The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-11

Caroline coaxed and praised and ca
joled the girls until they had let her
open their trunks. She found a little
light summer SUI dress for each. simple
With her quick wits and quick
needle, a bit of lace or ribbon, she
began altering q little to the adnira-
ton of the others: She tried on one
could not deny the good effect.
You're darling, Caro-" said
Laura. 1--WE would not have thought
this old junk could be fixed up, and
body but you! We're your slaves for
this occasion. What else do you
want?"
The next afternoon at half past
four, three cool, clean, dainty girls
| with baskets waited at the Office for
three tired, hot men whose eyes
rested gladly upon them. They took
a car to some picnic grounds little fire.
quented, and found a grassy space be-
meath some great trees. 1t was after
| 6 when they reached there, and. the
hungry little company began to get
supper. Caroline had told each what
| to bring and did the planning herself.
She had one man get water, another
make fire. Then she produced cof-
fee in tin pail a steak and frying
| pan and potatoes boiled and ready
| to fry. Maude, in her element, remem-
bered her early training in her moth
| er's kitchen, and fell to work. Her
| sleeves were turned back to the shout
| der, showing her pretty arms. Her
soft, thick hair, untutored, unratted,
was drawn softly to the back of her
| round little head. The fire brought
| the red to her cheek. She cooked the
steak to a turn, and with far greater
zest than she made pothooks in the
Office. And Laura set the table. She
could not cook, but in her simple
white dress, with her curling hair
,,gv 30 ~ rofrr1 head
her dress turned up about her slender
| figure, the artificiality fell from her.
She forgot to shipper and pose. She
1 felt herself genuine and charming
| and was so.
The little supper was a joy-both as
food and as to comradeship. The
| third man, an old friend of Caroline's,
John Foster, sort of quiet mainstay.
dominated the group. The younger
girls had not known him. After sup
per the men had permission to smoke,
and as they sat and the girls sang,
Foster moved over to Caroline's side.
AS twilight began to fall a little
silence came upon the group c,,, Tne
/ Then without warning John Foster
took Caroline by the hand, and she
looked up at him with smile and
nodded.
/ 'We-Caroline and I-are going to
be married next week, people," he
4 said. won't that be great? We're
going to have a home out on Sixth,
/ and we want you to come and see US.
VIII you-all of you? And Caroline
has 1t planned to ask you girls to
room in our house. Will you?"
Maude and Laura rushed over to
kiss the bride to be, declaring that
they would, of course. But the other
men said nothing-then.
On the way home Bob had Maude
off to himself, and got off the car
with her before the right destination.
He wanted to talk with her. She was
very quiet and meek and sweet. Go
ing around the corner of the crowded
street the music from the dance hall
came to her ears. She shivered and
drew closer to her boyhood friend
She was thinking of Harry Hall.
Bob put his hand on hers.
.Maudie," he said, before I tel
YOU I love you-and ask you tc
marry me- must ask you to forgive
me. I thought the city had spoiled
you and that you liked she
would not let him finish.
"You shan't ask me to forgive
what I deserved, Bobbie. I love you
| Laura was walking demurely home
beside the head clerk. She somehow
felt very protected, very sweet and un.
: soiIed. Something in his manner tc
her told her that some day he would
even in her thought she did moi
quite finish.
They passed weary faced middle
aged woman, who looked at them
with a little smile. And she muir
INJURED in passing, "Ah, this counting
J business!'' But it was a wistful muir
, mur.-(Copyrighted 1910 by Associ
ated Literary Press.)