The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-10-07
The Eperi,,e Story
Rich Mr.. SCHNEIDER.
(By Louise Oliver.)

surprise that a beauty had been born
into the family.
Ella and Jane and Mary and Belle.
the elder sisters, were all tarred with
the same stick that, had left its mark
upon Mr.. and Mrs. Hixon. and that
stick had left no trace Of beauty among
them.
Then Evelyn had appeared. an elfin
fairy with laughing blue eyes, furry
golden hair and skin of rose petals,
white and pink
Before she was one year old It was
decided that her husband must be ut
least of profession; before two he had
risen to the rank Of q judge: by five
he must be a governor, and at fifteen.
president. Indeed az Evelyn was near
ing her eighteenth birthday they had
begun to talk Of royalty.
Ella could sew. Jane could cook.
Mary trimmed the family hats and
Belle played policeman.
Being a beauty, and beauty being
treasure, Evelyn needed guarding. To
kindergarten and home, 1t was Belle.
To school and home. Belle. Sunday
school. church. Belle. To parties-the
few she was allowed to attend ana
home. it was Belle.
OF beaux there we're none! The ques-
ton Of a finishing school had come up.
Indeed. to this end and with the pros
pect of polishing the family gem, the
education Of the elder sisters had been
curtailed, Belle foregoing a year Of her
rightful training altogether.
But as the time drew near doubts en-
tered the family mind-little whisper
ings of affairs started at school that
could not be broken off afterward. even
dreadful things like Opponents and
such. This would never do for a future
Mrs. Governor or Mrs. President or
Mrs. Duke. or whatever 1t was that
EVELYN WAS To he
So a seminary In the home town was
decided upon. 1t would have to do. and
Belle could sim play policeman. +
Then Harry Alder came to town to
work in Nick's drug store at IS a week
and serve soda at cents a glass.
It was a case of necessity with Harry
mot frivolous notion that $40 a month
would buy dance tickets and white
trousers marked down to $3.50 from IS.
His engineering corps had been disband-
ed by a flaw In the right of way Of the
new interurban trolley line. and as he
and mother, and father had said he was
old enough to shift tor himself. ANY
way. he had answered Nick's adver-
tisement, and here he was.
Thence. one day in the early fall,
came Belle and Evelyn for a sundae Of
nuts and chocolate, and after that gov
ernors and royalty needed have q care
Belle finished her sundae leisurely,
while Evelyn looked over the post cards.
Behind the card rack-not quite-stood
Harry. Just past a tinted reproduction
Of the court house were Harry's brown
eyes. The brown eyes and the blue
eyes looked into one another and the
blue eyes fell.
IT'S frightfully warm. DEAR" said
Belle. WED better get home 30 you
can lie down. Your face is SO flushed
That night Mr.. Schmoker called upon
Papa Hixon. Mr.. Schneider, although
not governor nor an earl. held much
the same respect in the family as Sin
bad or Harroun al Raschad. He was
rich. In fact he owned the trolley line
that was having trouble with its right
OF awy. Mr.. SCHNEIDER was new to
town. but already everyone knew he
had the twenty-five dollar q day suite
at the Prince Hotel. and that the three
diamond rings he wore were worth $5,-
900. to say nothing Of studs and cuff
| links.
Mr.. SCHNEIDER had been at church on
Sunday and seen Evelyn. He had tried
to meet her, but could not get past
Belle. Belle had not then known the
statistics about Mr.. Schmoker.
Mr. g. told papa he was looking for
suited his taste exactly. IT hat traf-
eled all ofer America" said he, land
nefer-nefer hat 1 seen such great
peauty."
Papa, knowing that Evelyn needed a
\ little care in the handling, said he
would think it over. and asked his
guest to Sunday dinner. II think" he
said to himself later. that it will take
a little time. but we can manage. The
easier 1t will be. for. thanks to our
care. she knows no other man.
Evelyn developed a mania for writ
ing letters and post cards. and making
trips to the drug store for stamps. Also
she seemed to be capable Of consuming
f, quarts Of soda and sundaes. The drug
store at the corner being within watch
ing distance. no one went along. So
1t wasn't long before Harry told Evelyn
he loved her, and she told Harry that
she loved him. and he kissed her over
the counter. and she went home with
cheeks pinlker than ever.
| That week Evelyn ate and drank,
breathed and lived Mr. Schmoker, till
she grew weary Of his name Satur-
day confirmed her fears when she over
heard papa tell mamma that Mr..
SCHNEIDER was worth $4,000, 900, and
that when he was his son-in-law he
would do 80 and so. and 20 and so.
Immediately Evelyn scrubbed q card
to someone and ran down to the durg
store for a stamp. Nick was out and
Harry was holding down the store
alone. He was back OF the prescription
counter counting pills when Evelyn
rushed in. and he called her back.
i "Oh. Harry. darling. It's getting to
be terrible 1T home. You know that fat
old Mr.. Schmoker who owns your road
4 Well papa has made mp his mind that
have to marry him They've always
i said I had TO marry mo0ey, you Know.
. know now = WIN - dlnGdonGs 49,