The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-05-17
THE EVENING STORY
His FamiIy's Plans.
by Joanna Single

With an intent fr0wn, young Jonn
Markham listened while old John gave
a thousand last directions about the
management of the mutual business of
Markham & Markham.
.Confound that doctor:" he finished,
wincing with sudden pain II know
he is right. and that I simply must
spend the next three months traipsing
about Europe, worrying your mother
into FRAGILE and trying to forget bus
mess as much as possible. It's that or
die. But doctor or no, I've got to
attend 10 some things myself. so shall
be obliged to take Miss Spencer along.
She knows the business almost better
than either you or 1, and she's cheer
full person to be with US. I'm sorry
about this sudden plan, but you'll nave
tc get a new stenographer-don trust
business colleges. Call up Savery-hls
business runs on the same general
lines. He's my best friend. and he is
sure to have good girls, and one TO
spare in the summer. Well, see you
later. I'll go home now"
Young Markham, who always did
things now. went to the phone and
asked Mr.. James Slavery for the loan
of a stenographer for few months
one that could spell and mind both
her own business and that of her en-
ployer. The old man thought mo-
ment, and promised to send one over
in the morning. That was done,
Markham Junior then proceeded to
other matters. determined that no de-
tail should suffer in the enforced alb
sence of his father.
But as he worked he ragged for the
night before he had overheard a paren-
tai conversation which he could not
escape without letting them know he
them terribly. He wished he didn't
know that they were -bloodedly
worrying about his marrying though
he was but "a, and that they had i'm
agined they could choose a wife for
him. They seemed worried lest he be
captured by the wiles of some wo-
man" some girl without money and po-
sition, some one not in their own par
ticular social set. He would show
them that he would make his own
choice, sincerely hoping the family
would like it. But, if they didn't, they
could-go to thunderl Which senti-
ment was more forceful than f1lial
But it was the limit that they should
plan to force old Savery's daughter on
hint was Margaret his mother men.
toned, though there were several OF
the motherless girls.
They had been in England with an
aunt since childhood, and were COM
| ing back any time now. Let's see, he
remembered that Maggie was the
| f1ossy-topped, tomboyish child he had
quarreled with at the seashore one
summer when he was twelve and she a
| bit younger. The mater said she was
sorry the girl was a little frail, she
would have preferred stronger girl;
but Margaret was charming-she had
seen her in London last summer. She
| had been ''presented' and was beauti-
| fully hammered. The mater had gone
on to tell her husband that his ole
! friend Slavery was crazy. He had haC
all his girls taught to earn their owl
living in case something happened tc
| him. Maude had learned to cook
Elizabeth to dressmake and HEAVIER
only knsw what he had taught Mar
garet, She was the youngest, and mar.
rage might save her. She had hoped
| to throw the girl in John Juniors way
| that summer, and here she had to trail
all over Europe! She was quite pa
| thetic about it.
The young man sat on the verande
| that night, after he had dutifully seer
his parents off. He had promised then
| anything, and was to be made com
Portable in the old house by the family
servants He hoped the pater woult
improve in health-and temper. The1
he went off early to bed, his mind still
busy with choosing his own wife
Miss Stone, the new stenographer
| was waiting next morning. He called
her to take some dictation in the inne
| office and almost unconsclously
though he was courteous to every one
accorded her the manners ne Wouit
| have used with girls of his own set
She could not have been much pas
twenty, but she had an air of polse an
/ detachment that was quite remarkable
His quick eye noted that her exquisite
" neat black dress was new and cheap
| her handkerchief which lay on tn
desk before her was Of very fine linen
She took dictation swiftly and quietl,
without asking him to repeat, with al
II alert intelligence that pleased him. AM
when. later, she brought MN the 1 1es
| ters to sign they were faultless. Sh
could smell and she could bring force
full order out of his rather chaotic an'
/ headlong sentences. And neltner lha
first day nor on any other did she seen
to regard him personally: she ala ne
work and then went home. 1t wa
very simple.
Rnsiness. always slack in summer
went smoothly enough, but he saw tina
4 every detail was brought up TO GATE
Every one was busy enough. me neV
girl seemed not to mingle with the ON
err girls, but kept to herselr:
He found that she could not onI
smell but that she could exist withou
4 gum. cheap finery, and elaporate III
fures And she made no atteHIptl,
enht1e or otherwise, at flirting VIII
80, ,.o,,no ennnlover He was used t
heino oeled by the girls in his employ
This was refreshing, but her indirfer
ence pioued him. He had an irrltate
} feeling that she hardly saw hlm- ana
a man Her fine, steady eyes neve
fingered approvingly. on his conscious
, ba1dsome self. And she never linger
ed never said more than a conven
tionally pleasant word at coming MN 20 q
going She never mentioned heE pr
, Sota affairs. and when he said sh
might go early. she pinned on he
nuiet street hat. took her gloves an
narasol and went. He wondered wner
she lived
Finally, in July. he asked Tor ne
on holiday or in an emergency
She very readily gave him the nam
, Of q business woman's home, an
said the matron would always del1Ve
The heat Increased and he put an
, other electric fan in the Office
her corner-for she had begun
} look a little worn ana tired And