The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-04-09
The Euenine Story

The Euenine Story
On Common Gr0und.
(By Mary D. Arnott.)
The distance between the two had
Father says I ought to marry q
man
Charlie Biddie glared resentfully into
the mutinous gray eyes OF Betty
too indignant Tor words.
| She spoke again with = slightly
conciliatory tone In her soft contralto
| voice.
| III you would only control your
1 temper and let me finish-'
| "oh. nre awayr' he replied doegedly.
digging the toe of his heavy motoring
| boot into the soft spring sod You
can't say much worse than you have
already thrown At me-
''Wcll-I was going to say that ia
Their aays ought to marry man with
some settled prospects in life-some-
a-some sort OF business. you know"
| "Oh, he does, does her" Charlie 2
tone was acidnlAted enough to show
Betty that his Indignation was genu-
ine 1t was not the kind she was in
the habit OF dispelling with one OF her
usual coaxing remarks.
| She spoke more quickly as II desir-
Gus of getting a painful scene over
ness
| II see,'' Charlie bowed gravely.
Betty felt like weeping at her sweet
hearts unbendt1g manner. 1t was his
| nappy-go-Mcly disposition that had
first captured her fancy and later won
| the whole Of her heart.
| YES" she continued, trying brave
~ to swallow Ler discontinue. father
| thinks that young man ought to
start his career long before he IL your
or not you lean toward q profession OF
business
Charlie gave utterance to an ejacu-
lation of displeasure not In the least
complimentary to Betty's father:
you need not grunt out things
against my father that you are afraid
| to say to ne!' Betty hared at him with
flashing eyes. my father IL success
full man. and re surely ought to know
something about the characteristics
that help toward q young mans fu-
turev'
Did father ray how old he was be-
fore he made his mark?''
Not exactly, but he said he never
spent his time motoring and risking
his neck in flying machines"
"a jolly good reason why" he said
pointedly.
The sarcasm in Charles tone mad
dened Betty. Perhaps her anger was
directed more at her father than her
sweetheart, but 1t was the latter who
got it.
Don't you dare insinuate anything
against my father" she flashed. "Of
course, he was too poor to have the
not have them either II you had not
inherited the money for them. He
says the fast life you live, dashing
through the clouds and tearing like
mad through country lanes in your
racing car. not only II conducive to
tic habits"
II see."
Charlie pondered q moment, then
spoke with deliberation that fore
told the coming of something both
unpleasant and hard to say-yet
necessary.
"since you have presented me with
go fragrant bouquet from your
fathers mind I will return the COM
pliment by giving you one from my
mothers fertile BRAIN"
Betty glanced swiftly at him and
met his nOncommfttal smile with q
continued evenly. though his effort to
remain calm brought a sullen white
ness to his face. Betty was very dear
to him-the dearest thing in the
world.
you have severeal times questioned
me as to why my mother has never
He paused as il about to relent, then
gathered fresh courage from the ele-
waited attitude Of Betty's little nose at
| mention of his mother.
MY mother did not want to foster
an intimacy between US because she
disapproves heartily of you as q wife
for me-"
The direct and unexpected attack
quite took Betty's breath. She stam-
mered a faint syllable. but her nose
went a few points higher. The beauti-
ful. priced SOLITAIRE on her finger was
being pulled off slowly by her right
hand.
YES" Charlie went on. my mother
Is noted for her good sense and dis
elimination and has warned me
against the ultFa-modern girl, Of
which she considers you a startling
Il assure you," said Betty. with
whitening contempt, that your moth
er need have NO further fear from this
in Betty's cheeks. but in her heart
were tears. She turned to 60.
'Watt-there are still a few bios
SONS to add" Charlie did not see the
tears of vexation in his sweetheArt's
head appealed to him.
Il am not afraid to hear your opinion
OF me-" she told him defantly.
"Yoc See" ne went on sefenely. my
mother. as well cs your father 10 old
fashiohed. She holds that any gfri who
does nothing but spend her fathers
money on clothes to make herself look
like peacock, goes to tango teas and
the theater all the time and can. In all
probability. not boil an egg IL NO Mt
ting mate for 2 man who wants .
happy home"
THAT will 10" Betty Interrupted
angriIy. You RAY tell your mother
for me that would not marry her son