the river one afternoon The |
girl looked up suddenly.
You're coming on all right" she
said. encouragingly. 81 didn't know
you could say such nice things as you
have this afternoon
Neither did l." he said, with a |
rrankness that set them both laughing /
lHAlk5 SdlQ she, you've got /
about all you can out of this course
Therefore, I'll give you your dip
Iona, and you'd better begin on Nan"
Just little longer Hicks OBJ
1ecSed- Il need more confidence yet"
He looked at the girl quizzically.
and their eyes met-only for a mo-
ment. for hers suddenly fell.
IF you like. then" she said. and
laughed rather artificially.
Two evenings later they sat in a
quiet corner of the Casino veranda
through the open windows came
the dreamy notes of waltz. Hicks
of her hands in his In the moon
light he saw the telI-tale color creep
into her cheeks.
You haven't an idea what your in
gtructfon has come to mean to me-"
he said But now that have learned
what ii means, 1 can't live without |
IT. You must instruct me through
life I shan't say will YOU marry me
but you must marry me, Betty
She started, then laughed SOFTLY
"Oh, yes. OF course, the proposal
she said, lightly I've no criticism to
make; it's very we'll done. Only Won
must remember at the really critical
not Betty
This is the critical time" said he.
gravely, and you know I'm not re-
hearsing- I've not given a thought
since that first ride of ours. I've been
in earnest. terribly in earnest all the
too"
She was silent
Weren't you in earnest?'' he asked.
In pleading tones.
Her eyes were looking pensively, far
away, but her hand tightened about
his
Did YOU ever suppose 1 was a kim
dergarten for Mans suitors? ?" she
Preston, in San Fran
cisco Call.
EIectroIysis.
The damage done To M rs I, N r.i..ss