The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-02-02
TIE EVENING STORY
Nfariorie,s Inspiration.
NV j. ". EVans.l

-.
Marjorie was little more than is. She
called it a little less than 16; and in
keeping with that declaration she sur
reptttiously heightened her skirts SO
gradually that her unsuspecting moth
Also she read His Hearts Queen
with the same circumspect privacy, and
tortured her tip-tilted nose with SIREN
uous massage till she found that her
ardor to make it classic merely made 1t
red. In a word, Marjorie was growing
w.
Her present grievance, as she looked
from her window with a face as dismal
as the sky, was that her sister Rachel
was to leave in a few hours to attend
a house party in Philadelphia, from
which she, forsooth, was excluded by
reason of her tender years. And that
horrid Tom Norris. who had laughed
when she said she was near 16, was to
go with Rachel
Well-the papers predicted rain, and
she hoped it would just pour. 1t was
at that point that her thoughts took a
turn by undoubted inspiration, and she
suddenly darted down stairs with an
expression from which the wrath had
partially cleared. She'd show them!
A few hours later she escorted Rachel
she said sweetly- Don't forget your
umbrella. It's going to rain. You two
look just like a bride and groom she
added maliciously, as Norris picked up
observe that Rachel flushed with an
noyance-
II sent mine by express said Tom
apologetically.
"PoohI You did it on purpose"
Marjorde!" said her sister severely.
The only response as they departed was
a derisive laugh.
"She's a little imp sometimes said
Rachel "but she's growing up I sup
pose I was just as bad"
When they emerged from the sub
way at Twenty-third street the ram
was falling in a fine, businesSlike dr1z-
zle, that had evidently come to stay:
walled Rachel. 1T didn't think it would
come so soon. No, don't put up the
umbrella. The car is right here. 1t
won't be worth the trouble, and you
have the suitcase"
A shadow of a smile fiickered
across his face, which she noted. 81
believe you enjoyed her horrid joke"
she scolded, shaking her head at him.
The car made it's way west with ex-
asperating delays, and at last, within
a block of the ferry house, it came to
a stop with a sudden jerk of finality.
The conductor told the exasperated
passengers that the line was blocked
somewhere, and that those in hur-
ry had better walk.
Lets make the best of it," said
Rachel. "And blessings on that child
for reminding me to bring my UNI
When they stepped from the car
platform a moment later Norris rails
ed the umbrella hurriedly to protect
her hat. bewildering instant passed
had happened; but they were terribly
aware of the roar of delighted laugh
ter that went up from the damp
crowd, which turned amused faces on
them as If glad of anything CHEEKY
on so gloomy a day.
he WI had
the appearance of a sudden snowfall.
Every corner and crevice of their
clothing was white with a clinging
shower that continued to patter to the
ground with every move they made.
The rim of Rachels merry widow
caught reserve supply that fell in
continual stream whether she looked
up or down. The curved brim of
Toms derby made up in depth for
what it lacked in area, and contribut-
ed it's mite to the seemingly endless
supply. The crowd was in a second
paroxysm of delight before the two
victims grasped the dreadful truth
that it was rice.
''That awful child" was all Rachel
could gasp in her CONSERVATION.
Clearly it was a time for action. Tom
seized the single suitcase, and, with the
interested crowd making way for them
right and left, they hurried on, glee-
full procession of prospective fellow
passengers trailing along in their rice
"Tom!'' the girl gasped. ITS per-
fectly horrid. Oh-oh-if only I hadn't
come-if only 1 had that youngster
here!'
Still attended by grinning throng
Tom purchased the tickets, and they
made the boat with half a minute to
spare. Partly from her feelings, Rach-
els face was scarlet, seeing which Tom
kept his own carefully impressive.
He remained silent as she talked,
begging him half tearfuIly to brush
away the grains from her collar "Oh!|
and it's down inside my collar. too"
she cried. Then she saw his eye
twinkle, and her color famed UP again.
She CONCEALED into frozen silence.
you're just as horrid as Marjorie"
she said at last. You enjoyed her
mean joke about the suitcase; and you
haven't minded this one bit, and I'm
going right back on the next boat"
There were angry tears in her eyes
as she finished, but they We're quickly
repreSSed when she saw the other eyes
still turned On them from all quarters
with interested amusement. |
That's better" he said dryly, as he
observed the change in expression. I'VE |
don't want to give them the idea that |
we are making for a divorce court. |
It's too soon to be conventional You |
aren't supposed to weep for at least a |
month. Now, them" he went on, calmly |
the one whitening glance she |
cast at him when she was sure no one |
would see it, 'if you go back, the kid |
will have the joke on you. You can't |
do a thing to her; and the more angry |
you are. the better she'll be pleased. |
my dear girl
Pm not your dear girl" she OBJ
served briefly.
"Oh, yes, you are. What I was go
ing to say was that it seems to me |
you're a little rough on yours truly. I |
don't especially mind your apparently |
violent aversion to the idea of being /
to me; but I've been intending |
to tell you for some time that don't !
snare in it. I think the whole idea is /
brilliant 1 think that kid sister of |
..o,,rs is hrielnt enough to be twenty.