The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-05-01
THE EVENING STORY
Marion in Mexico.
(By Temple Bailey.)

l
(By Temple Bailey.)
That's all nonsense said Nc
Henry, as Gloria came back from the
kitchenette with the oysters in a
quaint blue bowl.
| What is nonsense?" she inquired.
"That you and Marion won't be
friends. You are both SO perfect-you
think alike and talk alike"
| DE we?" she asked. How long
have you known Marion?"
| Three years."
'And in the three years you have
been together four weeks. The rest
of your knowledge of her comes from
her letters. Does she write letters like
miner"
| He threw back his head and
laughed. "Your letters?'' he reflected.
Did you ever write more than four
lines to me?''
| She smiled as she bent over the
Ibubbling cream in the chatting dish.
AS he watched her stir it he thought
that tomorrow he would be on the
cars and that there would be no
brown head within his line of vision.
81 wonder If Marion can cook oys-
tiers as you camp he said suddenly.
For answer she handed him toast
ing fork. Make yourself useful, you
are so lazy
| Somewhat awkwardly he got down
on the hearth rug.
cam I lazy?" he questioned. look
ing up at her, ''or is it increasing
avoirdupois?"
Both" wickedly. "and you must
reform.
"Why?'
Marion will want you to dance and
| to ride while you are in Mexico, and
when she comes north she will golf
and play tennis and you will roam
with her over the links by day and
I1xr foHf
He laid down his fork and forgot
the toast Twill I have to do all of
those things?''
"Why not? She is young. She loves
the pleasures of youth"
But you-you don't care for them"
"I am not young briefly.
you are younger than AM
"Oh, WE'LL significantly.
He started to say something, then
finished the toast.
Have you any more uncomfortable
things to say?" he demanded.
Uncomfortable? her eyebrows
went up. Have 1 said anything I'M
lcomfortable?"
THAT I am old and fat and lazy
She gave the oysters a final stir.
You are too literal. 1 have only been
telling you that you must not deprive
| your young wife of the things she
loves
"She is not my young wife"
"She is going to be-
eff she will have me, always re-
member that, please, if she will have
me-"
ut Is your province to make her
have you. You only have to put your
mind to it. You've got it in you to
make any woman care for you"
He turned her remarks over in his
mind; then he gasped and stood up.
"Gloria, you don't mean"
ha inf MI cd him h1TTi6diV 1.-The
coffee's ready, and if 1 don't serve
those oysters they will be cooked to
death"
But he was still staring at her. 81
wonder" he murmured.
She arranged two thin wedges of
toast mmetrically on a plate, heaped
the oysters on them, and handed them
to him.
He ate in silence for moment and
then returned to the attack DO you
think l could make any woman love
me, Gloria 2"
"You heard my opinion, I don't
know that 1 need repeat it," sedately.
you've always had your own way
and you'll get it now. Marion has
probably firted with a half dozen
fact that she keeps up her correspond
ence with you shows that she still has
an interest in you. And you are good
looking, and rich
DO you THINK me gOOo-looklnS
he interposed.
Over the top of the percolator she
surveyed him seriously
your eyes aren't my favorite color
Il like brown better than gray, and
I wish you would brush your hair
straight back from your forehead in
stead of parting it in that old-fashion-
ed way. But your chin is strong, and
you have a nice voice. Yes, think on
the whole Marion will succumb."
He came back to himself with
start Marion? oh, yes. But, you
Gloria-'
you've made me forget the celery
and the pickles. she told him severe
Ily, with your chatter about Marion
and Mexico" And away she went to
the refrigerator in the kitchenette-
He followed her. There isn't any
water, either, let me lift those bottles
for you
But he did it abstractedl.-, and stood
one big bottle in each hand, staring at
her while she dug out the pickles with
long fork.
II shall miss my evenings with you.
Gloria
"of course you will she said
briskly.
Marion won't cook oysters for you,
but you can eat fruit by moonlight,
which is much more romantic-you
remember in her last letter she said
that she was getting to be half vege-
tarian?"
As she spread the last pickle she
glanced up to catch the blank expI es-
sion of his face.
Vegetarian" he said helplessly,
"but look here, Gloria. you KNOW
like this sort of thing-the coy little
rooms and the chafing dash-and your
cofee-and by tove." his face was