The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-17
The EVENING STORY
Making Friends for Father.
(By Crfttenden Marriott.l

man whom she was sure she had never
before seem She was conscious that
she was talking, too, though she could
not remember word that she had
been saying.
This might have alarmed her if it
mad not been that she could not re-
member anything that had happened
IN the last half hour-not since. Miss
Whiting had te1ephoned that she
could not come TO the dinner. which
was then ready to be served.
Her mother had rushed up to her
room. Margery! Margery!" she had
cIamored Throw aside those lessons,
tonight Miss whiting can't come.
ana Mr.. Drexell is horribly supersti-
tious. and he'll be worried to death If
we make him sit down thirteen at
table, and your father is very anxious
TO make good impression on him.
And the Princess Lavloff and Lord
Merton are coming. and 1 wouldn't
nave anything go wrong for the world.
you've got lots of sense, even If you
are only seventeen and you'll pull
have to come 1 haven't time to help
you dress; l must be down to receive
people. But I'll send Louise to you.
she Is getting out my blue gown now.
Ihank goodness. you take after your
father and are big enough to wear my
clothes Hurry! Hurry. Hurry"
Ihen Mrs. Haight had rushed out
OF the room, and Louise had rushed
In, and Margery had rushed into the
blue gown. and the next thing she
really knew was when she was cling
ing despairingly to the arm of the
ugly young man and wondering what
on earth she had been saying.
me young man dfo not seem to
notice her confusion. When he looked
down-he was tall young man
when he looked down into her flower
like face, she smiled, instinctively, and
he seemed entirely satisfied and rat
tied on BY the time they were seat
ed she began to understand his words
II caught your name,'' he was say
ing. but I didn't understand much
else. You are sister of Mrs. Haight,
aren't you?"
Margery's heart bounded. If this
sister she could not look SO painfully
young as she had feared.
mo. Not sister.' she stammered.
' No? But the name is the same,
insisted the other Surely you are
some connection"
gery's eyes. Yes" she prevaricated.
I'VE are connections-by marriage. ("
Il knew it. You look like her-very
much What lovely woman she is.
1 envy Haight whenever I see her.
Margery glanced at her mother
with new eyes
But you must be good deal
younger than She
Am ?" Her companion turned and
looked down on her, and Margery saw
supposed he was. well. suppose
am. But what's a mere matter of
time, after all?"
before ?''
Margery's eyes danced 1--WE never
been asked here before she quibbled.
What! Why-I can hardly believe
| it! Never before? Why not? I don't
mean to be personal, but ..5i1
"Oh, mother-Mrs. Haight had her
reasons. Good reasons, too. Maybe
I'll tell you about them some time"
Margery was beginning to feel very
much at her ease. Her words came
with a rush half choked by a gurg
ling laugh that she could not repress-
The tall young man looked panied.
| Don't do that, please!' he exclaimed.
do what?''
Laugh like that!' he smiled. ST
can't stand it!''
Margery gurgled again. Then she
glanced at the head of the table and
caught her mothers eye beaming ap-
proval, and laughed once more.
There you go again. murmured
the young man, reproachfully. But
about those reasons. If Mrs. Haight
didn't have YOU before, why did she
have you tonight ?''
''Tonight?' Because-oh! because
of Mr.. Drexel.''
''Mr. Drexel?'' The ugly young man
looked amazed.
him out to me, please. I want to see
him."
The other glanced around the table.
| ST don't see him. he observed.
Don't you? Well. he must be here
somewhere. know, for 1 wouldn't
have been here tonight except for
him. You see. pa-Mr. Haight is very
anxious to make good impression on
hints some business affair.
"And so they chose you to do the
work"
Margery looked up startled. She
had not thought her companions
voice could take so stern a note. His
eyes, too, were steely. Abashed. she
faltered.
"what-what is wrong?" she asked
pitifully. "What have I done?'
"You. child! Nothingl Only they
did not teach you your part WE'LL
MY part? What do you mean?''
Didn't Mrs. Haight tell you to try
to beguile Mr.. Drexel?'
Margery's eyes opened wide. mo,
indeed" she exclaimed. IT don't even
know him! But he Is dreadfully SUI
Whiting telephoned at the last min
ute that she couldn't come. it would
have made thirteen at table if hadn't
taken her place. Mother said-there
I've told you now-mother said I
would pull through somehow and
even If I did blunder it would be bet
ter than making Mr.. Drexel uncom-
Portable, as he would be if there were
thirteen at table. And I have blum
dered-I see that though don't
know how whyl what
For the young mans laugh had
rung out quite naturally again. blum
deredi" he exclaimed. mot a bit of
it! You've been the life of the din
ner. I must
He broke off as. at a sign from
Mrs Haight, the chairs were pushed
back and the guests arose. Then. as
he stood aside to let Margery pass, he
went on rapidly:
You will be in the parlor, won't