The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-08-22
THE EVENING STORY
An Diminished PROPOSAL.
(By G. B. Lewis,

do we must sympathize with them, |
more or less, especially when the |
motner Is a widow. 1t isn't through
any spirit Of avarice that she would
nave her daughter marry rich. It is
simply that the money may be in the
house when the man comes around
with the gas bill. 1t isn't because of
snobbishness that she would prefer to
be the mother-in-law Of a duke rather
than commoner, but dukes are said
never to call their mothers-in-law old
cats.
It is,'t from any desire to smash
lug the daughter of twenty on to Eu-
rope, in hopes she will forget the man
OF twenty-five to fall in love with a
sutton OF sixty. 1t is that the dear
girl may have a grandfather, a father
and q husband. all in one.
Such were the guiding principles OF
Mrs. Deland, relict of Judge Deland,
and 1t is requested that a fair per cent
OF the readers Of this story become her
partisans and give her a fair show.
OF course. the daughter, Clara, had
received the education given to all
young girls whose fathers or mothers
are able to pay for the same by the
square foot. and she had arrived at
particular worry to anybody when she
met young Albert Lee. They called
him young Lee because he was only
twenty-five, and because there was an
OAo 4Scs VINO was Sixty.
young Lee was still at college and
1t was still an unsettled question as to
what profession he would select to
make his way through life. In an in
definitely definite way he had been
several months before the widowed
mother. with a woman's intuition,
aroused herself to the realization that
her lamb might be stolen away. Then,
like a dutiful mother, she began MAX
~ rfvfx -
ter at the same time.
It did not take long to exhaust the
schedule of inquiries. Young Lee was
all right socially, and his sixty-year-
old father would leave him a comfort
able property when the Reaper came,
but there was no telling whether he
would pass away at Sixty-one or
eighty-five.
1t was long odds for a mother with a
| business head on her to take. She at
once put her foot down, and, of course,
1t was the wrong foot. She began by
eriticising the sutton and ended by an
nouncfng that she had rather see her
daughter in her grave.
There were arguments, protestations,
tears. A girl who Is beginning to feel
the impulses Of love may be argued or
buildozed Into silence, but to convince
her is quite another thing
After few minutes Clara had moth
Ing futher to say, and In her exuber-
ance over her triumph the mother an
| nounced an early trip to Europe.
Young Lee would not follow. The ex-
elements and enjoyments OF London.
Paris and Berlin would quite drive him
from the daughters mind. and some
day that daughter would kneel at tho
| maternal feet and exclaim:
BLESS you mamma, that you have
caused me to forget that penniless
young man and engaged me to the liv-
| ing remains OF an ancient lord, duke or
| count"
The living remains appeared in Lon
don. He was Lord somebody or other.
| The only certain thing about his age
was that he was over sixty. The only
certain thing about his attentions to
the daughter was that he believed the
mother far richer than she was. and
| that he had several MORTGAGES on sew
| eraI ruined castles that he wished to
repair.
After the first meeting. which came
about through accident, MILFORD was In
| evidence at brief Intervals during the
tour, lasting three months and more.
He received all proper encouragement
from the mother, and there were times
when the daughter sat and looked at
his dyed hair and false eyebrows and
pasted wrinkles. and was amused.
In due time, which was a day or two
before the ladies sailed for home. he
| made his proposal It was first made
to mother. who received 1t smilingly:
then to the daughter, who also smiled
q little. but prevaricated by saying
| that she didn't know her own heart
Milford was in duty bound, as gallant
remains are to say lat he would give
her time; and Clara looked back at
London from the decks of the steamer
| and congratulated herself that this
ended 1t all.
That was where she was just as
| much mistaken az her mother had
been. They had been home only four
weeks when Milford put in an appear
| ance at the American manor house. 1t
he had managed to raise the cash Tor
the trip. There are money lenders In
London who will take long chances.
His love had not grown cold with the
departure Of Miss Deland.
Just as the mother had figured on.
young Lee had not followed the couple
abroad. There are postofflces all over
the civilized world. however, and a
slangy girl might have said that 1t was
a cold week when Clara didn't receive
and answer q letter from certain New
England college town.
She may have even met young Lee
after her return. They may have
| met and strolled on the broad high
way leading to the village-5ust a lit
tie stroll and Just little talk. If SO,
the mother didn't know anything
about it. Milford had arrived to re-
new his proposal, and not three days
has passed when the mother wanted
to know what the daughters answer
was to be.
eff he proposes to me again shall
accept him." was the prompt and I'M
expected reply.
No more arguments. NO more pro-
testations. No more tearsi The
mother simply threw her arms
! around her daughter and murmured
that she was the sweetest. dearest
daughter in the whole world. and then
went off to inform MILFORD that he had
a cinch. A cinch. 1t may be OK
plafaed. means q good thing. You
are the only ice man on the route.
Nothing has heretofore been said
as to Miss Dsland being the sole
owner and chauffeur Of IN electric