The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-09-24
TIE EVENING STOR r


mals-and children that oughter
know about EN-. But you might a
went to this'n in the wagon, along
with Uncle Jirn's folks. il that would
a-done you. Go with a Batsons in
deed! Remember miss. your grand
father went to the legislature Mrs.
Hicks said witheringly to her daugh-
| ter Amelia who pouted and answered
sulienly:
4 wish he'd died nrst-then you
couldn't be always throwing him at
everybody until we're laughing stocks.
And Billy Batson has got the finest
horse and the incest buggy around
here. Any girl-Sophy weldon, even
would jump at the chance to ride in
it. You'd want me to jump, too, il It
wasn't for that sneaky preacher. I
| tell you right now, you needn't try to
make me marry him. I won't do it.
I WOn'tt Won'ti''
Hadn't you better wait till you're
asked?" Mrs. Hicks asked, with her
finest sarcasm.
Amelia laughed laugh not pleas
ant to hear. II amt a fool-not il I
am your daughter she retorted. Il
know what you're plotting-you two
and that you want him for a SON
In-law, so you can boss the church,
as you've always bossed things here
amelia Hicksl I am ashamed of
you'll" Mrs. Hicks cried severely, then
with a sniffle, but maybe I deserve
it took your father rather'n listen
to my missionary call. And this is
what I get for it-a thankless tooth
sharper'n a serpent's, child"
Amelia giggled. That's about the
way you commonly get things" she
said irreyerently. Now listen to me.
Ma--you hate old maids-so do T.
and Billy Batson is the best chance
I'll ever have in my life. He's goin'
to court me this trip=I know it
never mind how. II you don't let me
| go he'll court somebody else
Lord grant it," Mrs. Hicks broke
in fervently.s Amelia frowned. you
think then might put up with your
But I'd die-I'd even be an old maid
f1rst-the sourest, ugliest that ever
turned sweet milk
"Oh, do hushI'' Mrs. Hicks inter
rupted fretfully, but turning away her
head to hide a flickering crafty smile.
the level Of the Batsons. why. I sup
pose I must let you. But you must let
me talk to Billy before you start
What for?" Amelia asked suspi-
ciously. Her mother laughed sourly
For no great matter" she said
you may hear every word say. Does
that satisfy you ?"
Looks like it ought to-" Amelia
said ungraciously. But understand
you amt goin' to mention Gillam!"
'tOf course not. Pearls isn't to be
cast before swines,'' Mrs. Hicks said
with a toss of her head.
Amelia eyed her distrustfully for a
| long minute, then walked off, mutter-
ing to herself: IF only she sticks to
her word, she can't do any great
HARM
Amelia thought she knew her moth
er, particularly IS regarded the depths
of her deceit, but she stared in dumb
amazement at Billy Batson's reception.
No May morning ever smiled more en-
gagingly on him than Mrs. Hicks-she
shook hands with fevor and asked In
| her suayest voice after the health Of
his family. She was also hearty in ad-
miration OF his spanking turnout, and
wished him all sorts of a good time
the full worth of his money in pleas
ure. Then she added artIessly that
she herself had never seen real cir
cus-a menagerie OF one elephant
power was as near as she had come.
A pityi To be sure. No-she had no
scruples-ft had just somehow never
quite suited for her to go when circus
| day came round. Somebody had been
sick or the crop in the grass. Mr..
Hicks had gone-men always vent
but that didn't mean stopping a
| plough, as would have been the case
had she insisted-of course she would
have had to have the mules and rock
away. Now that she was a widow, she
had not felt it was just the thing to do
Ia circus seem ed somehow to require
having Il IldH dlOiE. OI1t DC SlAS WOulQ
go next time-her nephew Freddy
DraWne was growing I'D so fast.
There Billy said boldly. with q sheep
ish glance toward Amelia, sOh, maybe
you'll have a son-in-law-and if he
don't take you-why, ask me to thrash
him for you
IT you're wilIin' to do that for ME
maybe you won't mind doin' something
easier-lettin' me go long with you and
Amelia today. It's dreadful lonely stay
in at home and watchin' all the neigh
borhood go by Mrs. Hicks said, with
plaintiye smile.
Amelia stood thunderstruck. She turn
ed half about, meaning to say she
would not go, but q glance at her moth
er's face stopped her. Her mother was
counting upon rebellion in her daugh-
ter--if Billy saw her fly into a tantru-n
he might well be scared off. So she
controlled herself and clambered up III
to the buggy, outwardly smiling, but
inwardly gritting her teeth.
The buggy was high and the seat so
narrow It barely held two persons.
steadying himself with the reins as
best he might. It was more than Ag
gravating-he had the fastest horse On
the road and had counted on giving
dust to everything else there no less
than on having the prettiest face in
the county at his side. Now he drove
at almost a foot-pace. Partly because
of the added weight, but much more
because he wanted to keep away from
sight of his acquaintances.
Naturally conversation langufshed.
For while Mrs. Hicks kept up a
sprightly chatter. but after a mile or
two. even she felt silent. Amelia sat
with elenched hands, ready to cry be-
tween anger and notification. OF
course Billy would be angry-he had a
right to be. Not with her, to be sure
but then how could she expect him
to Disseminated Her mother, she knew
we'll had the name of being proud and
a schemer. There would be plenty Of
folks to tell Billy, IL he did not think
of it himself, that the whole thing had
been planned between mother and
daughter, on purpose to make him r.
diculous.
Being self-made he was keenly sensi-
tive. Unless she could make him under