The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-11-06
TIE EVENING STORY
Miss Betty's Bravery.

yes"
It am going to make fudge Miss
Beulah has gone to town, and there's
nobody but Miss Betty on guard.
Suzanne has the chocolate, and 1 am
going to contribute the milk. You
needn't bring anything but your sweet
self"
Midget came trailing out into the
dimness of the hall. her pink kimono
gathered about her shivering figure.
I'm glad" she said wistfully, that
we are going to do something exciting.
This school is the limit, Margaret. I'm
SO blue I could weep on your shoulder
if you weren't so unsympathetie."
I'm unsympathetic because you
haven't any real woes" was Margaret's
calm response. you needn't pose as
an ilI-used heroine simply because you
can't spend the week end with Mary
Tempest
1T isn't just that" Midget hesitated.
IF you only knew, Margaret"
81 do know. Arthur Tempest is to
I be there, and your heArt will break
if you don't see him.
Perhaps his heart will break said
little Midget, with a dignity which
made Margaret stare at her We
we are engaged, Margaret"
Margaret took her friend by the
shoulders and shook her. "And you
haven't told US" she cried; you
haven't told Suzanne and me-oh,
M:dget!'
'sWeu. YOU see," Midget explained,
hastily. "it didn't happen until today"
''But you haven't seen him and you
didn't get any letters, for brought up
the mail"
81 know. But-Arthur proposed by
telephone"
"of all things!" Margaret clutched
Midgets arm. How perfectly roman
tic, Midget Middleton"
ut wasn't romantic at ALL" Midget
declared miserably. Il wanted it to
happen in a garden among the roses,
or out in a boat in the moonlight
We'll, I wouldn't care where it was,
so that the man was Arthur Tempest"
said practical Margaret. You're
lucky girl. Come on UP and tell us
about it,
Curled up comfortably on the foot
of SusanDe's couch, Midget told her
story. Il used to know Arthur when
I was tiny little thing. Our families
lived next door to each other, and
that's how I came to be so intimate
Gated abroad, and haven't seen him
for years. He came back a month ago
and Mary invited me down to help
celebrate his homecoming. And-he
fell in love with me, and he's going
back to London this week, and Miss
Beulah has chosen this time of all 9TH
ers to go away, and Miss Betty doesn't
dare give any of us permission to leave
the school while Miss Beulah is gone
and SOL shant see him"
Couldn't you write to your mother
and get permission % Suzanne asked.
There isn't time. I've told Mum
sic all about it, and I know she will
say Bless you, my children but that
won't help me out-Arthur leaves to-
morrow morning
why don't you meet him some
where and have it over?"
Midget shook her head. Mother
wouldn't like it. She hates anything
clandestine, and a man can't think
much of a girl who suggests a thing
like that
Margaret, who was stirring the
fudge energetically, suggested. "Why
don't you go down and explain things
do you think it would do any
good ?"
TRY it,
When Midget entered the big school
alone, her big yellow Cupid in her
lap
Midget. standing in the door, asked,
in a meek voice, May I speak to you
a minute, Miss Betty -
Certainly" was the gentle response.
II don't want to do anything Mid
get began with great embarrassm ent
that would be against the rules But
but were you ever in love. Miss
Betty?''
The pale little lady opened her
mouth, but not a word came.
II suppose 1 shouldn't ask such a
question" Midget apologized. but it
did seem that if-if-you had ever
cared very much for any one that you
you'd sympathize with me now, Miss
Betty And Midget, whose feelings
had been much wrought upon by the
excitement of the day, broke down and
wept-
Betty quavered. patting the girls
hand; tell me all about it,
Midget told her. sitting on a little
stool at Miss Betty's feet, with Cupid
snuggled between them.
"And-it seems as if I must see him
just once before he goes she whisper
ed. land I know mother wouldn't OBJ
ject.''
"Beulah would be very angry" de-
INJURED poor Miss Betty. ''She hasn't
much sym pathy with sentime emit
But Miss Beulah isn't here-and-
and if you only could, Miss Betty"
what is it you want me to do?" the
little lady asked.
LET Arthur come to say good-by.
I can telephone, and he will be here in
his car in fifteen minutes-and it's only
half past eight, and it will be perfectly
.'But if Beulah should come" fall
tered Miss Betty
''She won't. She isn't due until
morning. and-oh, please. Miss Betty
At last Miss Betty gave in and Mid
get kissed her and cried, You're a
darling
Its sweet of you to say so, my
dear" fa1tered Miss Betty. but I
don't know what Beulah would say"
But Midget was already at the tele-
phone, calling up q number eagerly
In quick sentences she told the glad
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