The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-07-01
THE EVENING STORY
In a Peanut Shell.

| nothing would trade positions for
| week with almost any sort of man
| he sees passing the club windows. he
| has travelled; he has been bored by
society; he has f1irted into love ana
fiirted out again; he has sent diamonds
to actresses and wished he hadn't done
it; he has summered in the mountains
and at the seashore.
What's to be done to break the
monotony?
The bored young man could try a
| flying machine, but he knows he's
dizZy-headed. He could go off west
| and climb mountains, but when he
erached the top of one he would be
sure to find himself out of matches
and cigarettes.
Mr.. Clarence Chope didn't jump from
the Brooklyn bridge nor go over Mag
ara Falls in a drygoods box. He didn't
even run his auto against telegraph
pole to break the monotony.
Within the limits of the big city
is a spot called Central Park. Mr..
Chope had heard and read of it sew
eraI times. He also thought he re-
membered being taken there by
nurse girl when a small boy. 1t now
suddenly occurred to him to visit the
place. There might be adventures
awaiting him there. At least, it would
he went abroad. While a visitor at
a London club, he had been asker
where the Battery was in his home
city, and had given tie location as
in Yonkers. After he got back home
another rich and bored young man
told him that it was down at Sandy
Hook instead. He would therefore, be
more careful about Central Park. He
wouldn't get it mixed up with either
Hoboken or Blackwelrs Island.
MI. Chope didn't enter Central Park
logged out as he would for a stroll
ri a ho a N
idea that he would encounter many
nurse girls and children, and that
there was a possibility of some boy
calling after him as he sauntered
along.
The young man found an entrance
to the park after several inquiries, and
was moving along in a wondering way
when a boy about eight years old came
up to him and took his hand and said:
Come along with me. please"
Where to-"
Down to that bench. I'm in dis
pute with my aunt
1907"
Its about peanuts. She says they
don't grow on trees, but in the
ground. I want you to tell her that
you've picked 'em off trees many
time
But
Come on
Mr.. Chope was almost dragged
along to the bench on which a young
woman was seated, a book in her lap.
The boy had said she was his aunt.
She might be that and the governess,
too Mr.. Chope hesitated for a second
and then raised his hat.
THE boy brought me here" he ex-
planned.
Yes, and you are going to take my
side,' added the lad.
Ralph, I'm afraid you are not po-
lite,' observed the girl.
But 1 want to prove I am right
about peanuts. Say, mister, don't they
grow on trees?'
If Mr.. Chope had been asked to give
Adams correct weight or Ewes waist
measure he wouldn't have been boxed
up any tighter. He had graduated at
college he had made the grand tour
he had been south, winter after win
ter-he had devoured his barrel of pea
nuts when a boy and yet he stood
there like a bump on a log and wished
that fresh young kid in Halifax.
Cant you tell?" was demanded.
why, Ralph, of course he can!"
said his aunt.
Then why don't he?"
II have never seen peanuts grow
ing" M. Chope managed to say.
But I am from Virginia, which is
a great state for peanuts, and I have,
said the girl. They grow in the
ground like potatoes"
something If I have to walk clear
across the park,'' muttered the lad
as he started off.
"You will excuse him, please?"
"Oh, certainly" |
"They don't teach peanut lore at
Yale"
81 believe not"
Both smiled and Mr.. Chope passed
on He had had an adventure. He |
had been Inundated by the boy, but |
the girl had taken his part. An aunt |
was she. That meant she had a
sister or brother in town. She was
in charge of the boy. Did that mean
that she was a poor relative and
serving as governess? She was good
looking, had the voice and manners of
a lady, and if misfortune had placed
her in a mental position it was to be
deplored. He ought to have dismissed
the incident as the merest trifie, but
he didn't. One reason why he didn't
was the temperance of the boy
Ralph. He came racing out of a side
path to say:
you ought to have stood by a
fener.''
But, you see. I didn't know about
peanuts" was the reply.
well, I've found out from a park
policeman that aunt is right, but l
amt going to tell her so. She's puffed
up enough as it is Don't you want to
know all about herr"
Hush
Much to MI. Chope's surprise he
found Central park picturesque, en-
joyable place. He saw trees and
bushes and vines and lawns and foun-
tains where he had looked for cow
pasture and a shed. He had also met
a young lady who didn't dress in Hun
garian costume and wear wooden
shoes. Was she a governess? Would