The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-11-25
TIE EVENING STORY
Their Conspiracy.
(By Clarissa Maekie. }

their falling in love-" said Agatha
Downing to her husband.
Tom Downing smiled understanding
~. Il might hint to him that Rosa
mond is extravagant. Of course she
isn't but if Peter Howard thought we
were framing up a conspiracy for him
to meet a certain girl-object matri-
mony-he'd turn gruf1y at once and
go home"
$50 would Rosamond - if she sus-
pected anything of the sort She has
always said she never would marry
She is devoted to her profession, you
know
Il believe the witch knows that her
uniform is the most becoming thing
she can wear" declared Rosamonds
cousin.
"Of course she does, Tom! I do
! think nurses dress is the sweetest
thlng-those white gowns are most be-
coming to Rosamond. I couldn't wear
them, I'm so yellow sighed Mrs.
| Downing, looking at her husband I'M
der thick black lashes
Fellows mighty becoming to you,
Agatha" he said gaIlantly. you
know don't care for pink and white
beauties, myself = but if I should be
taken sick and you were not able to
attend upon me please remember that
my last wish was that my pretty
cousin Rosamond is to don cap and
gown and administer the doses.''
/ by that time I hope she will have
given up nursing and be sensibly mar
ried to Peter Howard
Am I sensibly married ?" inquired
Tom innocently.
You are happily married" smiled
Agatha from under her lashes again.
If 1 am happily married. beg
pardon, darling-as 1 am happily mar
ried, why not have poor Peter happily
married instead of just sensibly mar
ried ?" he asked.
why, don't you see, dear, if he's
happily married he's sensibly married,
tool" cried Agatha triumphantly.
Granted that=let's get down to
the horrible details of the conspiracy.
They will both arrive on the same
train. You will meet Rosamond and
1 will meet Peter On the way home,
in our respective taxis, you will pro-
coed to hint alphabetically to Rosa
mond that we are entertaining an old
college friend of mine = a fussy old
grind, who detests women who take
up any vocation and thinks the only
place for the fair sex is in the bosom
of a family. For my part, I'll let Peter
understand that Rosamind is frothy
minded and eXtravagant, and the last
girl any sensible man would want for
a wife. That ought to fix things!"
ut will. They will fall in love at
once, men are so contrary minded,
signed Agatha.
Tom arose and consulted the time
table. Come along Agatha, train
will be due in thirty minutes, and
we've got to find a taxi
Queer, isn't it, about their both
choosing the same train 2" unused
Agatha as she put on her hat.
Begins to look as if Fate were go |
ing to step in and quash our con-
spiracy-eh ?"
it is singular. Two perfect strangers, !
such as they are - both invited to
spend a week here in another city, |
where there is a conspiracy afoot to
and both innocently choosing the |
same train to come down to their" |
she smiled questioningly at her amused |
husband.
Horrible fate." he finished.
At the train the Downings had two |
taxicabs in waiting; one was to con-
vey Mrs. Downing and Toms cousin
and the other was to hold Tom and |
Peter Howard.
When Mrs Downing first caught /
sight of Rosamond Ferrin's TALL grace
full form she was stepping side by side
with Peter Howard although they APP
peared to have been so situated by the
jostling of the crowd rather than by
design.
"Rosamond. you darling.'' cried
Agatha. bouncing on Rosamond and
hurrying her toward the waiting cab.
did you have a horrid trip down ?"
asked Agatha, when they were bowl
ing uptown.
mot at ALT was lovely I am so
glad to see you, Agatha" said Rosa
mond in her low, sweet voice How
is Tom p
VERY well, thank you oh, I must
tell you, dear, we have a guest hope
you don't mind" apologized Agatha.
''I know you wanted a perfect rest and
to be quite alone with us, but I'm sure
he won't bother you because he doesn't
cially the woman with vocation. You
mustn't mind If he doesn't notice you
much"
Dear me, shan't mind a particle
unless it's some one L care especially
a bout" laughed ROsamond. pray
who is the horribly unpleasant MANI"
Peter Howard friend of Tom So
"Oh." said Rosamond, and for a
while she sat very quiet. IF he is as
as you say I'm sure there
is no danger that we shall bore each
other very much
"I know you don't care for men,
went on Agatha.
''I don't-for many" admitted Ro-
samond.
I'm sure you won't care for Peter
Howard-he's dear, and we think a
lot of him, and he's as handsome as
picture, but he's crusty.'
"Crusty2" Rosamond was laughing.
''You mean disagreeable %
Yes not the sort one would want
to marry, you know" chartered Aga
tina, thankful to see the doorway of
their apartment house.
''Oh!" repeated Rosamond in puz-
zled tone
When they reached the Downings'
apartment Tom and Peter Howard
were talking in the guests room.
Agatha rushed Rosamond down the
hall into the pretty room prepared for
her, and as the girl removed the traces
talked animatedly.
Just as the gong in the hall an