The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-21
THE EVENING STORY
The Mounts OF Babes.
(By Troy Allison.

Drayton, sitting on his garden bench
with a newspaper and a cigar, turned
toward the hedge that separated the
two gardens, and located his visitor.
She was evidently standing on some
thing high enough to enable her to
overlook the adjoining territory
Drayton went over to the hedge and
looked down into some exceedingly
yellow hair, surmounted by still fluff
fer blue bow.
"Helloi" he said, looking down from
his six-foot height. Where did you
come from %
1--WE been here often and peeped
through" she conided. Lift me over"
she commanded in the tone of one ac-
customed to be obeyed, holding out
her arms.
He lifted her over to his side of the
hedge and she ran directly to his rustic
seat.
I'm not prepared to entertain Ia
dies" He stood with his hands in his
pockets, and smiled into her upturned
face. What can offer you, madam ?"
"I'u take chocolate, please" She
settled her skirts over her chubby lit
tie legs and smiled back ingratiating-
Drayton looked dubious.
"Er-I'm sorry to say the chocolate
is all out-wouldn't grapes do" he
suggested.
"Yes-I dess dwapes will do very
nicely. thank you," and Drayton
very good imitation Of her mothers
manner.
When he returned from the house
with a bunch of grapes and huge
peach, he found that she had filled her
lap with his choicest roses, and was
hugging them to her face.
I'm doing to live here always-I'm
doing to marry you" she announced.
Drayton, thirty-six and a bachelor,
actually felt his face turn red.
"Er-when ?" he asked feebly.
"Just as soon as you can Diet the be-
dagement ring
"Of course-of course-anything
you say. But what might be the name
of my future wife %
'Louise-it's mammals name, too"
ut would be lovely to have a wife
named Louise, but you wouldn't like
my house, little girl, it's full of pipes
and things"
"I could stay out in the dargen with
the roses-and you could bring an UNI
brella and hold it over me when it
rained," she suggested resourcefully.
THAT would certainly be-unique.
see you would be able to plan things
like real housewife should. But do
you think you could stand the pipes? ?"
You could keep all your pipes in
one room-and I could have a little
blue and white room and not have
any pipes, couldn't I =? I never have any
pipes in my room"
That's the scheme-we'll plan that
blue and White room right away" he
agreed heartily.
His housekeeper was surprised
when the pa perhangers came next day
and did the south room in blue. She
was still more surprised when the van
drove up with all the furnishings for a
dainty little bedroom. She felt hurt
considering how long she had been in
his service. 1t was a special slight for
Drayton not to tell her. first of all,
that he intended to be married.
But Drayton, following a whim, was
fitting up the room according to the
child's fancy.
Late one afternoon he strol1ed down
the garden path, and found little
Louise waiting for him to lift her over
the hedge.
tie wife, he said, tossing her in the
air, to her great delight. TITS ready
for you to look at I told the house
keeper young lady was going to visit
her this Afternoon"
"Are there blue roses on the wall?"
she asked eagerly.
Bushels of them-and little white
fril1y curtains. and a dear little white
bed-and fairy tale pictures on the
wall"
"Oo-oo-but I certainly do love
you" she chung to his fingers as they
walked towards tire house. did you
Diet the Sleeping Beauty picture?"
"Yes-and Princess Goldilocks-it's
a grand room, all right"
"Wel1-I'll marry you the first thing
tomorrow, and nurse can send over all
my dolls and things"
isn't this rather-sudden Perhaps |
your mother would prefer your wait
ing until you are week or so older?"
mo, indeed" airily. Mamma lets |
me do anything I want-that is-most |
ANYTHING"
''But she'll miss you-and your papa |
will miss you"
ooh! didn't you know? I haven't |
had any favver for long time-most |
Ieven years, nearly
Drayton took in the fve-year-old |
dignity of her in an amused glance.
'But I'm doing to bring her over |
gle and my canary, and my white kit
"Jove! I'll have to add a wing to the
house, sure we're living! I'm afraid
marriage until I can have few more
'ooms built. You'll not mind, will you,
;weetheart?"
mot If you bring me some more
,aramels like the ones you brought me
seriously.
She was silent moment, evidently
a new thought.
'I have such a lovely PLAN, she
surgled. I've decided not to be your
wife I'd rather have a favver it's been
UGH a long time since I had any fav-
-er."
Drayton caught her up IN his arms
'Sweetheart-you are the dearest little
,irl a father ever had" and his eyes
we're moist.
When the room had been admired,
nd the picture of Princess Go1dilocks
1issed fervently, and the housekeeper
lad given her cream puff, they went
Jack to the garden.
A slender girl in the other garden
an to the dividing hedge.
80 Louise. mamma has been so very
Uneasy about you. Where have you
'een, dearie ?'
''I'm afraid it's my fault" Drayton
aid contritely. ST took her to look at
ONE pictures, and we forgot the
ime."
The child held on to his fingers i'm