The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-04-17
The EVENING STORY
A Necessary Love Affair.

father because that self willed old
gentleman insisted that a position in
Re1lly's Unrivaled Soap factory was
more to be desired than a literary
career, and how young Reilly sudden
/ ly found himself without pocket money
and glad to accept the superintendent
ship of a country school, is a long and
painful story. But certain it is that
he did not enter into his new work
in the best of humors, and as Maisie
Ashford had red hair and a rather
Heved the monotony of his new life by
teasing her.
Maisie retaliated with spirit worthy
of her auburn locks; she rebelled
against the rules he made, and stirred
up the other teachers to do likewise;
she studied the lives of the presidents
and demanded holiday on every
presidential birthday, and she wrote
when at college had considered
dead language for dead people" and
carefully neglected.
Before many weeks there was open
war between them, but the balance of
power was in Harry's- favor. He soon
found that nothing annoyed Maisie
| more than his constant supervision of
her work, SO his polite knock sounded
at her door all through the day, and
he would sit in uncompromising ST.
lence while she heard her classes. To
lteach zoology in a school where the
only laboratory specimen was an
4 8
ried in snuff box in his pocket was
no easy matter to teach it with Mr..
Reilly looking on unsympathetically,
was tntolerable. Certainly it was more
, than Maisie could stand, and when she
heard one of the other teachers re-
marking that Mr.. Reilly evidently dis
approved of the way that the botany
and zoology were taught, she set to
work with characteristic daring to stop
his visits to her room.
In furtherance of her plan she ap-
peared at his desk one afternoon look
ing very innocent and guileless. "Mr.
i Reilly" she ventured timidly, when I
was out with the botany class yester-
day thought that saw a swamp lily,
but it was too far out in the swamp
for me to get. Still with help might
secure it for our collection. They're
very rare, you know
Harry did not know, but he took her
word for it, and promptly offered his
assistance.
When school was dismissed that
afternoon the amazed teachers saw the
new superintendent, armed with spade
and bucket. accompanying Maisie Ash
ford down the road towards the woods
They had reached the densest part
of the swamp when Maisie stopped
and pointed to a small island of tuft
that rose from sea Of bog. There
it is" she announced, "but you'll new
er be able to get it."
Harry selected a plank from a near
by fence, laid it from one patch of
duINST1HS S6OSo TO dnOCn6r, and Cr6Dt
cautiously out upon it. After a close
inspection of the tiny green plant that
Maisie had pointed out he raised his
head in disgust. '"This isn't swamp
lily-it's common iris. You've plenty
of these already" Then he turned and
saw that Maisie had quietly removed
the plank.
He stared at her in blank amaze
ment and she returned the look de-
family. Before I put it back she
explained, trembling at her own
temerity, Il want you to do me a ia
vor.''
"A favor?'' cried the indignant Har-
ry, squirrning uncomfortably on his
tiny island. 'we'n talk about favor.
when you put back that plank"
But she answered sweetly, fI
shan't put it back until you do me the
favor. All want is for you to write
me letter asking me to marry you
ITO marry you? Are you sure that's
ALP gasped Harry.
He looked about him desperately,
but the bog was over his depth on
all sides, and his only chance of es-
cape was the plank which a certain
was holding, He saw that he was
trapped, so he took off his hat and
made her as graceful a bow as the
Limited space permitted. Madam he
said, IT am at your service" Thel
drawing out his fountain pen, please
what shall I say in this tender epfs-
/ tie? You can't expect me to feel in
spired.''
Maisie ignored that unkind thrust
and began to dictate. my darling
Maisie, for how can I call you Miss
Ashford when every heart beat, grow
ing tumultuous at the sound of your
footsteps, .proclaims you my own little
MaiSie-
Good heavens" groaned the unhap-
py Harry, don't make me out that
kind of fool! If 1 must make love
to you, Miss Ashford, let me do it
like a man" But Maisie insisted stern
ly, Il know that you scorn me, but
it is the strong -1an's pride to tell his
love-
Especially murmured Harry,
when he's sitting in a swamp with
snakes nibbling at his toes.''
Maisie giggled, but otherwise re-
fused to notice this remark and con
tinued to dictate. $50 now 1 repeat
You are the only woman that / have
ever loved, the only one I can ever
love, and 1 ask you, on my knees, to
be my wife. Yours through eternity
Harry Reilly. There she concluded
triumphantly, isn't that lovely let
ter? But please don't look so miser
able, Mr.. Reilly, shan't accept your
proposal. just want this letter sc
that 1 can show it to the other teach
ers and tell them that you don't come
into my room to crtticise my work,
but because you love me-"
To her surprise. Harry Reilly blush
ed, the mans dull-red blush, which
may mean either anger or embarrass-
ment. .I didn't know" he muttered,
that I was annoying you so by COM
ing"
In silence she replaced the plank
and in silence they trudged back to
the village.
The next day Maisie was pressing