The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-04-21
THE EVENING STORY
Sanluel's Marriage.
by Clarissa Mackie.1

| its vibration had ceased Estelle and
| Margaret were towering behind the lace
| draperies in the little parlor.
Professor Mead slowly drew on his
gloves and peered near-sightedly up
and down the street 1t was barely
but no! A girls trim figure came
| into view and she turned flashing dark
| eyes and smiling scarlet lips toward
the tall, lean man on the steps. He
lifted his hat with stiff courtesy and
| together. talking earnestly. they dis
appeared around the corner.
This is the sixth day, Margaret, and
don't know how long it had been go
elder Miss Mead. with sharp little
sigh. do you suppose after all these
years of bachelorhood that Samuel will
marry girl like Jenny Lee?"
''Of course he will!,' returned Mar
garet, imratientiy. Samuel is just
the sort of blind old mole that would
overlook all the clever. sweet, really
refined girls he has known and fall
in love with a common. snowy creature
like that Lee girl. I wash my hands
Of the whole AFFAIR." With a gesture
of disgust Margaret picked up a piece
of embroidery and bent serious eyes to
its intricate stitchery.
Estelle paced the floor restlessly.
81 had hoped he would fancy Pussy
she is SO CLEVER.
I'm what way?'' asked Margaret.
drylg;
keeper-and SO charming i'll every way.
And, she is so interested in his work"
stumbled Estelle, with some chagrin.
Really, Margaret. YOU do take one up
so! We have always thought Pussy to
be clever in her way!"
Margaret laughed. Pussy is a dear,
and I would rather have her for
sister-in-law that any other girl in
the world, but Pussy's cleverness is
H1an V@aIv and oh a1NYVn O11TS
tinguished brother wants is some ig-
norant little chit who will make him
wait upon her and go off without his
breakfast every morningi"
''PusSys husband will never go away |
without his breakfast asserted Els |
tel1e loyalty; but. oh. dear-it doesn't |
seem possible that a Mead could marry |
into that Lee family!"
What does the girl do?" asked Mar |
garet.
''works in Beadles' store-I have |
bought Iaces from her" groaned Els |
telle. She sank into a deep chair and |
remained silent for a long time. At |
last she lifted a determined face. Il
shall ask him tit means. This is
the first time he has ever paid the
slightest attention to any grill"
Margaret shrugged her shapely |
shoulders.
Late that evening, Estelle sought her |
sister with fearful eyes.
1T is quite true. Margaret she said, /
If he really meant anything by his at
tentfons to Jenny and he stared at me |
with that irritating air of stupidity, and
you know Samuel Is far from stupid
and said that had anticipated his an
us that ALP
HE said he was sure we would all |
be very happy together and if we were
a new home with Jenny. What shall
we do?" Estelle's voice died out in |
little wall of despair
''Do?" repeated Margaret, energet- |
ically. There is only one thing to do
in such cases! We must pretend we
are delighted with the match and we
must invite the girl here and find out |
the best there is in her and bring it |
out. Perhaps she is nusical-that COW
ers a multitude of minor defects!"
How shall we go about 1t? One
of us must call upon her, I suppose. |
don't even know where the girl 1ives!'
Tomorrow will be SarnuePs birthday.
We might ask the girl to dinner-be-
cause, you know. Estelle. Sam has al
ways been good to us!' said Margaret,
oravely.
And Estelle tearfully acquiesced.
Jenny Lee raised her black brows in |
arnazement when Margaret
Mead stopped at the lace counter and |
invited her to dinner that evening.
81 am Margaret Mead" said the pro-
fessor's sister, pleasantly. Samuel has
told us all about you-and we are very |
glad indeed. This is his birthday and
my sister and thought it would be
charming If you would be with us.
Miss Lee Redeemed with pleasure, and
with her exotic coloring looked hand
somer than ever. She threw a wither-
ing glance at a fellow clerk who was
greedily absorbing what she could OF
the conversation
1T shall be happy to come" she
said, stiff1y. tits funny the professor
should have told you about me-
though" she added. conf1dentially.
cit was quite natural that he should
tell us" said Margaret, bit coldly
I'VE will expect you at O'Clock
them she said as she walked away.
''Sure!" returned Miss Lee. affably.
That is how it happened that the
Misses Mead found themselves enter
Jenny Lee in the tiny parior
of their home Through the curtains
seen, with a dafntily set table and
huge pink frosted cake in the center.
Miss Lee was very stately in rus
thing black silk gown, and her black
hair was twisted into an intricate mass
of coils and puffs and breids. 1t irri-
tated Estelle. because the girl did not
seem to know what to 90 with her
hands and feet.
ssDo you play?" asked Margaret at
last, when The stilted conversation
came to an abrupt pause.
Miss Lees face frightened In
been looking at that lovely piano ever
since I came. Have you heard the
new song, Come for a Sail in My Air
ship'?" she asked. moving toward the
mo- said Este1le, grirnly.
play it. dol" Margaret's voice was
far from steady. She was thinking of
Pussy Lincoln and her exquisite rem
dering Of Chopin. If Samuel pre-
1erred younger wife and the allure