The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-09-09
TIE EVENING STORY
Letting Them Work.
(By Louis Olnev.l


Perplexed, he gazed at Sallie. He
| blue eyes flashed welcome, but he1
words turned him down. All summer
she had been refusing to be seen with
him. This time it was the club dance
AS they had been friends from baby
hood, he asked for reasons.
"Sallie what's the matter? If yoJ
really hate the sight of me I'll keeI
away If it kills me, but-somehow
don't believe you do. What have
done? Or is it-Tracy? or don't yor
care? Or what?" In the little sum
mer house he faced her, his dark eyes
swapping. She tossed her fair head
but her face was serious.
Tracy, indeed! You ought to see;
he's crazy about Mary Trevor! No
you have not done anything, Robbie
only" she fingered her rose in
embarrassment.
Only what; sallie? Tell me.
''Well, I should think you would
hate it. too, this being-managed.
Referring to our precious families
very apparent plot to get US married
That certainly is the limit" He spoke
ger as he continued: st don't blame
you. Sallie. I hate it. too, L
But she turned on him like a little
tiger, leaping to her feet to face him.
why don't you go away. then
Do you think that I-are you asking
-' For answer he swept her sud-
denly into his arms, holding her face
to his-a happy face. for she had al
ways loved Robert Martin.
Dear, you must know I want you
now, alwaysI But why couldn't our
people be decently reluctant? It's
all so horribly planned! We both
hate being Unanswered into marriage.
Mother suffers even if I look at Mary
sweet girl, but not you"
od a
sight of Tom-Tom who is everything
dad and I don't want. but when he
and mother greet me at breakfast
with that repressed, Haven't you-got-
fully announce Tom as their future
SON. That would be real revenge.
Not that Tom wants me-" The two
looked UP just in time to see Sallie's
mother carefully steering the children
away from the summer house. 1t
was maddening. Sallie stamped her
foot.
That was the beginning. During
August the four were inseparable, and
the parents worried. The only APP
parent comfort was that the couples
remained together. How could they
know that partners were changed the
minute they got from under surveil-
lance? The girls were airy, radiant,
innocent, the young men calm. i'm
pervious to comment or question.
ty, they still baf1ed home attempts to
regulate their movements. Tom was
always with Sallie, Bob in the wake
of Mary. The couples weren't match
ed to suit the elders, but from fearing
they were engaged they began to fear
they were not This was because the
young people were beginning to ex-
cite social comment by reason of
several escapades, obviously innocent,
accidental. They all came
+, 1TfrN inn frnT
overturning their canoes and swim
ming out, and another night they
walked home ten miles after the mo-
tor broke down-by arrangement.
It was first one thing. then another.
Finally the parents compared notes.
They decided that there was only one
thing to be done-interVieW the four
together and insist on less public de-
votion or an announcement of engage
ments
the evening the council was to occur
at Sallie's home they promptly abb
sented themselves. The meeting be-
gan, and after much polite sparring
1t was decided to make the best of
the Tom-and-Sallie and Robert-and-
Mary arrangements. The old folks
showed a touching resignation. All
they would insist on was a knowl-
edge of the facts.
At this juncture Tom and Sallie
strolled in. followed by the other two,
I'll showing delightful surprise at the
presence.
1T looks like a council of war"
commented Tom, while his father
covered. and then began the attack, |
by Sallie's father. and the in |
erpolations of the others.
IF you are engaged" Mrs. Trevor |
1--WE insist on having it prop
'rly announced. If you are not-well, |
vou ought to be! I hope you under |
stand our point of view"
A silence followed broken only by |
| nervous little giggle, the giggle Mrs |
Martin would not like in daughter
n-law. Finally it was Roy who |
spoke as the four stood under the
chandelier in the usual couples
81 simply can't be engaged to you,
Bob, with the family smiling be-
lightly and all the old pussies purring
'ver the fitness of the matchl I
anti"
ID, grinning. "Sa11ie, we want each
ther, but We must let them worry.
hey simply must worry awhile! Did
ou know that poor old Tracy hates
ne because he thinks 1 want Mary?"
Stupid boy! Anybody could see
lates me when I chasten dad by go
ng out with Tom. I wonder why
lie asks me?"
ITO get even because L play Mary's
little Lamb to bother mother. You
ee Mary's family goes no farther
ack than Adam. I suppose yours
nd mine ante-date old Eden! 1 say
he saw Tom Tracy go
ng past with his machine and ran af-
er him with a shout. The two men
a1ked a long time before Robert
anne back to Sallie.
"Get your veil and things and come
or a spin. Well stop for Mary,
ave lunch at some little town, have
inner at Baxter. call on my minister
ncle John. and get home by moon
ght."
"And a chaperone?" Though the
our had always known each other,
allie was going at least to mention
roprieties. Rob's wise eyes twinkled