The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-07-18

| tent of hopping around to the end of
the earth at my bidding. She is
| transform herself into anybody else
at a moments notice. So, your aunt,
with a twinkle, lis up state and will
play her part from there. Wen tax
/ it over with her. Comet"
The next evening Mr.. Cramer To-
cused the conversation on the garden
party. He brought in Miss Currin
| name quite naturally.
Stunning looking grill" comment
ed young Cramer fiippantly. NO" IL
she were only rich
''She has prospects, said his father.
! in a similar tone. Some old miser
you heard? Have a try-if you can
get a look-in, that is. She's favor
tie L gather
George Cramer looked up curiously.
1t was a new attitude on his fathers
part; but he harbored no suspicious.
Neither did it occur to him as signih-
cant that thereafter he met Isabel
nearly everywhere he went.
evening on parting.
He went. She was popular, not cas-
lily obtained tete-a-tete, pretty, and
rich-quite worth the effort, George
him, not once, but frequently. one
day he asked her over the telephone
if he might have that evening. She
declined. He begged the next-for
the lnSdl6TB OF anything Sn6
prefer. She chose to have him come
to her house instead. 1t was then that
she first limited, delicately, at some
legacy-a substantial one. He gath
cred that her eccentric aunt was hope
lessly ill.
At the end of a week, he proposed.
She refused him. His desire grew.
At the end of a month, she gave in.
In panic, she sought Mr.. Cramer,
you must lose your legacy-not
will suddenly change her mind about
endowing you. You can rely on her.
You have disagreed, about-um-ah
what have you disagreed about?"
my choice of a husband?" sug- |
gested Isabel. with touch of humor.
Mr.. Cramer shook his head. THAT
might arouse Georges chivalry-he |
used to have a great deal. 1t might
influence his actions, and that would
never do
""of course faltered Isabel
"Bless my soul! Do you"
''Yes,' admitted Isabel ct care"
my dear! Then you must lose
everything-every cent you have in
"oh, mol" cried the girl. "Tm
afraid"
''All or nothing!" urged Cramer.
Meanwhile George appeared salts
fed with his lot. He had kept his
proud of her looks, and she never
bored him. AS the days went by, he
realized her charm more and more, |
and it was with ever increasing i'm
patience that he counted the time be-
tween visits With interest, observa-
ton had grown keener, and one night
her mood puzzled him.
what is it?" he demanded right
away
''Everything!"
She motioned him to keep his seat, |
as she paced in front. of him. head
averted. Although she played a part, |
the trembling of her. hands and the |
culver in her voice were very real. |
In a moment she faced him, and with |
a deep breath to calm the humping
of her heart, delivered her carefully
rehearsed speech.
$50 you see, I'VE lost everything.
I won't be worth penny"
He sat and stared She watched
him. Then she took the ring from her
finger and dropped it into his hand. |
This recalled him. He tried to replace
it, perfunctorily. She would not let
him, quite indifferently. He should
have felt relieved; but why was this
peculiar dullness all through him !? He
left her abruptly, as if running away.
Why? There was no danger. She had
shown him plainly that she had re-
garded the whole affair as an ar
which the turn of circunl-
stances nullifed. Perhaps he wasn't
rich enough for her, either-without
her own additional wealth. She was
at that moment, planning
bigger game. He tried to laugh, but
only succeeded in becoming very
angry. And while he stupidity CROPPED
for consciousness Of his own mood,
Isabel was sobbing her heart out; for
It seemed, indeed, as if the little god"
were making cruel sport of her.
She was wrong. On the third day
George sought his father. who had
been watching him anxiously.
'I won't love heri" he ended. Il
tell you I'm done with it! I said I'd
ais hat and dashed out. He barely
escaped Isabel.
TITS three days!" cried the girl to
Mr.. Cramer- couldnt wait any
I'm afraid I'm going to hate you for
the whole affair. I don't want to,
she added naively.
He laid a hand on her shoulder and
pushed her into a chair.
I'm not so sure. George has wan
Tered around supperless the last two
nights. There is hope" he said.
In confirmation, the door opened
wildly. George rushd in without cere- {
''Pater!" he cried. I'm going to {
her! It's no use! rye tried, but" {
lie saw Isabel. and gasped. J
ng, "he has tried! Give him that
much credit; he really tried! Aren't
vou flattered: 81
"Yes!" cried Isabel: "I sm!"
"You mean" shouted George.
oh. If you do I'll show you"
But Isabel laid her finger on MS I
Ups, as she practically flung herssn
nto his aNas: and if she and Mr.. q
,ramer exchanged a wink over r
shoulder, only the little /
.od" ever knew why.-(Copyright l
912 by Associated Literary Press.) !
QUAKER NEGOTIATIONS.