The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-10-22
THE EVENING STORY
Betty's Last Fling.

Il daresay you'll think me a spend
thrift Aunt Patricia" said Betty so
berry, for L have spent my substance,
not wasted it. mind you, On pretty
clothes. For once in my life. I am
really prepared for a visit and its at
tendant festivities without being con-
stantly confronted with the question,
wherewithal shall 1 be clothed?'
Il thought you looked particularly
we'll when you came this morning -
commented the girls aristocratic old
kinswoman, smiling. II am glad that
you have pretty clothes, for the sea-
son has been especially gay here and
all my friends want to entertain you.
1 have scheme that will require
pretty things, and SO I was wonder
ing last night how I could get you
to a good nodiste without hurting your
feelings
1T isn't going to a good modiste
that hurts my feelings, dear Aunt
Patricia. but the fact that I can't af-
ford a good one," laughed Betty. IT an
ticipated the time of my life up here,
so 1 extravagantly prepared for what
I felt was to be the last fling before 1
was relegated to the shelf of has-been
and old maids I'll wager you won't be
ashamed of me this trip Such velvets,
such laces and such darling little white
gowns made simply to wear with moth
them to me on my last birthday
You were-
Don't breathe it to a soul, I was
Is
You don't look it, and that is a
comfort. How have you kept your
youth when you've had to worry so
over finances? You've managed well
on ridiculously inadequate income.
Your mother ought to be proud of you"
Dear me, she is too proud When
the relatives come around and begin
to question, pleasantly of course
Betty made wry face. 'just why I
have never married, you should see
her bristle- I am too good for any man
living, according to her opinion"
you've had a good many chances.
excellent ones. too. I have often won
dered why you are SINGLE"
The girls face was grave as she sat
there looking pensiveIy in the fire which
was necessary to Miss Patricsa's COM
fort since the fall days had brought a
chill in the air.
Maybe the happy memory of
youthful romance has woven a fabric
of dreams too beautiful and too precious
to lose, Betty. 1t was so with me-
Betty glanced at the proud old face.
flushed with the knowledge that at last
she had disclosed the secret kept in her
heart for half a century. The girl slip
PoQ OONIl on q HdSSOCN IAy MISS HdGr1c1a
and lifted d vrinkled hand to her warm
cheek. II am afraid I was not intend
ed for romance, Aunt Patricia. for the
years have come and gone without anv
lasting love and now Betty sighed.
now I am too Old
Tut, tut" said Miss Patricia sharp
ly. You are never too old for romance.
Girls don't love but once as they did
when I was young. Times have chang
ed.
why have you never married Aunt
Patricia?" asked Betty tinidly. You
were made for love and happiness
1T all happened SO long ago and
yet it stays fresh in my mind as if
it were only yesterday. We quarreled.
I knew that 1 was in the right, and
he apologized time and time
again. I was too proud to forgive him.
So I spoiled my whole life because of
a little jealous anger.
Betty stroked the hand that lay in
her own A great cluster of diamonds
in an old-fashioned setting glittered on
her engagement finger
That was the ring he gave me-
she went on softly. He died a year
ago and sent it back to me with a
message asking me to wear it until |
l. too The old voice wavered
and broke. Tears trickled down the |
withered cheeks and dropped on the