The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-07-07
THE EVENING STORY
Grandma.
(By Jane OSBORNE

| toned variety-was making her first
| visit from the west. Grandma's visit
| made it necessary for Margery, her 20
| year-old granddaughter, to move into
| the music room, where, with music
cabinet that could be turned into
| dressing table and a lounge that nos
| only served as bed by night but as a
| depository for Margery's belongings all
! the time and a place behind the piano
! for Margery's shoes, Margery managed.
| There were portieres between the
| music room and the drawing room, and
| these could be drawn till Margery rose
/ in the morning and, Of course, Margery
| never went to bed at night until the
| last companion of her good spirits had
| gone to bed or left the apartment. But
| grandma was new to the ways of apart
ment jewellers and, although she was
| much impressed by the size of the
/ check that her son had to make out
for the landlord every month by the
| liveried pellboys. the day and night ele-
vators and the brass and colored glass
entrance which she had to pass to
| reach her sons apartment, still it didn't
| seem to her as though really nice folks
! would sleep on the "parlor sofy.' BLe
| she was willing to learn.
1t was $50 o'clock one evening and
| grandma and Margery were alone III
| the apartment. The maid of all works
| had gone out and Margery's father and
| mother had gone to the theater. Mar
gerry was expecting d call from Blair
Collins at quarter of 8. 1t didn't
seem to grandma as though really nice
folks would make such late calls, but
Margery had assured grandma that
Blair was one of the old Kinckerbockei
elite, and this sounded good enough for
grandma.
Margery had withdrawn to her music
room boudoir. The curtains were
closed, and Margery was planning a
10 minutes seance with her music cabi-
net dressing table, when the bell rang.
Margery knew by the way it rang that
it was Blair.
See here, grandma said Margery,
recklessly pinning UP her hair on which
she had planned to devote a. good ten
minutes more. THAT is Blair, a sutton
OF mine" Margaret didn't stop to ex-
plain to grandma that any man friend
in her language was ':suitor." lie
just couldn't keep away" Margery
went on, so he got here quarter of
an hour early, worse luck, and I am
not half dressed. I am not buttoned
up or ANYTHING" Margery was fumbling
pehlnd the piano in search of the pro-
per pair of slippers and grandma
couldn't hear ner very distinctly.
What you have got to do, granny,
is to open the door for Blair. Use
your head. granny, and you will save
my young life, truly. I will love YOU
forever If you do. Just tell him who
you are and then lead him gently but
firmly into the dining room. Mind
you, the dining room; and then como
pack to me after you have made him
feel at home and do my dress I'D. By
that time L will be all ready. I can
slick up in here and open the por-
tleres and we can guide him in from
the dining room. Yop can make some
excuse about the dining room. Say tee
hghts weren't lighted N the drawing
room. Now be sure to come back. be-
cause I just can't get this dress fa5-
tened alone''
The bell had rung again, and grand |
ma went bustling along in her stir |
black ruff1es to the door, Her nrasanoa
of mind did not fail her. b11t on So
ing the tall, slender young man. she |
put out her hand and shook his in her |
firm old grasp.
How do you do, Blair she said. |
Marg1e didn't say what your other
name was, but I guess L can call yoi,
by your first name if you are Leening
company with Margie Come right in
I am delighted to know you. am
Marg1e.s grandma. Come right into
the dining roon.''
Grandma led the wav tbro,,oh +ha
long narrow hall. Apartment halls
We're to her incomprehensfbe in their
intricate tumble of kitchens. bath
rooms, bedrooms and pantries. and
grandma lost the way to the dining
room room am real sorry" she admitted.
So0 AiIIIlu leading the |
to the dining room? 1t has sort -,
snpped my mind where it is and Mr.
gle SAID to take you into the dining
room, She will be dressed in q, min.
- She SAD the electric lights weren't
nghted in the parlor"
Grandma and Blair sat down at tho ~, |
ing table, and Blair, his first confusion
Vaain Y egged grandma on.
you don't know how ripping II 10 70
see you, grandma he said. sMareerv
has as told me all about you
es and Margie has told me all about
you, too, said grandma with a Ixnovine
giance of her bright old eyes wei T
40 nope you can get her promise before
Blair started. 1t was exactly bic ou,r
hopes; though as yet he had never re-
Ve ..I.i that fact even to Margery.
a girl, tell YOU grandma Went on va" "15
used to be fairly easy to get a wife.
After you had kept company with girl
Tor few months and taken her to the
circus ana the county fair and buggy
riding, If you had one why all you had
the do Ssv alm Rst was ask the girl to name
raised her hands to express her amaze
ment at prevailing conditions. why, it !
low IKE you to get wife. doesn't It? And /
always other boys waiting to cut YOU out |
Why, have heard Margie speak of half {
a dozen other suitors since 1 have been i
mere, though you are the first one I have
actually seen. And, there now, I'll bet a
cooky you have gone and spent your ,
for her." Grandma had spied a large box I
Of bonbons that Blair was trying to con- {
ceal under the table I
We'll, I'll never. Say, but let me tell
you something So far, 1 can't sees &
I'd have any objections to you at ALL /
Of course, I haven't seen her other suitors V
that she has mentioned just offhand. But
don't mind telling Margie my ideas g
about you, and say" she said bending '
toward Blair and whispering, ''of course r
his isn't for Margfe to know, but there is O
quite a little bank account coming from
grandma to Margie on her wedding day il
f she marries the right one. Don't you Q