The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-22
THE EVENING STORY
Converting Gwendolyn.
(By Martha Cobb Sanford

deniably personality to be reckoned
with.
"I don't see where you get such
ways. Gwendolyn," complained her
mother. why, at your age u"
Yes, indeed, corroborated Mr..
Rand, "at your age, Gwendolyn, your
| mother had settled down-she wasn't
running around after all the young
| men in the neighborhood."
ooh, daddy" demonstrated Gwen
dolyn, Il think you might be a little
more gallant
well, well, the young men weren't
all running after her, then" amended
Mr.. Rand, softening at the hurt look
in Gwendolyn's big brown eyes. but
| it doesn't look well either way. 1
can't understand where
| Mother was brought up in a con-
vent, you remember. I'm the product
of co-education," ventured Gwendolyn
in explanation.
'Rm,'' reflected Mr.. Rand. "That
may be the reason, but the remedy is
Gwendolyn gave a little gasp of APP
prehenSion.
yes, my dear" continued Mr..
Rand, your mother and I have de-
spend the winter with your Aunt
Abiatha."
"'she will teach you the things a
girl of your age ought to know,
dolefully. Things which I have some
how failed to make you take an in
terest in
I'm other words, I'm to be sent to a
she swished out of the room, her
head high in air, but her eyes glis-
tening with unshed tears.
Aunt Abiatha's spacious old-fash-
ioned house merited kinder verdict
than Gwendolyn bestowed upon it at
first glance. Once up in her coy bed
room, however, with it's chintz covered
four-poster, and French windows
opening out onto a little rose-covered
porch, the girls heart melted in spite
OF herself, and she threw both arms
around Aunt Abiatha, completely sub
missive-for the time being
But after the novelty of busting,
sewing and cooking began to resolve
itself into routine, Gwendolyn sudden
~ baked.
'tNow 1 know how to do all these
prosaie things; Aunt Abiatha,". she
day after day? There are SO many real
live things to do in the world Let's
give garden party or something.
Aunt Abiatha. Are there any male
inhabitants in CenterviIIe that we
could hire to come, do you think?'
"Gwendolyn, my deari How you TALK
OF course there are.' Aunt Abiatha
was startled into admitting. There's
young Jack Hayward, for one"
Very thoughtful and polite" replied
Aunt Abiatha loyalty. HE comes of
one of our best families"
Poor thing" muttered Gwendolyn
What did you say. dear?"
II asked what he does for living?'
prevaricated Gwendolyn unblushingly.
why, he manages his fathers estate
of course. He's country gentleman"
Oh commented Gwendolyn indiffer-
emily. He must be a very provincial
kind of person. don't think Should
like him.
Well of all things, Cwendolyn,"
bristled Aunt Abiatha "Of course
you'd like him.. Every one does. I'll
ask him to CALI
+ An afternoon or two later. as Gwen
dolyn was reclining in the hammock on
her little porch. engrossed in a novel,
she became suddenly conscious that the
front doorbell had been ringing for
some time. On the veranda below she
could hear Aunt Abiatha rocking to and
fro.
"The front doorbeITs ringing. Aunt
Abiatha,' she called, jumping up. IF
it's that polite and thoughtful young
country gentleman please don't disturb
me. I'm in the midst of an awfully ex-
citing love story
A hearty masculine laugh followed
Gwendolyn's declaration.
1t aroused her curiosity but also her
Indignation. and she re-established her
self in the hammock, determined not to
happened.
But the next thing she heard startled
her into a sitting posture.
Now, Aunt Abiatha, Will you intro
duce us?"
Gwendolyn walking to the rail of the
porch, could hardly believe her eyes
There, on the roof of the veranda not
ten feet away from her, sat an extreme
ly good-l looking young man. And there
on the lawn stood Aunt Abiatha, the
picture of dismay and disapprovaI.
"Gwendolyn," she called up, this is
Mr.. Hayward. Jack, my niece. Miss
my life. Go right into your room,
Gwendolyn''
Gwendolyn did not bulge. She only
laughed and laughed. until Aunt
Abiatha finally Joined in.
But such a triangular situation was
not overencouraging- especially since
Aunt Abiatha refused to leave her
angle of observation-so eventually
they all adjourned to the downstairs
veranda for afternoon tea.
80 you're a climber. Mr.. Hayward ?"
Gwendolyn observed archly. taking adj
vantage of Aunt Abiatha's absence in
the kitchen.
Given sufficient incentive-yes."
Jack answered lightly. IT couldn't
stand down there below, you know, and
let fellow in a book get ahead of me-"
Get ahead of your"
well, absorb your interest to the ex-
clusion OF real human being ex-
planned Jack.
You took an awful risk" laughed
Gwendolyn.
"Oh. that was nothing" Jack boast |
ed. I'm used to all sorts of athletic |
stunts, you know"
THAT isn't the kind of risk / meant, |
exactly Gwendolyn enlightened him.
well, how did you like him?'' beam
ed Aunt Abiatha after the callers de- |
parture.
mot very WELL" said Gwendolyn, |
shaking her head obviously. He's SO
bold and conceited.'
but. my dear" hastily interposed |
Aunt Abiatha. You mustn't Judge |