The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-21
HER CHRISTIAN NAME.

Silence was-to quote from Jimmie
! Spencer-Henry Walcot's long suit
There was a great bond of friend
ship between the two; perhaps they
| followed in this the law that OppoSiteS
| attract each other. For Jimmie Spen-
| Ger was the reverse of Henry Walcot
! in almost every particular. Where
Henry was tall and dark, Jimmie was
rather the medium height, and so in
clined to rotundity of figure that his
face, beaming always with good hui
NOR. inevitably suggested to an OBJ
server the qualifying adjective "chub-
by"
why do like Henry so well ?" said
Jimmie one day in reply to a question.
Because he is such a jolly fellow and
knows how to keep his mouth shut.
Say, do you know" growing suddenly
enthusiastic, Henry can speak Eng
lish, German and Spanish, but, by
Jove! he knows how to keep quiet in
about fourteen other languages, not
counting dialects and slang"
why do I like Jimmie ?" said
Henry. musingly. Because he is a
jolly good fellow and knows how to
talk, suppose
So they sat now in front of a cheer
full fire in Walcot's rooms, smoking
and talking. Jimmie. was chatting
away as usual. but there was some
thing a bit distraught in his manner
which did not escape the keen eye of
his friend. BY and by, even Jirnmie's
and each sat smoking and musing-
1t was Henry who broke the silence
sit up, Jimmie, and talk out like
man." said he, with laugh You
know you never tramped all the way
up here in the snow and then climbed
three flights of stairs just to have a
chat. Out with it, man! What have
you got on your mind?"
Jimmie looked up queerly, and,
catching the friendly CLEAN in the
others eye, he laughed himself and
replied:
believe you are a mind reader any
how
Perhaps I do a bit in that line now
and then" answered Henry, with an
assumption of great mystery, land to
you came UP here for no other pur-
pose than to tell me that you have
gone and got yourself engaged"
Now, how in thunder did you
know that?" asked Jimmie, sitting up
in establishment.
You look guilty" answered Henry.
with one of his peculiar, almost in
audible chuckles.
even paying attention to the girl
whom 1 am to have the honor of
marrying" declared Jimmie, protest.
ingly. You could not have had any
Now, Jimmie, my boy, do give me
credit for using my powers of obser-
walton occasionally" protested Henry.
sol" said Jimmy, then maybe you
have used them far enough to tell me
the name of the girl
Il undoubtedly cam" averred Henry,
solemnly. Stunted as my powers of
observation may be, they have been
sufficiently powerful to enable me to
declare that the young lady in ques-
ton is none other than Miss Preston"
This prescience was too much for
Jimmie, who simply stared open
= oI,rr a.
That's the worst of you close
mouthed people," said he presently,
with an air of deep disgust You sit
around and don't say a word, and all
the while you are keeping close tab on
everything and everybody. Then
when a fellow comes around to tell
you piece of important news you
take the wind all out of his sails with
your air CT worldwide knowledge and
consciousness of his most intimate
thoughts. l must say that think you
might have pretended ignorance.
Now, I'll just keep quiet about the
matter" And Jimmie resoiutely shut
his mouth and turned again to his
cigar.
Now. Jimmie" said walcot, with
dignity, don't be any more of
chump than usual. You know you
are SO full of the subject that you
nave Just got to talk. So fire away"
And Jimmie did fire away presently,
the subject having got the better of
his resolve.
But, Henry. all natural prejudice
ASIDE 1 Just can't believe my good
luck To think that she should accept
me, when she might have had any mon
why, she might have married you, old
chap, couldn't she?"
Did she tell you sop
Nope" said Jimmie cheerfully. but
l can't see how it is that you haven't
fallen in love with her"
Maybe I was in love with another
woman" said Walcot, slowly.
There was something in his tone that
made Jimmie look up quickly.
-Walcot was gazing into the cheerful |