The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-22
THE EVENING STORY
A Previous Engagement.
(By Harriet Lummis Smith.

A Previous Engagement.
(By Harriet Lummis Smith,
Betty began to think that she had
misjudged Cornelia- Ever since the
invitation had come for Billy Ran
dolph's yachting party on the 18th.
Cornelia had been so full of kindly
suggestions, so magnanimousiy tndif-
, ferent, to the fact that she herself
was not invited, that Betty's tender
conscience was pricked by many a
conjunction.
II always thought that she took her
revenge on me when I was invited and
she wasn't" reflected Betty. ut shows
| misjudge people. But, oh, dear
never was suspicious till I came to
live at Uncle Chester's."
After continued self-reproach ana
many excellent resolves, it certainly
| was distressing to overhear snatches
| of a conversation suggesting that Cor
nelia's kindness was not altogether
disinterested.
with cheeks aflame Betty marched
| into the next room, and Cornelfa
stopped in the middle Of a sentence,
while Aunt Emily looked colby an
noyed.
ner Wednesday demanded Betty,
who believed in short cuts and direct
methods.
Cornelia did not reply. Aunt Emil
| ly INDUCED in an impressive pause be-
| fore she answered, at is a friend of
| A1an's."
ct thought I heard you say Mr..
| Burnham, and 1 wondered if 1t could
| be the Walter Burnham who was such
a friend of Ernest's in college. Ia
| give anything to meet him.
| Aunt Emily and Cornelia exchanged
glances. unfortunately. you have an
| engagement" the old woman remind
ed her.
was my brothers dearest friend, and
I'd give up a dozen yachting parties
| before I'd miss the chance of seeing
! him.
.Cornelia's mamma turned majesti-
cally to Betty.
I'm this world, my dear Betty, we
are not expected to do exactly as we
please. have brought Cornelia up to
believe that an engagement is pro-
mise, and therefore sacred"
but I could explain to Billy Ran
| dolph and he's so good-natured-
1--WE will not discuss the matter fur
| Their, Betty. 1t is not question or
Mr.. Randolph's good nature, but of
pect you to keep your engagements;
as Cornelia would do in your place"
Betty looked across at the mirror
on the other side of the room, and
surprised a malicious smile on the
face of Cornelia. 1t had all been
the smile acknowledged.
/ Betty walked out of the room afraid
to trust herse f to speak. Her old sus-
| picion that her cousin feared the COM
with those of pink-and-wfit eigh-
teen had become certainty
Under other circumstances Betty
| would have laughed over the discov-
cry with Multiplying. half-amused
wonder But this was Walter Burn
ham, her far-away brothers college
friend, about whom she had woven
romantic fancies when her skirts came
just below her knees.
/ And now he was to take dinner at
her home. and she would be on Billy
| Randolph's yacht, listening to Billy's
4 tiresome stories. Open rebellion
/ against Aunt Emily was out of the
4 question. But the extremity of de-
The corner druggist had a call from
/ Betty that afternoon. II want some-
4 thing for a cold,' she murmured
sweetly, as she leaned toward MIN
with a pretty air CT appealing conf
dence.
The druggist was beginning to ex-
patiate on the virtues of a well-known
remedy when she checked him. on
understand. 1 don't want to cure a
cold--I want to get one.
The man stared, began to laugh,
and ended by looking interested as he
caught the faintest CLINT or Twinkle
in the blue eyes turned appeaingiy
upon him.
"Ah I see,, he said with mock gray
ity. "You want to sneeze and have
your eyes red and all that sort OF
| thing, and be yourself again In rev
hours Well, I've got some snuff here
that will fix you up in great shape
He took the bottle from the shelf. Its
! an unusual order" he added
Betty blushed. cts an unusual &C.
casion," she confessed
When Betty made her appearance in
the dining room on the morning or
the 18th a handkerchief of heroic pro-
| portions temporarily obscured her
face. AS she dropped into her chair
! she sneezed, and the attention OF the
family was at once focused upon her.
Her pretty blue eyes were blood-shot
and swollen, her small nose most
| unbecoming shade of pink. Apologet-
, ically, she bowed her head and
Greatly, Betty" said Aunt Emily,
with more annoyance than sympathy.
"you must have been extremely care
: less to take such a cold
And moreover my dear: sad IN n,
, to be very careful. I shall insist on
your remaining indoors today
Cornelia made false move. Betty
has an engagement, papa She Is to
. go on Billy Randolph's yachting par
ty."
"a yachting party" cried Uncle
| Chester. "Preposterous. I will tele-
, phone young Randolph myself and
: explain that Betty is not fit to leave
the house,
s.Ker-choo." said Betty, with a
| grateful glance at her uncle, while
Aunt Emily put in quickly: Instead
of yachting, the poor child should 60
to bed at once.
, "Ker-choo!" said Betty again. and
with coffee and rolls dispatched amid
, much sneezing and constant use of her
, handkerchief, she straightway sneezed
, her way upstairs to her room and
! | softly bolted the door
nott,- IA nof maize her annea "a n q a