The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-03-04
THE EVENING STORY
He calls on Her Mother.


an easy chair at his disposal Mrs.
lCoyle was loquacious; as yet Freddy
had not uttered a word.
Il knew you the moment I saw
you,' gabbled the motherly old wom-
an. Freddy had an appreciative eve
for her. despite her garrulousness.
She peered kindly at him from be-
hind old fashioned silver bowed spec
tacles.
Yes. I knew you at once-but
aren't you pretty young for the job?'
Freddy surveyed her with reproach-
fui eyes. Also he flushed. 1t was
most embarrassing to have his tender
years flung in his face-especially
from the lips of the mother of the
girl he intended to marry.
stiffly.
This woman, in spite of her antithet-
ic appearance, was positively coarse;
different, with all the difference pos
sible, from Hope-sweet, slim Hope,
his brown eyed. brown haired divinity.
1t had been a whim of Hopes that
he come to Swissvale alone and break
the news of their engagement to her
mother, whom he had never met, while
she remained in PittsEurg. 1t was
a strange whim, but Hope was a girl
of odd ideas and the personification Of
impulse.
Under the scrutinizing eyes of the
elderly woman, Freddy drew his boy
ish form more erect in the great
chair, and the red on his cheeks thick
ened.
Pretty young reiterated Hope
Coyle's mother. Pretty young for the
job. The others before you were
older men; not that / am criticising
you, sir, but it seems to me that you
are-er-pretty young for the job
Freddy glared in engagement. Hope
had told him that she had said not a
word of her engagement to her moth
Grand Hope was to be believed.
Hope had told him that he-one of
Pittsburg'S most promising young law
yers-was the first man to enter thus
into her life-and Hope was to be be-
lieved. Still
ST was born in Rhode Island, said
the woman suddenly smiling across
at the embarrassed youth. MY hus-
band is Dead she continued. My first
name is Loretta, and" She inter
remember all this? Hadn't you better
put it down %
Butler mumbled inarticulately, and
cast furtive and frequent glances to-
ward the door.
"I have one daughter" continued
Mrs. Coyle serenely. "She is an ex-
pert stenographer located in Pittsburg.
She You must have a remarkable
memory" she suddenly flung at the
young lawyer, ''to be able to remember
all this, you know; Now what else
Buffers dry lips clicked as he
opened them to answer. Heavensi
So this was the mother of the girl he
intended to maryland she was crazy
no doubt of it-crazy as Bedlam-
tie.
well, then" continued the talka-
tive one. Freddy showing no inclina-
ton to interrogate, II guess I know
what you want to know. This prop
erty-this house, and this lot-are
mine. I also own another place in
HON estead. I'll bring the deed for
you to see in a. moment" s- -+r--
Never mind about that" the youth
managed to calculate.
81 thought you were a le-e-etle
young for the job But never
mind she soothed, "I'm sure ev-
their ability
'She must think 1 am a pauper,"
groaned the youth inwardly.
AS a matter of fact, Freddy Butler,
though young and untried along
paths of jurisprudence. was no pauper
An astute father had left him with a
sufficient amount of the worlds goods
to do with as he pleased and still not
touch the principal. The girl stem
ographCr in the Frick building had
attracted his notice-and thereafter
her income was percept;bly swollen by
the patronage of Blackstone's youngest
disciple. Imaginary clients demanded
all sorts Of typewriter screeds.
1--WE have COW and horse" con-
tinued Hopes mother. "but the barn
from Ownie O'Neal. the grocer on the
corner. He's a perfect gentleman,
too, and I'm sure you'll like him.
st don't expect to meet him." pro-
tested Butler. shifting uneasily in his
chair.
"Oh, but you WILL" insisted the 9TH
ed you'll have to meet him. His
home is only three blocks from here,
and he'll be terribly put out of you
exclude him.
Exclude him." mumbled Butler.
"what the dickens is the woman raw
ing about now? Certainly must be
crazy. It's high time that I make my
little talk and get away.
I'VE shall live in the city. you
know" he explained $50 I doubt if
we will meet Mr.. O'Neal."
Live in the city?" came the hest
tant answer. ''Why-what do you
mean?"
sFirmness at the start" thought
Freddy to himself. "I'll establish no
precedent by allowing my mother-in-
law to bluff me at any stage of the
game.
an a city, he repeated. 1--WE will
leave here as soon as we are married
right after the honeymoon, 1 mean.
We decided on that step some time
ago. 1 have large house in the east
end lying idle. and Hope is quite in
fatuated with it,
"Hope! infatuated with-why, what
are you talking about?"
"Our marriage, of course" explain
ed Butler, impatiently. tHope and I
are to be married in JuneA 1 see you
know all about it, thought how you
learned is a mystery to me. Hope sent
me out to explain. She said you didn't
know-yet''
Mrs. CoyIe burst into a shrek of
hysterical laughter.
"And 1 thought you were the CEN
sus taker," she gasped.
Census taker!" reiterated the sur
prised attorney. What in the world
gave you such an idea7"
The mother of Hope had stilled her
laughter and was now staring at the
young man, an inexplicable look in her