The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-05-24
TEE EVENING STORY
I Am a Bachelor.
(By Frank H. Williams.

/ (By Frank II. W1lIlamS.)
Amy glanced at the advertisement
with distinct surprise. To her dismay
she also felt a distinct tightening of
the heart as she read the name at the
end. The advertisement was es fol-
/ lows:
ct AM A BACHELOR"
| ct am a mans man. I've had but
very little to do with women in my
life and I'm something over thirty.
That means that I've devoted more
time to men than have most men of
my age. I know men thoroughly and
I know what I want. So when 1 say
that in my new military hair brushes
and hard rubber combs have articles
that men particularly need, know
what I'm talking about. Every man
needs my combs and brushes, and
| want every man to have set. Write
to me today, men, for a particularly
attractive proposition. Homer Still
well, Room SIS Moderwen Building"
! 1t was the first time that Amy had
seen Homer's name for a number OF
years, and as she finished reading
the advertisement she was surprised
strong the memories were which the
mere reading of the name in cold
type awakened within her.
1t was decidedly disquieting to have
him suddenly recalled to her in such a
startling manner. To think that he
was in the same city with her! She
fairly trembled at the thought Of
course, he would not know that Ce-
darville was her home, still 1t was
cruel thrust of fate that of all the
places in the country he should pick
out this particular spot in which to
do business. She felt like running
away from Cedarvale to any place far
away from him. But that, she knew,
was impossible so long as her father
remained dependent upon her and so
feeble.
Day after day StillweIl's advertise
ments fascinated Amy. They were so
like the man she had known: 1t was
like him to emphasize the fact that
he was a mans man. 1t was like MN
to reiterate II am a bachelor she
knew it was good advertising and indi-
rectly she heard that it was bringing
him a great amount of business.
| 1T became a habit of Amy's to read
StillwelPs advertisements in all the
newspapers. Therefore she saw Grace
KartholPs advertisement the 11rst Gay
lit appeared. 1t occupied half page
and was flamboyant as to type. II
read as follows:
Il AM A SPINSTER-"
ct am a woman's woman. I've mad
but very little to do with men in my
life. and I'm something over thirty
That means that know women thor
oughly, that I've wasted no time try
ing to know men. Consequently l am
particularly qualified to minister TO
wonan's needs. I've got comb and
brush that women need. know what
I'm talking about. Women, write to-
day, and let me tell you of my attract
i've proposition.
GRACE KARTHOLL, I
''342@ Greene Street."
The similarity between Grace Kar-
tholPs notice and that of Homer Still |
well was startling. Amy saw that this |
new advertiser was treading on the !
reputation Homer had made for himself
and Amy also realized that 1t would
mean business to the Kartholl woman. |
But it hardly seemed just. 1t seemed |
like wronging Homer, and to Amy's
surprise this fact aroused an 1nd1gna-
ton in her against the new advertiser.
The realization of this new feeling /
toward Homer-this desire TO see tn4t
he got his rights-troubled Amy. Where
was all her old anger against him!
Where was her rage?
For several weeks the advertisements
of Homer StiIlwell and Grace Karthol1
were the most striking features of thel
newspapers, according to Amy's no.
ton. Each day the advertisers en-
phasized their respective declarations
of being bachelor and spinster.
From a business standpoint the
unique advertisements could not have
been better conceived. and the injection
of personality into them gave the pub
lie an interest in the combs and hair
brushes sold by the two advertisers
that the buyers would never nave mad
otherwise.
One memorable day both advertise
ments were missing. The next day
there appeared a page that sent Amy
into an extreme state of agitation. 1t
was as follows:
WE'RE MARRIED."
''The bachelor and spinster are now
Mr.. and Mrs. Did you miss our ads
yesterday. We took day off and had
the pastor of the First Methodist Epis-
copal church tie us in a knot. Now,
we're back to business, and remember
this: Each of us knows just as much
as before the marriage, about his own
sex. We've combined the manufacture
ing end of our respective businesses
and consequently we are in a better
men and women individual, needed ser
vice. We've combined our stores, too
everything will hereafter be located at
342 Greene street.
Homer StillweI and Mrs: Stillwell
formerly Grace KarthoD."
1.-The idea! The very idear' Amy's
exclamation was gasp. How could
he? The last thing that he's think IF
would be that I'm right here in Cedar
VILE with him. He probably thought
shall I do?"
After long bordering she finally de-
cided to write Homer and after great |
la Dor she sent the following note:
May L OIIer you my CONGRATULATIONS
on your marriage to Miss Grace Kar-
tholI? have been reading your adver-
tisenents for some time, so am not
surprised that you and the 'spinster' {
should have met l.
That's enough" Amy told herself {
st simply want him to know that /
know This note will tell him"
The answer to her not was wholly !
Tt came the next morningl
in the person of Homer himself. Amy ,
was in her room on the second floor of