The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-11-21
The Epenfae Story
sEeclkIess Fanny"
(By Molly Mc.faster. ]


attractive in every way.
But you are what we call in Scot
land feckless." her rich uncle from the
heather hills told her. land until you
can do something, either cook, sew.
manage household or any mortal
thing that is useful you'll MT get a
farthing of the fortune your father
put me in trust Of" He glowered UNI
der heavy brown at the pouting girl
and tried not to soften when she
slipped her arms about his neck.
II can love you. though" Fanny
what does 1t matter whether I can
make cakes and knit socks?"
Loving il all very well, young las
sic, until my socks require darning or
my shirts buttons. and you can't help
me out. I would have to go shirtless
and soclxless If were q poor man de-
pending on your capabilities" He re-
fused to be cajoled and glowered still
more darkly at Fanny. Until you
have learned to make perfect shirts
for me and presented me with a half
dozen OF which you have made every
stitch 1 will not trust you with your
inheritance.
why, Uncle Sandy, 1 couldn't
make a wearable shirt in a thousand
years"
Then it will be a thousand years
before you get another farthing from
| me-" He drew her roughly but with
great affection down onto his knees,
doll"
Dolls are very useful in their own
place. suggested Fanny.
"Aye-but not SO essential as
Shirts" Uncle Sandy reminded her.
| But don't even know who to go
| Shirts" walled Fanny dolorously.
The more shame to yOu," scolded
her uncle. you're more feckless
than imagined"
In the end Fanny did find some one
to teach her the art of sewing. Little
Mrs. Hollywood came from the Wom-
ans league and her duty 1t was to
help Just such feckless creatures az
was Fanny. Mrs. Hollywood was a
most delightful little widow. who
quite charmed Uncle Sandy's heart
with her intelligent handling of his
niece.
"A fine type Of woman he said to
Fanny: you could do much worse
than pattern yourself after her"
Il will be as feckless az can about
learning to sew laughed Fanny. with
mischiev0us eyes turned full upon her
discounted uncle.
She spent many weary hours bend
ing over the needle. but 1t really
seemed as II her fingers had not been
fashioned for the plying of the needle.
1t was weeks before she could stitch
a seam that did not look like the la
borious work of a child of six years.
Uncle Sandy will be a long time
waiting for his Shirts" she sighed to
knows when I will ever get my in
jheritance."
Mrs. Hollywood looked askance at
her pupil.
has refused to give me a single penny
until I present him with six shirts
which have made all by myself %
Fanny laughed hopelessly and pricked
her soft white finger for the third
time In five minutes.
be-" Mrs. Hollywood said with lower
ed eyelids.
Indeed he is not" flashed Fanny
quickly. but he certainly does be-
ornamental He il the best uncle in
the world she added warmly, and
Invent desperately to work ON the white
silk Of Uncle Sandy's shirt.
Mrs. Hollywood smiled. Perhaps.
after all. it would be the better plan
to go straight to the girls uncle and
tell him those things that had been in
her mind for several days past.
DO you think he would mind having
a little chat with me!' she asked Fan
lly in her quantity shy manner.
Fanny looked up eagerly.
"Oh. II you only would have talk
with him and impress upon him my
utter stupidity as far as sewing il con-
cerned. and the hopelessness OF try
ing to teach me, I WIN be grateful to
you for life.' Fanny told her and he1
eyes sparkled at the bare thought OF
tossing her needles and threads and
shirts out Of the window.
Mrs. Hollywood cast q swift glance
or not this was one of her fair days
as far as the arrangement Of her brown
. hair was concerned. Satisfied, she
turned again TO Fanny.
If he is not too busy I will ge
right now and speak with him. she
said smilingly.
Fanny jumped up precipitately
knocking her sewing basket to the floor
and rushed to Uncle Sandy's library
i, When she returned she pulled Mrs
Hollywood to her feet and pushed he1
toward that same library door,
Uncle Sandy turned swiftly from the
mirror when he heard q soft knock
He had wondered as to the set OF his
tie and the twist Of his sandy mus.
tache.
st hope 1 am not intrudine." sue.
!. gested Mrs. Hollywood, and being sat
isfied that the visit was pleasure. be-
gan her appeal toward FAnny's cessa-
ton of sewing. 'Yorr niece II one d
are really not able to sew. It makes
!her frightfully nervous-I have noticed
! q shocking change in her disposition
since she has tried vainly to master hel
art"
nercely and glOwered at lGrs Holly
wood from beneath heavy brows.
Realizing the ground she had
gained. the little woman continued
quickly. >'Besides. your niece q "a
her makeup that one hardly expects
her to be moro than her own lns,n e,ae