The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-12
TIE EVENING Story
Greedy Complications.


Poor dear" Aunt Emma continued
to stare pensively out of the old-fash
icned cottage window at the slim fgur.
of the pretty niece carefully selecting
a bouquet from the pansies that bios
somed so plentifully in the oval bed by
the walk. Poor dear, don't know how
to break the news to her.
Uncle John fretifully discarded hi:
paper.
For the lands sake, Emaline Hig-
| gins, what's the matter? All you've
| done for the last five minutes is stand
| by that window and say poor dear.
It's getting on my nerves. Now you
| tell me what terrible thing you've got
\ to tell Elsie that has so upset you
There were tears in the honest blue
eyes beneath the silvery hair that Aunt
Emma turned toward her husband.
john she began brokenly, Il just
| feel SO sorry for that girl that I can't
tell And she worships that migrate
full man,
You can tell me, can't your Uncle
John demanded petulantly. His old
hands were busily crowding golden
Virginia leaf into an ancient cob pipe,
but his eyes scowled ominously across
at his wife. 1.-The older you get Emma,
the more whimsical you become-and
that's the only fault I can find with
YOU he added hastily, as the substan-
tial form of Aunt Emma seemed to wilt
under the unusual criticism.
'But-but, John, really it's shame
and she so wrapped up in himI''
It suppose" suggested Uncle John
patiently, that you are speaking of
Frank Greedy, but I amt sure, nor for
the life of me can [ imagine what he
has done.''
HE has fitted our Elsie'' confessed
Aunt Emma, miserably. Il know that
will break her heart
With an effort Uncle John conquered
his rheumatism sufficiently to limp over
beside his wife.
Don't look as if she was suffering
much,' he maintained, staring appre-
ciatetively out at the slim. dark-haired
girl with the pansies. Seems to me
she's mighty contented. And as for
Frank jilting her, you've just got to
prove it to me-
But he has, I was talking to Myra
Appleby over the phone this morning
and she told me-
Told you what? For goodness sake.
Emma, tell me what she told you He's
been up to his Uncle Hiram Appleby's
farm before and I amt heard of any
carrying on
'She told me right over the phone"
Aunt Emma was positive. "She said-I
remember her very words Frank has
lest his heart and he don't know now
when he will come home He wanted me
"Hm-m-," muttered Uncle John. as
lie assimilated the message. while his
Wr1nkled brow puckered in a perp1exed
frown. Sounds kind of funny to me. I
Just naturally thought that he and our
Elsie was sort of enga ged."
Ever since she came here after he-
f. ks died he's been shining up to her.
agreed Aunt Emma, '-and J guess she
thinks it's all arranged that they'll be
married some time. just as much as we
dio. But think of the meanness of that
marketing Myra break the news 20
us! II he'd had the manhood to be out
and out about it and tell US himself I
wouldn't have minded so much. but
Never mind, mother" soothed the
old man, using his favorite word of
erdearment Maybe it's all for the
lest
The girl outside raised a flushed han
pv face and waved a gay little hand Al
her watchers.
How happy she is" said Aunt En-
ma, sending a brave smile in return |
AND Frank should have made her |
good husband He's got plenty of money
hat his pa left him, besides brains that
can make more. I didn't think thar he
was OF the fiirty sort, ana now some
scheming vixen
IT wouldn't say that, Emma" gently
chided her husband. 1--WE don't know
neT, and maybe she's never heard Of
- our girl
'S-s-s-h,'' cautioned Amt Emma
here she comes"
The red-cheeked, healthy maid thar
Tas entering the door, paused to stare
bewildered amazement at her two
-elatives.
why, what on earth has happen-
I'd 2? she demanded. you two look
Is If you We're about to go to a funer- .
H. A little ripple of laughter passed
rom her lips as the girl banished her
'And. of course, nothing is
wrong" she finished, unless YOU
naughty grown-ups have been quarrel
ng"
This, indeed, was a mighty lest.
Uncle John and Aunt Emma Higgins
lever quarreled.
But it was sober faces that the two 1
I'D people turned toward their niece.
Jncle John shouldered the response
'ility of telling, and he hid his heavy
DAD behind a question. {
do you love Frank GreeIy?" he
sked abruptly.
The girl blushed as she turned her
ace away.
What question: she evaded. |
Answer him, dear" came in the
emile. sympathetic voice of Aunt
-mma- =
Suddenly a startled look banished i
he diffidence in the girls face. APP i
'rehensive eyes found first the wall ! I