The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-08

and Personal Mention

able property, but that he looked and
dressed and acted like a tramp and was
the oldest old wretch they could i'm
aglne. She was sure he would amuse
them and was delighted that they were
going to meet him The widows listen
ed to all this with interest, replied that
they knew they would enjoy knowing
such an eccentric character and that
they'd surely come down that night.
And they did. And the old uncle was
in evidence, with his rough looking
clothes and his trousers tucked inside
his high boots and his Stubby grizzly
beard that looked as George AIDE
would say. that. IF you SHE'D a pebble
al it, a field mouse and meadow lark
would jump out They had curled
their hair and put on their diamonds
and their parIor faces and they were
sweet and gracious and deferential to
the old uncle as becomes a poor widow
when she is meeting a millionaire
WidOWer. And under the unaCCuStOn-
ed and Intoxicating influence of their
courtesy and Difference the old uncle
warmed up and talked and laughed and
told stories and staggered and made
himself COndeScendingl agreeable as
a man does when he sees that he is
making a hit with the women. He
lOunged back in a big chair in the
middle of the room, chewing tobacco
and splitting toward the fireplace, miss
the more he talked the potter the two
widows became and the better pleased
he was with himself His stories were
old and tfresome but the widows laugh
ed at them. He murdered the English
language with every sentence, but tn ey
paid him more respectful attention
than if he had had the initials Of a
dozen college degrees after his name
They stayed late and the old man kept
the middle of the stage and the spot
light until the end. When they left.
with cordial handshakes for the visitor
and pressing invitations to come with
he 1,EF
town, the hostess followed them into
the hall. isn't he the hmit?" she
whispered. Did you ever see such
manners and clothes and hear such
that and looking like that?" Why
he's not so bad!" said one widow
Hes eccentric of course, but he's
amusing" He's downright refresh
ing" said the second widow, as arti-
fetal a woman as every lived, and con-
ventfcnal to the point of snobbery. Il
like to see a man of wealth and posi-
ton who is superior to our foolish
conventions. He sees below the sur
face and knows what's worth While
one gets so tired of these superficial
Deople It's evident that he's an I'M
usual man in every respect and like
him Immensely. I do hope you Will
bring him over while he's here. Do
YOU think you could persuade him to
come with you for dinner some even
ing?"
Mrs Edward A. Herbst entertained
the Monday whist club today The
regular meeting day is next Monday
and the change was maze on account
Of the Christmas sale which the Guild
of Grace cathedral will hold at the
National hotel Monday afternoon and
evening.
Mrs. J. NJ. PadGett will entertain La
Douzaine whist club next Friday after
noon.
For months a Topeka girl who has
a reputation as a hot air virtuoso has
been raving over a good looking young
chap and saying that she was crazy
to meet him. The other night at a
dance she was introduced to him and
Immediately began applying the Salve-
After while she thought he showed
signs of responding TO the treatment
and becoming confidential. She snug
gled closer and gazed soulfully into his
eyes and thus encouraSe0 he began