The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-02
The EVENING STORY
Trapped by Herself.
by Frances Pomeroy.l

1 HuQpCu ny nGrScu.
| by Frances Pomeroy.l
The very fact that every one expects
me to marry you.'' declared Clara Ad-
ans. SIS the main reason why I don't
| want to do it, 1t makes me furious to
eide the whole matter for u.s."
Il am glad you feel that way about
it," Roger Armstrong declared heartily
at least, the cunning dog succeeded
wei In assuming an appearance of great
heartiness. "Of course. L was willing
enough, and am now. to marry you to
please our people. but I don't want you
against your will, you know"
That's it exactly" assented the girl
She did not, however. seem quite pleas
| ed. 'Of course. We'll be very good
| friends and all that still, but we simply
must show independence. Naturally, I'll
be tremendously interested in the girl
you marry and I'll try and see that you
get the right one"
! And I'll be very much interested in
your man." declared Roger. IT hope
you'll be as happy as 1 mean to be-
I'm going to look for a nice, quiet little
cottage on nice. quiet little street"
| The girl looked distinctly displeased
now, but she conquered herself bravely.
! Me, too" echoed she. Another rea-
SON why I hate to have them arrange
Tor me to marry you is because know
they'd expect us either to live in your
4
| II want a little place where there
won't be a lot of servants and where 1
can go into the kitchen and cook myself
without causing miniature scandal
| T mean to have husband that's poor
that is, not too poor-and that has to
work each day. And while he is gone
during the day I'll fix everything nice
and cozy and comfortable for him when
he comes home tired out in the even
ing
You've got the ideal" cried Roger
somewhat excitedly.- why don't you
pick out the kind of a place that you
want so that you'll have it all ready
when you find the kind of man that you
want? I'll tell you what We'll do: You
pick out your prospective home and I'll
pick out the kind Of place 1 want for
my wife. Then we'll compare Them
"An right" laughed the girl gayly,
and ran from the lawn. where they had
been talking, up the path to the big
stone house where she lived.
Pursuant to their plan, the young
man met the girl the following after
noon.
Did you find your home?' he asked
gayly.
"Oh. yes, I did," she cried. Its the
dearest little place imaginable. 1 fell
hardly wait for you to see it! And did
you find your home, too?"
4 II certainly did," replied the man.
TITS dandy-a cozy little place, back
among the trees. Now all we need is
the right man and the right girl. BY
the way, you may be interested-I saw
a girl this morning that looked to me
as If she would make just the right
kind of a wife for me-"
Clara did not smile so much at this.
You aren't really thinking of mar
rying her?' she gasped.
"Oh, I think So" che man replied,
easily. "She looked very capable to
me-"
IT hope you'll be satisfied with her."
the girl said after a piqued little
silence. "'I know 1 shall be satisfied
with my husband. He's mighty hand
some"
"What?" cried Roger. You haven't
gone and picked, out your husband,
have your"
Clara = demurely -, surveyed - Rogers
countenance. which did not look quite
SO Indifferent now. but betrayed de-
cided annoyance.
yes" she replied. 1T only realized
today that he's the only man I want.
notwithstanding brought my
feelings for him to decision all of 4
sudden"
"Well, I never" calculated the man
a panied tone evident in his voice. -
Il never suspected that you were
! really in love. Clara Who-who is this
mani"
A bright light came into the girls
eyes as she surveyed his perturbation
but, nevertheless, she laughed gayly.
'I may tell you-some time she re-
piled, but I'll not tell you now, for
it the dearest little place? See what d
big veranda it has. and there's another
big one in the rear, overlooking the
sweetest old-fashioned garden
The man gazed at the mouse once
and at the girl two or three times:
: us this the house that you've picked
out? p" he asked finally.
yes said the girl.
'Well, see here" demonstrated ne
, "It's rather cool of you, you know,
This is the very house that I picked
out for myself
: Some few minutes later the man
and the girl were seated on the rear
veranda, rather close together.
: you say you won't give up the
house to my wife and me?" Roger
: asked.
= silly" replied Clara "of course ls
"And naturally" went on the man
r ''I'II not give it up to you and your
4 husband Consequently, there's only
i one way out Of it that I can see"
whats that?" asked the girl
: somewhat TREMENDOUSLY. ~.
i; "Why, marry each other"
n A slow flush spread over the girls
:. face.
s to do-everyone expects us tor
Il At that moment voices came tt
!. them from the interior of the house
e While they had been seated on the
t veranda some one had entered. Rogel
n turned to the girl suddenly.
e Its our Mothers he whispered.
v The girl nodded.
e I'm so glad that we've secured the
lease on this dear house." one of the
voices said. Its an ideal place fol
Glare and Roger to begin their live
| together
It The other voice assented. then wen
e on, I'm so happy in their happiness
: The voices trailed away as tn,
: speakers went into another room
Re Suddenly Roger turned to the girl ant
II putting his arm around her drew he
: close.
e Dear" he said, don't you think
n would be a shame to bring sorrow tt
j. them-and to us-by not marrying
d each other?"
If Apparently the girls answer wa