The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-06-17
AOF INTERES 4@2


ones. she said-and she nodded
guiltily, she couldn't account for it,
but she wished with all her heart it
wasn't. And then he went on talking
very fast and still holding her hand,
Won't you take it off as soon as you
get home and tell him or write to him
that you can't marry him? He doesn't
need you nor want you as do.
have been looking for you all my life.
The niintue I saw you I knew that had
found you. Don't tell me that it is too
late'-and so on, you know, just like
a Robert Chambers story of immediate
and unconditional surrender. Ruth
says she doesn't know what saved her
from yielding-her fascination was so
complete, but finally, she thinks, a
realization of the unconventionality,
the impossibility of the whole thing
came over her and she resumed part
of her dignity, and got away some
how. She avoided him the rest of the
trip but when they reached Chicago he
offered his help and she accepted it.
Charlie was there to meet her and she
introduced him to the Texan and they
all rode up town together and left him
at the Annex. She married Charlie
the next month and has never seen the
Texan since. But she found out all
about him from his Chicago friends
and he wasn't an imposter at all, nor
crazy nor anything you might think
and he sent her a grand diamond
bracelet for a wedding present which
her great-aunt Harriet. He's never
married, either. although he's per-
fectly stunning and a man any girl
could go crazy about and I often Won
der if Ruth doesn't regret him when
Charles petty and clubbing and
finicky, as he so often is. for the
Texan was such a different type
ct assisted at a proposal not long
ago." said the girl in the hammock,
$50 7 know really do AL
though sometimes they need lots of en-
enlargement. The girl was visiting me
and her lover came down from her town
to see her while she was at our house.
I say, her lover-she was perfectly
crazy about him and he had shOwered
her with attentions for the past two
years so I supposed of course they were
engaged. You know how little tact I
have and how familiar I am likely to
be on short acquaintance? Well, he was
that informal sort of fellow, anyway,
that you feel right off as If youd
known forever. So one night we
were sitting out on the veranda rather
late after every one had gone and-how
did it happen?-O, yes I know She
was going home next day and I was
beWauing the fact and turning to the
man [ said: Why don't you all come
here to live when you get married? You
could live here just as well as there
and it would be so dandy for me to
have Bess near me There was sec
Ond'S dead silence. / looked at him and
even by the moonlight saw that I had
said the wrong thing. Then I looked
at Bess and she was redder than any
lobster ever thought of being and I
realized at once what I had done. It
wasn't at all a joke, you know, nor
couldn't be passed off as such. I had
spoken in dead earnest that was evid-
ent. And while I foundered helplessly
trying to recover myself and turn it off
in some way the man-he was really
nothing but a boy and I think he did
nicely-came to and said in a kind of
choking voice. which gradually grew
normal as he went on, I guess I owe
you vote of thanks for giving me this
chance. Bess never would and now
that she sees'it's come she's scared to
death. The fact is, I've never said any
thing to Bess about getting married be-
cause I've never had the nerve, al
though I've wanted to awfully but
now
But now you'll excuse me- said
promptly rising to the occasion for once.
I may have started this thing but 1
have no ambition to be in at the
DEATH and 1 bolted. They were mar
ried the next fall and I was maid OF
honor
"StiiI you don't positively know that
he proposed said the girl with the red
hair.
ct don't know how 1t may be with
Others said the Old Girl who had
maintained a dignif1ed and non-com-