The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-04-24
The Epenine Story
Bills Sweetheart.
(By lola Forester. ]

10y 1ZOl4 TOET0StSI.J
'It wouldn't be so bad If she were
anything but a school teacher. Do
you honestly like school teachers,
Billie. dear?''
Mrs. Barrie glanced up from the lit
Ing room. DIR. Chaplin read his mail
always over his breakfast, and liked
the latter served at the open window
looking out to sea. on the small table.
"Of course. we're not obliged to take
her, but Roxana is SO explicit. She
you know. Billie: And there's not
another place where she could live on
the whole strip excepting Captain
Donneily's: and I wouldn't let her go
course. " don't think .h o be- much n n
bother. do you. Billie?"
How old is she 2" asked the doctor.
cheerfully. "Yous must strike a happy
medium, Sally. II she's too young.
. aes If she's to0,rla 'hs'l 1s try to amuss
Roxy doesn't say We're to meet
the 500 train down from Boston Sat-
urday at AscoHsett, and she's going to
buttons. You'll remember. Bill. won't
you. because you'n have to meet her"
whats her name. did you say?"
Il haven't told you yet. It's. let's
see where it is-oh. yes. it's Bess
Frederick"
Great Scott" DIR. Chaplin lifted
his head and stared in absolute panic
at the plump. placid figure down by
the desk. Does she know I'm here ?"
''Why. Billie, dear, how very funny
you look? You act scared. Do you
The doctor hesitated. He had not
been a doctor very long. Two years
back of him lay his inferno days. and
back Of that college. He had not seen
Bess since the college days. not since
at Wisconsin. It flashed back now.
the whole long winter and spring Of
counting Bess. The little snug bunga-
low and crescent OF sand and wide
sweep of sea and sky vanished. In
their stead there was Bess brown-eyed
and laughing. the old class days, and
the long tramps and picnics up along
the lake shore. Then there had been
the night when he had taken her home
and tried to kiss her. She had been
girls, but out there on the rose-c0ver-
ed porch of the cottage. with his
sweater around her Shoulders, she had
told him something, grave and sweet
AZ q girl could be.
you see, Billie, it's this way. I've
never kissed a man. not really. You
don't count the little snatched ones
at parties, you know. I mean like
this, IL I were to lift my face and
really. truly let you kiAs me right
bang on the lips. And maybe kiss
back, don't know. I've been saving
that for the one who will be the one,
you understand, don't you, Billie,
and-and 1 don't think that's you"
He had been leaving the following
day. and he asked her to write to
him. All through his days in the
hospital she had written CHEEKY.
oh hvYf RUyoNfhAA r.
ing. She told him IL he started it.
the letters would stop because he
wasn't the right one. He had grown
to hate that other fellow wNO stood
in his way. the right one. And final
ly he had taken the plunge and had
written her one long appeal. and she
had not answered the letter. She
might at least have done that. he
thought.
'I think I'll run up to Boston for
q couple of weeks. Sallie." began the
doctor. II did know Miss Broderfck
out west at college, but that was Wis
consin, and this il Cape Cod"
did you flirt with her, Billie ?"
This reproachfully. The doctor had
the reputation OF being sober-mtnd-
ed. promising young citizen and MEM
Der of society up around Boston. but
Sallie preserved . sisterly reco1lec-
ton Of the days out at college before
the exodus down east after their
grandfather's death.
"I," he hesitated and smiled grim
| ly. ''Sallie. be good. don't think
| it would add to Miss Broderick's va
| cation pleasure to find me hero at
all. She probably doesn't even know
that am your brother.
But you can't go away and leave
me alone here with only Della and
| the baby. You promised to stay for
two months while Tom was gone to
| the coast. and you have to, Billie,
Don't be a goose. Just be nice to the
| girl and courteous. that's all. A Wom-
an always accepts a situation tact
fully"
The doctor remained against bis
drove down to Asconsett and waited
tar the down train that tEailed along