The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-06-04
rue EVENING STORY
Changing Places with Jimm'
(By w. r. Bryan.)

piazza tapping the floor with the Tip
Of her dainty booted foot and Shaping
at her habit skirt with siise1-
It was a perfect day for ride. The
sun kissed the peaks OF the low cnaln
of hills to the west, ana IN DetWeen
| Mature was in her kindHest mood. but
Jacqueline did not share it,
The groom was slow about bringing
her mount around, and while sne wait
waving their hands gayly to- Jack
But no cavalier waited to assist nef'
ana no smart cob whinnied impatient
| ly over the delay in the appearance Of
presently the groom would lead her
horse to the block, he would assist her
| in the saddle with the perfunctory care
of hireling, and she would 80 caneer-
| ing of alone to her ride.
| It was this fact and not the slowness
| of the stable hands that brought the
frown to Jacqueline's face. For the
first time in her life she was tired OF
being the boy OF the family.
| When stalwart John Norwood hao
1 leaned over the cradle to look down
into the blinking eyes of his hrst porn,
the baby had seized the prohered niger
chuckled with delight
"She's shaking hands like the nttie
| gentleman she is" he declared. Then
| and there he had named her JacQue-
/ line, tuat ne might call ueI jazz
seemed to find comfort for his disap-
pointment in her sex by making ms
little daughter as boyish as possible.
In her youth, thanks to has train
boy tricks. When she was IL. ana
baby brother came to share her reign
she regarded the newcomers appear
ance with contempt.
I'm the best boy" she declared Win
emphasis, and she took pride IN ner
fathers assurance that she was indeed.
Jimmie became his mothers pet, wniIe
Jack still "palled'' with her fatnef;
and as the boy grew up delicate ana
pallid, Jack" seemed to gain man
nishness by contrast.
She was the golf champion OF the
country club; not in the ladies' class,
but by virtue of having beaten all the
men. She could ride wherever man
went could shoot straight ana handle
a cue She was voted good fellow,
but now, on the eve of her twenty.sec-
ond birthday, Jack" turned rebellious s
Her thoughts were interrupted by the
appearance Of the groom with her
horse. and presently she was cantering
down the drive to the highway. once
on the road she eased the horse INTO
a trot. The cliff road was accounted
one of the most beautiful in the state,
but Jack gave no heed to the beauty
Phil Minturn had cantered past with
Bess Farley just before she nan star ad
/
wounded her.
| ever since she was little girl, ana ne
had always given her the same c4 th;s
morning it had Jared. She kne" That
he did not really care for Bess:
He had said SO more than once, put
Mrs. Farley would not let bess Tue
| unless there was some one with ner
who could keep a watchful eye on neI
mount, so Phil, being a neighoor, nao
come to the girls relief.
AS with Phil. so 1t was with tne
other men. They were all good cnumS.
but they were only chums. Jack.
could not recall tender speech ever
made to her, and. carrying ner IN
trospection further. she did not piame
the boys for regarding nes sv as one her r
thick. dark hair was severely zone anu
her dress was in keeping.
II came upon her with all the SUD,
denness Of a revelation snas snI n .ha
had pretended to dispise ana that ner
heart clamored for the rights OF young
!. womanhood. +o~a+b.
sha +urned her horses head toward
: home She scarcely recognized the
| neonle she passed. and 1t was NOT un-
. IN abe had almost reached the MOUSE
, that her attention was attiacseu a.; Sne
heard her brothers voice raised IN ap-
nea1 and through sheer force OF habit
| she prepared to come to MS rSscue
The how never had been permitted 70
fight his own battles, ana IN youne.a
dsvs .Jack'' had sometimes come 70
s,;. ..s;stance with her own sturdy
, AIT. Now she refined in her horse, anu
draw near the hedge which separator
her from the little boys: .,,au
There were a dozen OF them, eIuIus,
| and conferences. and in their MIDST
stood Jimmy. Immaculate IN oiue
vet with long, golden curis-
) "it,s not my fault" he SAID IN az.
| grieved tones. m not oiI tsi;ows
buy my own clothes yet fou ieiio~'
) night let me play with you"
..Ss,wanp' was the unfeeling response.
1--WE don't play with girls; .Y
"rm not a GIRL" asserted Jimmie
tell you it's not my 1auit.
.s3oys don't wear velvet dresses LS
r,ipded his tormentor. come On, lei
} Iers Lady James going to cry
With a burst Of derisive laughter tne
boys ran off. For moment LIE. he
made as though to follow tneM' pul He
knew as well as the others that pursuit
WI Jimmie had never had q chance to
} tougher his legs in exercise VIII
, tha Rouse and "Jack'' urged her horse
. closer to the hedge. .se
"Iimmie." she called warningv. ~
Won dare to cry shall spank you 80
what are you going to dot" de-
. :.rSsver mind" she said. You do
, vbat tell you. Do you want really
, and truly to be boy?" ,~ :.
) "Do I?'' repeated Jimmie. shifting at
. the folly of the question. L amt elm
Weather am T." said Jack" Hurry
. up, dear" .,,+,, 49,
{ brother Joined her on his pony. ana To-
gether they headed for the toWn. II