The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-11-16
The EVENING STORY
Mary and Matrimonx.
(By Cecilia A. Loizeaux. J

agreed that it would have to be a long
engagement"
It's been three years now, Mary.
and l call that a long time And you
seem to have no idea of ending the
wait at ALL You-you aren't forget
ing to care, are you. Nary"
at him.
care as much-more than ever
she said. You don't understand, You
see l have been papa's housekeeper
since ! was fifteen and simply can't
leave him alone"
He is perfectly willing, Mary.
sometimes I think he is anxious for
you to marry. He doesn't want to feel
as II ne were in the way of your hap
That's just it, cried Mary. "Dear
old dad. He'd sacrifice his own inter
ests for me any day. I won't have it"
Mary, how old is you father?"
and healthy?"
health
Hes likely to live out his three
score and ten then"
II hope so-and if YOU mean that
you wish he would die, Dick Lane"
Easy, Mary-easy. Personally, I'm
very FOND OF your father. That's one
reason why I am so anxious to get
into his immediate family. But let's
see. Unless some unforeseen accident
occurs, I shall be obliged to wait for
you at least twenty-five years." He
held up warning hand as Mary start
ed to speak. Don't you see that we're
no nearer the goal than we were three
years ago? Don't wait to find a solu-
ton of the roblem, dear Marry me
now and we'll solve it together
Mary rose impatiently.
Whats the use of talking that |
way? You know can't. I've thought |
and thought-but there doesn't seem |
to be any other way out. Father fatty |
refuses to live with us-says it's better
not, and can't leave him. That's why
that it isn't fair to keep you waiting
SO am going to break our engage |
ment.' She looked at him bravely |
though her eyes swan with tears and |
her chin quivered.
Z Dick stared moment and then be- !
gan to laugh--Wficn, under the circuln- |
stances. was the worst thing he could /
have done. Mary's eyes began to blaze
and the tears disappeared.
It's joke is it?'' she b1azed. well,
It's time 1t was broken. Here is your
ring. I'm sorry for your wasted time, |
and stree you are SO anxious to be mar-
rfed, l hope you will find some one who
will have you right away"
She slipped from the room, and not
until he heard the door of her room
slam did Dick recover from his amaze
ment. Then he laughed again, and
putting the ring in his pocket, left the
house.
Poor little Mary" he unused. well,
I see that I'll have to get her father
to help"
Mary, watching him stride up the
street whistling, MARY. Mary. Long
Before the Fashions Came" sank into
her big chair and wept.
HE wanted it broken, he wanted 1t
broken, she walled.
Once admitted to the inner office Dick
look the leather chair which Mary's
fv6i tod wit
/ cigar and lit it.
us this business call or just a :,
7isit?
Both. I'VE been up to see Mary"
Strange. Anything doing? VIII s
Nary merry?"
she says she won't. In fact, she has c
ust given me back my ring. I say she
must, and want you to help me-" G
"Of course can't force my daughter /
@ marry you if she does not want to-" q
,rinned Mr.. Arnold.
Eyes you can-if you go about 1t right. (
You see and he briefly outlined his q
ak with Mary. Mr.. Arnold smoked Il
lercely while the young man talked,
md then they went over detailed plan r
ogether. IL
when the young man finally left. the h
lder shook his hand heartily. a
'I'll do my best, Dick Mary's good
laughter, but she'll make just as good II
wifi and I'll divide" IL
That evening Mary came to the din c
Ter table red-eyed and white-faced. O
little by little her father drew the story | h
rom her. When he had finished he
aid: "Tm glad of it, Mary. I never t
would have asked you to give him up, f
nut am thankful that you can see for t
,ourself" He did not say what she X
ould see. And now that it's all over. t
don't mind telling you that there are
IS good fish in the sea as have been
aught so far. Now Dick-well, he's so
low! Ard then-but that's over now.
o cheer up, daughter, ana ran In love
With someone else-
'eOh. I can't ever do that" wept /,
ny life" ~ :,
'Tut! Tut! just put your mind to .
and you can do 1t. I am anxious to
ee you marry and be happily settled, q
Iary. OF course I didn't say so, be-
ause could see that you didn't real Il
' care for Dick. If you had cared
ou'd have married him two years II
Mary gasped and stopped for her t.
aplxin, sitting up again with red
ace. Not care for Dick! Perhaps =,
lick thought that too. d
atfer. "I have been engaged to Ma
ian Howard for a year. and I know M n
ow you will feel about keeping me u
rafting too long. OF course I should
re with me- i te
Mary thought she must faint. The
DOM went round and round-and bl
hen she heard voice. which must tt
ave been her own, stiffly congratu-j
ating her father, heard him say ct
the words of which she te
ould not distinguish--and then she
-as up in her own room. -
sOh," she moaned what shall :. =,
o No one wants me- Papa is going sE
, marry again-end even he thinks 20
do not care for Dick. I must have
cted terribly for papa to think that. | a
nd why didn't he tell me that he &C
'anted to marry-I'd have been glad &c