The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-04-06
THE EVENING STORY
Holding Him.
(By Louise olney.l

1t began the very day after the an
nouncement Of her engagement to
Paul. Then everybody proceeded,
delicately and otherwise, to remind
her that Paul had been engaged twice
before-which she knew very we'll
and that he was not an easy man to
hold" The wisdom of Eunice's
nineteen years as yet included no
knowledge that love needed holding.
Aunt Mary, with her heavy senten-
tiousness. was first on the list.
My dear, do you think you can
hold him 90
The girls bright eyes widened with
perplexed surprise. Loving and be-
ing loved seemed to her so natural
IT mean" continued Aunt Mary,
that marriage is more than a ro-
mantle love affair. It's one thing to
attract a mans love for a summer
gown"-thus she changed the subject
your gown will, of course, be white
satin, with your great-grand-mothe
lace veil. Your mother and grand
matron of honor? I should think"
Young love flowed on. blissful
dream. Friends called and congrat-
ulated. PhiIlis Rand was of these.
She ended her call thus, with charac-
teristic malice:
you're so-alluring. and yet so
steady, Eunice I wonder how it was
that Sylvia Hartley failed to hold him?
She is charming. too. Every one says
he really broke the engagement,
though he chivalrously let her have
the credit. Well, she let's herself go
so! A man would be SO sure of her
that of course he would lose interest.
do think June weddings are so sweet.
And now I simply must CO."
So one must not let man be too
sure. thought Eunice. Was Paul too
sure? It had not occurred to her to
hide her heart from him.
The engagement was announced
early in April. And during that
month, and all through May, Eunice
went through the nerve-racking,
misunderstanding series Of pro-nup-
mind and stomach of the modern
bride-to-be. The very sight of fancy
ice cream, mayonnaise, or the men
ton of a shower" made her feel hys-
terica1. She worried through the fit
ting of an elaborate trousseau, and
the planning of a wedding that should
uphold the nuptial traditions of both
sides of the family. The sacred rites
mans wife were, truly, no simple
thing of the soul, but burden and a
display It began to get on the girls
nerves. The last week in May found
her worn to rag-a lovely. happy:
but thin and pallid little rag. Paul
was worried and indignant, but pro-
test did no good-indeed. no one
seemed to be blamable. She said so
once.
'"The whole blamed business is to
blamei' he stormed. ct wish we had
eloped! Such a fuss about a big man
getting one little girl for his own. In
very oIden times the gentleman club
bed the lady, threw her over his Shout
der and bore her to his cave. / should
enjoy shouldering the lady and taking
her to my elaborate modern cave; the
clubbing ought to be performed on the
relatives and friends. and society in
general. And as for wedding presents
- He groaned in advance at the
notes his bride would have to write
about things they would both love to
burn things which would mar the
faultless taste OF the pretty house.
About a week before the wedding
everybody began to give Eunice good
advice. Uncle Tom was one OF the
first.
BE agreeable. Euniel If a woman
wants to hold a mans affection she
does not want to be eternally crossing
and harassing him. Give him his way
and you'll be lilxlier to get yours oc-
casionally than If YOU are contrary on
principle like your cousin Libby. A
bride usually thinks life is all honey
moon; whereas it's a hard job, and
long job, without even q breathing spell
from the ceremony till death parts .
But it's the best Job for a woman,
all in all" Her sister Elsie, ten
years married herself. offered this
gem of instruction.
And don't be too tame in his hand,
honey-child! You're inclined to be too
sweet and adoring! OF course it's quite
right to worship your man, but don't
let him be too sure that you do.
few well chosen moments of worry on
the subject will make him sit up and
take notice. Keeping a man in a little
wholesome doubt is one way of hold
ing
But at the now worn phrase Eunice
promptly put her fingers into her ears,
whirled about. ran from the hall to
her room and shut and locked her door.
She fell on the bed and began to cry,
and the tears relieved and soothed her.
An hour later her mother knocked for
admittance. and Eunice let her in and
was cuddied and petted until she told
her trouble. She did not go into it,
thinking it mostly fancy on the girls
part.
'AlI this fuss has Just tired you out,
baby-girI! 1t will soon be over, how
ever. I wish there was some way to
make a wedding less trying on every
body! Mother hopes and believes that
her girl will be always happy She
stroked the pretty cheek nesting into
her hand as tenderly as she had done
in the iris babyhood- Eunice drew
long breath of relief and gratitude. Her
mother, at least. was not failing her, |
was not offering recipes fer retaining
a mans love, which. the world seemed
to think was an evanescent and trou- |
b1esome thing to be bothered about.
Eunice rose. bathed her face and
dressed, feeling refreshed and calm
once more. She had had nearly two
hours undistu-bed! But downstairs on
the porch she found Lula Moss and
Ellie Waite. They were starting abroad
and so could not attend the wedding
q md We're come to say farewell. It took
much more time than was necessary.
They gushed over her and wished her
joy, and finally rose and kissed her.
And I hope he'll always love you