The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-10-25
THE EVENING STORY
Keep Him Guessing.
(By Louise Olneyo

little late and in the shrinking way
now habitual to her. Her mother eyed
her appraisingly, as if counting up her
charms.
My dear, positively you blush now
if even I look at you! Do try to be
more poisedl It's your second season,
but you act like a novice!' Margaret
ate her grapefruit and said nothing.
Her only hope-a vain one-was that
John Norman's name would not be
mentioned. Her mother was merciless,
however. She had married off three
daughters already, but this fourth one
she could not understand.
"At dinner last night you were like
a mouse, and just drank in John Nor
mans words-while Eff1e Deane kept
his eyes on her across the table-she
| snatched his interest away right under
your eyes, and you let her! Any clev-
| er girl would have stopped her in three
minutes OF course she knows he's
worth her best efforts" She passed
| Don, the son, a cup of coffee.
'I-didn't want to stop her." said
! Margaret. Her mother stared Mar
garet seldom answered. Il am not
trying to interest him. If Eff1e wants
| him and can get him-welI, you don't
| understand me. I am not trying to
marry myself off-and I won't help you
do it, I'll go to work-in Lovrrie's Of
! fice-if you keep throwing me at mems
/ heads
Mrs. Fremont gaSped and Don StareJ
and then chuckled
Good for little Margie! Something
| new, The mouse can squeak when it
gets in tight place! Never mind, sis;
you shan't be married off! Just be-
cause a fellow is rich and popular is
| no reason why you should want to
| marry him. But if you do like him.
| don't be so passive-keep him guessing.
| Men like him are used to thinking ev-
cry girl is dead crazy about them
! Margaret could endure no more. She
rose and marched out of the room, her
/ dark eyes full of tears. In the hall she
snatched a white sweater and a little
! cap and escaped by the side door, her
/ slim figure tense and her head high.
| 1t was the first of October and the
| leaves were yellowing, the hills were
blue with mist, and on the horizon.
early as it was, enterprising men ana
girls were already beginning to golf.
She started for a walk, aiming for a
lonely path that would lead into the
bigger patch of woods. She wanted to
lose herself. But again hope cheated
her, for as she turned a corner Hal
Kerston appeared His boyish blond
face lighted with pleasure.
ooh, joy; oh, joy.'' he chatted, cap
in hand. Here she is and without
that everlasting Norman man at her
heels! Here she is in her right mind,
l.
60 too, Maggie? Say yesi If you say
yes. then I'll let you say when, too.
When you are tired of me I will light
out if you'll give the word; but let me
come too. Going to waikiki
Yes, come along,'' she said with a
smile at him. 81 always like to walk
with YOU The two went along, kick
ing the leaves. the boy laughing but
his eyes serious. The great trees whis-
pered in the morning wind. Margaret
forgot her woes and was momentariIy
happy; but she wondered what made
Hal seem such a child to her Then he
like Brutus, suddenly stabbed her with
a question.
IT hear you're to be married" His
voice was hurt. You know how al
ways wanted you. But IF Normans
going to make you happy-he's
be decent about it, you know
She cut him short angrily, tears close
to falling, her small fists clenched 1T
her side. Neither of them saw a tall,
quiet man coming toward them.
you, tool" she walled to Hal, her
clear voice quite distinct I'm to
hear nothing but John Norman
breakfast, dinner, supper, from my
own folks-and my friends-even youi
thought you'd have more sense,
When I'm going to be married I'll an
nounce my engagement properly. I'm
not going to marry Mr.. Norman, de-
spite the worlds matchmaking. In
the first place, he hasn't asked me. No
man with any self-respect would ask
me after the way my mother and sis
ter have thrown me at his headi' She
blinked back the tears, and Hal reach
ed for her hand, which she snatched
back. The big man, blue-eyed, dark
haired. and with serious face, stood
shamelessly listening. Margaret went
on. t'In the second place, I don't like
a man who must know what's going
ri c.ffI IlfaIr- n Inv
hanging around me enough to embar-
rass me. It's mean and base for me
to say this-but he won't take a hint.
I hardly speak to him. And then
mother sco1ds me-she says I have
no spirit. I've too much to be made
merchandise of. I won't be pretty
for him.
you can't help being pretty for the
world" said Hal Look here-you
marry me, Maggie. You've always
known me- Come on! We can have it
over in an hour. Couldn't you-love
me? Couldn't you
Maggie put her arms up against a
tree and put her curly dark head
against them and began to cry, but in
moment she turned to Hal who was
comforting her vainly-she turned like
little fury.
You go away this moment. Don't
wait to ta1k-just go," She hid her
face again. Hal, surprised and hurt,
marched straight off ahead of him,
still unaware of the big man in the
gray suit who stood very near.
Margaret cried a moment, and then
began to wipe her eyes
every single man in the world
either wants to marry or not to mar
ry,' she said aloud why can't
they" A rustic made her turn in
silent terror.
Mr. Normanr She was very white
and limp and leaned against the tree.
He took off his hat, his fine strong
face serious.
listened" he said. ''It was
beast1y of me-but I needed to know