The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-21
THE EVENING STORY
Matchmaking Billy hudson,
(By Jennie Ludlum Tee ,

GU see, Cora, you're my sister.
ana l can confide in you" announced
Eolth Fitch as she nestled closer in
the hollow of the armchair. s'Then-
signs'' Aiio" inc
Mrs Bennington smiled at her pre,tv
sister, and made no contradictory re-
ply.
L am sure he loves me-but. oh
dear, why don't he tell me so?,' con-
rnued Edith petulantly. But there's
no use beating about the bush. Cora.
What want to know is how ever did
you make Carl propose 20
Make him? echoed the justly in
dlgnant Mrs. Bennington. my dear
sis couldn't stop him. For two
whole years when 1 would feel it in
my bones that the proposal was on his
lips, l would change the subject. but
finally he asked me, and just kept on
asking until 1 said 'yes'-well--well--l
oh, just to get rid of him." and Mrs.
Bennington blushed at her own I'M
truthfulness.
II might have known that I could
get no consolation from you, Cora,
declared Edith. You and Carl are
so beastly happy that you don't bother
about rank outsiders" And she gath
cred up. her belongings and departed.
Alone in the privacy of her own
room, Edith. sighed and sighed as only
a girl very much in love can do. She
grew restless and finally wandered
down stairs into the library. Looking
over the shelves she finally discovered
the book for which she was searching.
Once more she returned to her room
and was soon lost in the leaves of
Love Affairs of Great Men" Yet
when her mother called her to lunch
con, she had not yet solved the prob
lem.
Mother began Edith. as the maid
brought in the bouillon, "how did you
make father propose to your
After all, mothers are the ones who
always do solve our problems, and
as Edith leaned back in her chair, she
somehow felt that help would be
forthcoming.
Mrs. Fitch smiled softly.
your father first asked me to mar
nine" she replied. "Of course I ac-
cepted him then and there The sec
ond time he asked me, 1 was fifteen,
but with age had come ambitions, and
I laughed at him. And the rest of the
times"
"How many times were there?"
cried Edith.
"Oh. innumerable" announced Mrs.
Fitch, ''and they just kept up until
we were finally married.
Edith thought the lunch most unap-
petizing and returned to finish her
book after the meal was over That
evening the wilson's were giving a
large dance, and Edith took beauty
nan to prepare for the fun. Sharply
at O'Clock Donald Upton drove UP
to the house, and together he and
Edith went to the dance.
IT was a happy evening, for Donald
was all devotion, and Edith was ra-
diant in her excitement. At least II
Donald did not want her for his wire
he gave no outward and visible signs
of wanting any other girl, and that
was some comfort. Once or twice II
seemed as if he surely would say the
words the girl so longed to hear
Edith Donald announced as tney
had Just finished a waltz fou re
ioveIier than ever tonight-no man
could resist you."
II know one who does" boldly an
Ma me him and I'll have his life's
blood" cried Donald with mock Sc
verify.
"Oh. YOU wouldn't commit suicide,
would your" demurred Edith
"Donald Upton" Interrupted MS
hostess. what do you mean by for
getting your manners-Doliy Grlggs is
over there waiting for you" AS Don
| aid disappeared to keep his engage
,,1ent she turned to Edith: Really,
| Edith. that man is so in love with you
that he forgets all his bringing up"
As Edith sat toasting her tired ut
t1e feet before the radiator tnat
night after the dance was over. ana
she was preparing for bed, she sighed
| orair INT somehow it was differ
ent sigh than those of the morning. 1t
| saemed to be a sigh of hope rather
| than despair.
Several evenings after the dance,
the maid announced MI Upton
and Edith kept him waiting just
s.,i,,+a for discipline. When she en-
tered the parlor. she could see that
| Dona1d was plainly not in gpod hu-
| NOR. His greeting held little or It's
customary exuberance.
"Good evening, Miss f1tcn' ne saio
I'd rdi+h,s ewes danced. Whatever it
r,aont to ofhers-to her it seemed a
eo "Helio, Donald" Edith answered.
"Do take the cosy chair that you IKE
SO WELL y,
I'm only going 10 stay Hiiiiu'e'
announced Donald.
"You don't mean to say you came
| way up town this rainy night Just TO
| stsy a minute. Why didn't you tele-
phone if you only wanted 10 give me
a message" suggested Edith.
1T wanted to return something,
answered Donald do you happen
to have missed anything lately?"
Nothing except that locket Iost
the night of the wilson danG zee
given up all hopes OF ever seeing that
e..yYel. here is your locket, SAID
Donald as he handled the trinket TO
her. And must tell you tnat Wnen
# was returned to me 1t was OPEN
and I saw the picture inside"
Edith ignored this bit of informa-
zion and seemed lost in the JOY OF
having the locket back once more.
wherever did you find IT. she
ths bandsome youth inside.
saThe cabman found it when he was
brushing out his cab, and was only
able to trace me today. I must be
going now. 1 have a date at the ciup:
darnI1rred Edith IN