The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-17
THE EVENING STORY
A Very Demure Young Lady
fBv L.aMrence Alfred Ga!

1t was a matter of wonder that
such an ambitious, aggressive mother
as Mrs. Kent should have such
demure daughter as Estelle. Yes, the
mother was very aggressive, and the
daughter was very, very demure.
That was an opposite other mothers
could not help but remark.
At seventeen Miss Estelle was sent
to Vassar. She might have preferred
another school, but her mother SAID
vassar, and that settled that. Mrs.
Kent was a widow with an income
none too large, but she had plans and
schemes far ahead.
At eighteen and nineteen Miss Es-
telle was still acquiring knowledge,
but at twenty she had finished. She
had had vacations, of course, and
there had been no change In her de-
mureness. She was given three or
four days in which to draw her breatn
after getting home for good, ana then
her mother called her to her side and
said:
.'EsteIle. you are now twenty years
DID,
Eyes, mamma
You should be thinking of matri-
mony."
II am, mamma"
you have a handsome face and a
good education, and you ought TO
marry WE'LL
80 i should, mamma.
But the trouble is" continued the
mother, that there are no eligible
young men around here. That is,
none who could support you in the
style you deserve
Not one, mamma"
But there is a gentleman, after all
"a middle aged gentleman-a man
of wealth who has been attracted TO
you. He has seen you on various
occasions during your vacations, and
has become smitten. He was here
the other day to ask the privilege of
calling on you."
Yes, mamma"
And I granted it. Estel1e, you at
least know of Mr.. Henderson-the
gentleman who owns the Golden
brewery
Yes, mamma"
''I have heard 1t said that he is all
of forty-eight years old, and dyes his
whiskers. Those innuendoes are al
ways thrown out against the rlcn.
He is a fat man and baldheaded. but
you don't think that counts against
him, do you?''
"Of course not, mamma"
Fat can be reduced and bald heads
covered with wigs. Mr.. henderson
may not be as well educated as some,
but he's a thorough business man. l
thought you might be prejudiced
against him because he is brewer
"Oh, no, mamma.
"Of course he doesn't rinse out the
kegs and bottles and refill them
again, nor does he drive one of his
wagons. He stays in the office and
counts the cash. And another thing,
dear, people don't look upon the
brewery business as they once did.
We ali drink beer nowadays for
tonic.''
Eyes. mamma" was the same de-
mure and dutiful reply.
Mr. Henderson will probably call
within a day or two. He has pur-
chased beautiful auto, and as soon
as he can find a chauffeur to run II
we are to go for ride. l knew you
would think as I did about this mat
ter, but still 1 want to praise you Tor
your good common sense
Thanks, mamma. szAs4-st 81 E-5-
Mrs. Kent smiled with satisfaction.
She Rugged herself in her compla-
cencv. She believed the match as
good as made. Within radius of
ten miles of her were hundred
other mothers who could have told
he- that it was the demure young
lady to have an eye on, but the cau-
ton would have done no good. That
same evening a letter was mailed to
somebody up the state which con-
tanned the following sentences:
Come at once and hire to him as
a chauffeur. You know how to run
an auto. Well plan the rest after
you get here.
Miss Demure was planning lit
tie scheme. 1t was Eyes, mamma.
to everything, and mamma thought
a girl of twenty years old
Mr. Henderson called. Yes. he was
short and fat and pudgy. He wore
wig and looked his age, no matter
what it was. No, he was not an edu-
Gated man. He was just a millionaire
with a loving heart, and when he
made this announcement he laid his
hand on his right side, as If his heart
had moved over. He had hired a
chauffeur. that. day, and could invite
mother and daughter to go out for
spin with him on the next. The
chauffeur was fine looking and would
be man to do credit to him. After
his call had lasted an hour, and the
brewer who didn't rinse his own
bottles had rendered himself as agree
able as he could he bowed himself
out, and the mother turned to the
daughter with:
"Estelle, isn't he just splendid ?"
He is, mamma" was the reply.
Can you find anything to crit
icize?''
Not a thing. mamma"
kiss"
And just one hour after this moth
demure cheek Miss Estelle. was walk
ing and talking with the brewers
chauffeur in the reading room of the
town library! They talked about
something that both smiled and gig
gied over, and the deceitful young
lady almost whistled the air of a
topical song as she made her wau
homeward.
The spin" was taken ..ext after
noon. Truly, it was a fine auto, and
truly was distinguished looking
chauffeur. The ladies occupied the
tonneau and the brewer sat beside
the driver that he might show off his
fat back and red neck. Ten-twentv
thirty miles an hour, and then a
stop! The auto bod gone dead That
chauffeur said. The bobcrank got foul
of the Jim crow, or some such thing.
and the matter was easily remedied.
All four persons got out Mrs
Kent and Mr.. Henderson sauntered
~ 'Ie iOau pit, anu MISS Estelle,