The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-25
THE EVENING STORY
Rachael and Leah.


| Sybilla burst explosively into the
sitting room. shouting subduedly.
Mother! Mabi Everybody! The
new minister is coming saw him
IN the lane-and you know the road
doesn't go anywhere else"
Dear mel And this room in such
a ciutter!" Mrs. Ray cried, dropping
her sewing and glancing at the shreds
OF pink silk. the tatters of tulle, and
Shippers of gauze and Uttered the
rug, and chung wispily to everything.
Syp1ila commented - but over her
shoulder - she was on her knees
gathering up the offending shreds and
latters. But don't you worry, mother,
sides, I believe his reverence will be
SO taken up looking at Nab he won't
see anything else-not If it was as big
as a grown dog
'Hushi You dreadful chiIdi" Mrs.
Ray reproved.
NAB, the beauty of the family pout-
ed visibly. II do hope he won't stay
long. If he does, my new frock will
never get done in time she said anx-
Sybilla laughed outright, saying
provokingly, and if it shouldn't
why. the Hampton poundcake may
turn out all dough!'
Mabel flushed angrily. "You de-
only you're such a savage you might
dlsgrace the family" she said severe
". Then she turned to her mother.
why can't you go upstairs and sew?
LII make out you've got a headache
and send the Rev. Peter Bonn away
in jiffy.''
You ask me to do everything ex-
cept your lying" Sybilla dubbed, her
eyes dancing. ST like Peter Bonn.
Why don't you leave me to entertain
MIN? He's almost as nice as a big
healthy two weeks old calf"
You forward thing!" Mabel ejacu-
lated. Mother, send her upstairs. If
you don't she'll make me cry
No she won't-crying makes red
/ noses for little Mabel-and she
her So" Sybilla flung back undaunted,
Wh1rling about as she talked and re-
ducing the chaos to order. you're
Miss Goosie all right, all right-try-
you know I know you so we'll
Hush! I won't hear such Ian
guage! L don't see where you ever
learned it!'' Mrs. Ray interposed de-
spairingly.
Sybilla looked contrite, and ran to
her mother, pushing her down into the
easiest chair and smoothing her hair
deftly.
Mrs. Ray got, up saying irritably.
ST will go upstair-but mind, Mabel
IL you keep Peter too long I can't do
very much. That left side form has
to be set in differently and without
you to fit it on
ST know! I know! Only co. Mabel
interrupted
| AS her mother vanished in the
| wake of Sybilla, whose arms over
flowed with inchoate finery, the min
lister knocked. Mabel welcomed him
warmly; she had a warm heart to-
ward any man who admired her. so
warm, in fact, it was three hours be-
fore she let Peter leave, notwithstand-
ing the state of the pink silk frock
You can finish it by IL O'Clock to-
highland We'll sleep late tom orrow,"
she explained when her mother COM
planned of wasted time.
Sybilla, who had just come in, stood
with clenched hands You know
mother ought to be in bed early she
said, her voice singularly restrained.
'tAnd she shall be there, too, even if
you go to the hop in your old blue
tarlatan."
Mabel glared at her younger sister
she was badly spoiled, and all along
had tyrannized over everybody, espe-
cially this gawky creature, willing as
she was gawky. Now, she was grow
ing unbearable-at seventeen a girl
should know better than to be saucy.
Sybilla had taken cast-off clothes,
studied in cast-off books. waited on
everybody, and eaten at the second ta-
BILE, unmurmuring. OF late she had
grown restive-the frocks were too
short-Mabel was several inches lower
than She. Then, too. she had devel-
oped quaint and ready bitterness of
speech, an insight that was critical,
and worse still, a reckless regard for
the truth.
Therefore, when Mabel asked tart
ly: We'll, Miss Smarty, where have
you been all afternoon?'' she answer
ed with a lovely flush, but clear eyed
and high headed: "Oh, out riding
with Len Hampton. He saw me up
in the apple tree. and said he'd give
me a drive for three red apples"
lust as you are? My!" Mabel
gasped, glancing at Sybilla's faded
serge frock. scuffed shoes and bat
tered hat.
Sybilla smiled softly, nodded and
murmured: 81 don't believe Len mo-.
ticed what had on-he was too busy
looking at me-
''I never heard of such insoIence.
Mother, she'll be the talk of the town.
People have said always you couldn't
| raise a forward daughter, but I'm
afraid
They won't keep saying it?"
Sybilla interrupted. wrong. honey
Len says I'm as shy as 1 am sweet.
Nab. did he ever say anything nicer
to you?"
"Ill send you to school day after
tomorrow" Mrs. Ray groaned. "1f
your poor father does say it's no use,
you've got to go"
"Thanky, ma'am-Ive wanted to
this ever SO long" Sybilla countered
undauntedly. MOT for what books
will teach mel can get that at
home-but so as to rub off the an
giles and make me sweet and attractive
like NAB"
She ended with a laugh of genuine
| amusement that had yet a sound I'M
like her Usual bfbbling. Still, she
had her way about the frock after
all, inclining her father to exercise
husbandly authority for once. and
send his wife to bed betimes.
All next day she was singularly
gentle, singularly willing-not once
did she say a briery thing, nor fail
| of doing the most exacting duty
Rested and refreshed, Mrs. Ray did
marvels with the pink silk. When it
| lay complete upon the bed in the