The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-25
TIE EVENING STORY
e CO TInInonrra.

The Great Unknown.
Thy Martha 14cCulIoch-w iIllans.l
81 can't hear youi won't ] won't.
I won't! Any way, wouldn't have
you II you were made OF diamonds and
white sugar Nora cried, sauciIy.
sticking her fingers IN her ears but
Her suitor. Calvin Burrows. Esq,
laughed heartily.
Don't you think you'd accept me II
got myself made over into Christ
mas card ~ he asked. his eyes twink
ling.
Nora turned her back to him.
Some people are pigs for obstinacy
yes, pigs! And binder than moles
into tbs bargain; they never can see
when their room Is better than their
company.
Dear me! How distressingl'' Bur-
rows said. equally. He had a notion
that he had brought Nora up, and so
knew everything about her. 'I know
who you mean" he ran on. Its that
time he comes and tries to wear out
his welcome, You have Hannah blow
the horn for me-
Nora laughed In spite Of herself.
Jimmy Dolan is never firesome. He
knows things to talk about-news and
funny things-and even books. You
sit mum-chance half the time. When
man has nothing to talk about don't
You think he had better go home ?"
And leave the prettiest little girl in
the county all by her lonesome? Not
much, Burrows said. reaching toward
his pipe pocket.
Nora. eyed him with fresh disdain.
You're a regular chimney" she said
What is the saying about smoking
chimney
"Oh! It goes on to mention scolding
wives" Burrows interrupted. He had
by this time Allied the pipe, and was
crowding the tobacco well down in the
bowl. When it was packed to suit him,
he lit it, puffed once or twice, then stood
up, faced the door, and said: II shall
have the paper with the birds put on
the parlor, Nora, and that pink Powered
pattern in the halls, think that's what
you said you'd like best2'' pausing with
his hand on the knob, his lids doWncaEt
but yelled twinkle behind them.
Y on know said no such thing; IL
you go and buy those taBgy green birds,
III never set foot in your new house
not while they're on the wallis Nora
burst out. And pink roses in q hall.
My heavens! That's just like a man.
It's nothing to nle-nothing IN the world
but do hate to see good money
wasted, so I'm going with you to town
and pick out something decent
I'm obliged to you, so viii my wife
be- Burrows said, civilly, turning back
to her. He had the look Of one ponder
ing a new and strange idea. but came
out of his daze quickly, and salds with
a good humOred smile; Nora I've
thought all along you were in fun, that
after awhile you'd agree with me; that
you might as well take me. But today
you've shown me better. I don't deny
it hurts to admit 1t, but then I'm not
the sort to whine. So let's make a bar
gain, right here and now-you help me
fix my house up SO any other girl will
be glad to take me for it, and I'll do
fao-f To ReY15 Tn97n0
about Jimmy DOlan- Jimmy Is not such
a bad sort; the worst that can be said
is that there amt much to him. That
won't matter in the least, seeing he has
money enough to insure rations for two.
You-any girl-mtght do lot worse
than to take him
why, you've said many time the
reason he was no worse was that ne
hadn't sense enough Nora broke H.
Burrows gave her a quick look, but
went on steadily: Maybe 1 qid; pu '
then YOU must allow something Tor
jealousy. I was jealous of Jimmy; but
am not any more. The case stands
lust thus: You won't have me, not Tor
anything can say or do or be, and
wife I'm bound to have. It's dead lone
some, living on q. big place in new
house all by yourself. But l have got
to get out OF living by myself. and you
must help me. Women knew each other
as men never can. Tomorrow morning
III come over bright and early, and as
we drive to town you can tell me VINO
is worth having, and where IS my Dese
chance
Nora stared at him hard In all her
life Burrows had never made one-half
SO long a speech to her. After he
went she was quiet Tor & Iull nouE.
she had leased and tyrannized over.
and houted him SO long, so merrily, II
gave her 8 start to think the occupa-
ton was soon to be definitely gone BY
way of getting over the shock she ran
to her room and spent the interval
before supper in trying on her pretuest
frocks, and coInbing her hair three
WAYS. She wound up by choosing
blue linen, two years old, yet Burrows
especial admiration. She also decided to
wear her hair loosely waved about her
face. Burrows had said 1t was sin
to strain it back in a set ponpadour.
Naturally, when she stepped into his
buggy she was a vision OF delight at
least to his unworldly yet rather pro-
But he did not tell her so. Indeed.
the conversation was for the first mile
or two decidedly fragmentary- Then
there fell absolute silence while the
black span went a slappiug pace over
4 long level stretch. It ended at a
sharp rise. Burrows refined in as they
came to It, and spoke to the horses, IN
a soft regretful voice. They know
who's behind them most as well as
do he said to Nora. Poor 1assies!
To think they'll soon have to be taking
some one else to town.
.sWho?'' Nora said. GROSSLY. 'tof
course you know. That was all make
believe, your wanting me. Or wanting .
me to tell you things. You wouldn't
heed a word I'd say. I know mon.
Obi whole lot better than they know
themselves
mo doubt That's a woman's priv
ilege," Burrows said, smiling. But I
MT yTaHdA mind.