The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-05-16

The Euenir,g Story
When Hortense Inter6ered.



ing at her cousin with unusual interest.
furtively at first across the little 1unch-
con table. and now with bold direct
ness that had an immediate effect.
Her host shifted uneasily in his chair.
wrinkled his brow. and smoothed one
hand with the other. Then his mild
blue eyes lifted to meet the stare OF his
cousins black ones. What now, Hor-
tense?" he asked amiably.
"Oh, I'm coming to that" Mrs. Bevier
laughed shortly. ''Of course. you know
I've come for something. I'm too busy
a woman to pay aimless visits, or 60
wandering about the country for the
fun of 1t. Yes, Basil; there 10 some
thing on my mind She looked re-
fiectively at him. her expression soft
ening. You know have your inter
ests at heart. don't you? Sounds trite.
but it's true. And don't like to inter-
fere in your affairs: but-I've always
had to look after you. Basil. You're
such a dear. simple hearted dreamer!"
And you're such q wise. worldly per-
son. drawled Basil.
.Hortense sat straight In her chair,
and her black eyes flashed across the
silver tea set. Sonia Gibbs!" she
snapped expressively.
Basil Wakely, too, sat q little
straighter, and tinge of color warmed
why should you wish to. interfere
there? Miss Gibbs and are above re-
proach. aren't WEI"
las individuals-yes. But Basil,
have learned Of your attention to her.
unimportant enough from some men;
but from you-and after all these
years. Sonia Gibbs, of all women!"
Her cousin smiled indulgently. I'VE
present striking contrast. I know"
he agreed. But. somehow. we man
age to get on pretty well together"
''Oh, Sonia would get on with any
body il she set herself to it, Hor-
tense shook her head. Basil, it's nom
sense-its madness! If you go on with
this affair. you will spoil your whole
life. In one way or another you Will
warn you. OF all the women 1 know.
Sonia Gibbs is the most frivolous and
superficial: the most restless and ca
PRECIOUS. The fashionable world is her
world, and her time is given to all the
petty dissipations of her sci" Hor-
tense rose and put her arm affection
ately over her cousins shoulder. You
are a man who loves simple living: a
scholar; a dreamer; a dweller In the
haunts of Nature You care more Tor
your garden than for the parade
grounds of the town. Basil, listen to
me. I know Sonia's type well. She
may be only trifiing with you-hirtfng.
as we call it-but, even II she Is sin
cere and should marry you. she will
make you most unhappy"
you are talking of marriage with
q woman 1 have not begun to court
yet" said Basil, politely. IT thank
you for your interest, Hortense. but
think you misjudge Sonia Gibbs.
She is high-spirited and impulsive. but
she is not SO much in love with fash
ion and folly as you think. 1t IL the
only life she has9ever known; but she
has her ideals and her dreams"
Fudge and fiddlesticks!" snapped
Hortense, Indignantly. "Oh. Cousin
Basil, you're the limit. OF course.
Sonia can talk to suit her audience.
her element-here, for instance" She
waved a hand to indicate the simply
furnished apartment, the net-draped
window opening upon cosy porch.
the flower garden beyond. Sonia in
the country! Sonia in a cottage!"
you would see the incongruity OF it.
Think of Sonia Gibbs in q linen froc]k
and a shade hat working in your gar
den!''
II have thought of it, replied
Basil gravely. ''It is a pretty picture"
'Well, she never thought of 1t, I'll
wager. You've seen her in her natur-
al setting: but she's never seen you
in yours. I've an idea, Basil. Invite
Miss Gibbs down here with some oth-
ers to make up a weekend party, ard
I'll stay to play hostess to your
guests
| A startled moment, a reflective
pause, and then, 81 WILL" said Basil
| Hortense was secretly exultant.
She had been honestly worried over
| the prospect of her beloved cousin
falling a victim to the wiles of young
woman whose careless coquetries
| were the gossip Of her set.
To her delight, Sonia appeared
| dressed in the height OF fashion with
a perky hat perched on an elaborate
couture and q foolish little patch of
| black court-plaster ornanenting one
bepowdered cheek. She flung her
ruffled parasol aside and tripped up
and down the garden walks in her
high-heeled. buckled slippers. uttering
little impetu0us cries.
| What lot of flowers! Oh. look
| at these Old-fashiOned petunias-and
such beds of pansies! Pansies al
ways remind me of chfldren's faces,
Mr.. Wakely."
"Artful little mink" reflected Hor-
tense. standing on the porch
The cottage was gay for q f-w days.
Basils guests were charmed with the
picturesque simplicity Of his home:
and the staid bachelor himself APP
peared at his best among his familiar
books and flowers. Mrs Bowler a.
hostess was especially attentive to
| N1OHAo. 0Iic unPICcocO oPOu SuC yOuuB
woman's mind the fact that her cous-
| in Basil was suited to just such fural
! surroundings, and that he deteated
city life and the ways of fashionable
society.
| II fear he will always be 4 bache-
lor," sighed Hortense. mo modern
woman would care to share his quiet
existence. Weren't you surprised
when you saw his humble little cot
| tage?''
II call it q very comfortable little
| cottage" smiled Sonia
| ITS terribly lonely in the winter, !"
said her hostess. And. az you see,
| Basil has only one servant. And his
furniture is AWful1y old-fashioned.
But he's set in his ways