The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-27
TIE EVENING STORY

~ Nancy Hazlitt. ]

singing shrilly:
Dear! Dear! What can the matter be
Deari Deari What can the matter be
Dear. Dear! What can the m-a-t-t-e-r
be?
Johnny so long at the fair.
He promised to bring me bunch OF
blue ribbon
He promised TO bring me a bunch OF
blue ribbon
He promised to bring me q bunch of
blue ribbon
To tie up my bonnie brown hair.
Pretty, I really wouldn't call him
out Of his name-you know 1t ism t
| Johnny" Cousin Langley said pro-
vokingly, from the leafy depths of the
grape arbor. Besides, your hair
isn't brown-anot in the least. Instead
it's pure carrot color. Also mighty
pretty. If I were a painter person I
might call it something else, but be-
ing what L am, a stickler for truth
Would you know the truth If you
met it in the road?" Alfaretta flung at
him. 81 don't believe So" she went
/ on disdainfulIy. shaking her glowing
waves at him.
She was bare-headed and the sun
struck out high lights from the Titan
mass above her white forehead, then
fell down to waken green CLEANS in
44CT ION -AdSnSQ eyes ci11Il DIS DSSdAAAC
seventeen, tallish, light on little arched
feet. with a long neck upbearing her
face, she was distractingly pretty.
especially to eyes jaded with artiffce
and sick of fashion-more specifically,
Langley Madden's eyes.
Langley was only a third cousin, but
assumed that the tie of blood entitled
him to take an attitude so critical 1t
was more than brotherly in its candor.
He had come to Alderbrook farm for
six blessed, idle weeks, after the stress
of a long fight and the triumph of
big legal victory. He had not been there
in years, although the place belonged
to limits present occupants, the Lanes.
lived in it to oblige him. Therefore he
had had but a faint memory of Altar
eta, as a solemn, young person, who
had disdained to be friends with him,
of the dogs, the kittens and her pony,
Snap.
He recalled that she had barely toll
Grated Susette Barlow, who, in spite of
being bigger, came sometimes to play
with her. Susette had been a famous
comrade-he had kissed her often, called
her his little sweetheart and actually
gone the length of sending down to her
from the city after he was back there
a birthday ring. Notwithstanding he
had found her married and hap y, with
a baby as round, rosy and dimpled as
lie remembered HGI. Il eli years. lie He1a
reflected, made big changes every way
still he was not quite prepared for the
change they had wrought ir Fretty-
The name was of his own coinage-in
all other mouths the girl was Alta. He
had been quite taken aback to find that
she did not resent his version of the
baptismal mouthful Indeed, she had
said, with a little lowering smile: The
one comfort about my name is-no mat
ter what people call me, they can't pos
sloly make it worse than 1t is"
The saying had in a way startled
him-he had not thought to find
philosophy at seventeen in the rural
regions But as time went on he dis
covered that the philosophy was the
least of Frettys surprises-young as
she was. uniformed. and inexperienced,
she had a way with her, also a poise
quite wonderful to see He did not
wonder that she had taken captive his
artist friend Vermont was Vernon's
habit to fall fitfully in love with every
girl who was in the least out of the
common. Fretty had not a single usual
fiber in her-ip proof, take the fact
that Vernon's alteration had not in the
slightest degree turned her head.
What have we to say to the painter
person, Fretty?" Cousin Langley
asked, coming out and laying hold of
her hands. Are we going to tell him
to 20 about his business? Or are we
SOttlS 10 say GS--ni4Q llAc441hys SIT
when he asks
He won't ask" Fretty said. not try
ing to take away her hands. You see,
I told him, at the very first, I regarded
1t as my duty to marry you. Other
wise you would waste all your money
besides it was the only way to keep
Alderbrook in the family. He agreed
with me-although 1 think he was
sorry-it must have seemed a shame to
him to miss such an opportunity. He
admitted that flirting was a necessity
to him-that is why, I think, he is
"Indeed?" Langley said, his tone an
Interrogation.
Fretty hooded. echoing- .Indeedi
Yes. Mrs. Wortham-your divinity
has opened Grasmere-came herself |
the day before yesterday-so Mr.. Yer |
non couldn't stay away longer"
who says she is my divinity? And |
how do you like it?-seeing you have /
me- Langley asked. col
oring in spite of himself He felt all |
at once young and raw, and ridiculous /
and was in a temper over it. He |
wanted to shake Fretty-shake her
hard She was Testing of course-but !
how beautiful she had turned the |
he found himself trem bling, his hands /
moist. his face, he knew, high colored /
and all without any reason
It could not be that the bare sugges-
ton Of Fretty-the child, the play I
thing, the creature he loved to tease
as his wife, the mistress Of his home
and heart had thus overcome him. /
For five years at least he had thought |
Of Georgina Workman in that position |
she fitted it so beautifully and was (
quite evidently ready to accept it.
Il always answer mothers letters /
for her-remember you wrote her I
about Georgina two years back al /
least" Fretty said. smiling sweetly, |
with the faintest touch of malice. '.As |
to my liking her-what does it mat /
ter? I have nothing to do with her
only with you.
you are quite resolved? To take
me. mean?" Langley asked, his
eyes downcast.
Fretty looked pensive ut seems