The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-05-07
The Eoeni,1e Story

(By Dorothy Douxlaa)-

Changing an OpinSon.
(By Dorothy Douslaa).@
Thornton smiled reminiscently as
he glanced at the great headlines an
nouncing the big costume lawn party
of woman's suffrage. The papers
were generous in the space devoted
to the festivities.
MY son." he said. glancing at the
tall. good looking youth who stood
you fall in love-try to find q girl
who Is interested in something out
side of her home and husband"
You mean-a suffragist-I sup
pose ?" laughed Henry.
Exactly" replied Thornton q tfi-
fie seriously. Those women are the
salt of the earth-take 1t from me.
finger than all the milk and water va
riety in existence. :i.ts& -
II thought you were more or less
opposed to the advanced type" Henry
said. looking down at his handsome.
well poised father. what has
changed your opinion?"
Marrying a girl who was not one."
the elder Thornton admitted frankly.
your mother and were very happy.
but we could have been far more so
had she been less content to darn
socks and bake pies. She never could
she was not sufficiently interested in
what was happening outside her own
hon1e.' s,~.st- So
STILL argued Henry. II don't see
how a. fellow can pick out the type
of girl he wants and then proceed to
fall in love with her. 1t seems to me
you do the falling first and then find
out what her opinions are after
ward.
."Ah-h-that 'afterward,'" sighed
Thornton. II loved a girl with all
my heart thirty years ago. but after
we had confessed our love for one
another we foolishly began. discuss
the most trivial difference Of opinion"
Il suppose the girl was not a.
progressive?" Questioned Henry.
That's just the point. She was
the advanced type, but was a young
fool and thought woman's sphere
She predicted then that, as the. years
passed, 1 would see a vast difference
In the character of women-their
standing In the world and the posi-
tons they would occupy" Thornton
sighed heavily. ~ have seen 1t all
come to- pass-just an Polly prophe-
sied.'' .-.....s ~;
Il say. dad. I think you were
rather hard hit on Polly" said Henry
with. a strange glance at his father.
First love 10 always the best and
| most desirable" Thornton told his
| son. Come, what do you say to
taking in this costume ball? Per-
haps we can find q sirl for you.''
If we can. find the five bucks for
a ticket for ME-" suggested Henry,
lit would do me more good
IT intend to give a hundred flves
4 tn tbA
can have one" laughed Thornton.
I'VE Will go down and get some fancy
costumes and motor out to Long Is
land in the evening. The festivities
begin at o'clock"
| Accordingly Thornton and his son
| arrived ou.. At Windyheath. the coun-
try home Of Mrs.. Leonard. shortly
after the h4lf hour OF eight. The
lawns were exquisitely decorated and
japanese lanterns, hammocks. tea
housess and u wonderful assortment
of oddly. costumed men ana women
greeted them -
81 am glad we came.'' admitted
Thornton the younger. "a
| These advanced women pertain
1y seem to know how to make things
co." commented his father.
Thornton being q man of success
and we'll known, was soon the CEN
ter Of congenial crowd. His son
went OF in search of a pretty suf-
fragist to whom he had been intro
duced.
A little sray-clad figure fitted
about talking and laughing with all
the guests She was gowned In 4
quaint costume Of thirty years ago.
Her slim lines seemed fashioned for
the soft panier Of gray nuns yelling
with its skirt of numerous plaits. Her
hair was bound around her head In
two bratds that were as softly gray
as was her gown.
Thornton upon catching sight Of
her stopped in the middle Of an es-
pecially good yarn he was telling. HIS
heart gave q swift bound and his
knees were not SO steady ~ he would
have liked them to be.
'sWho 10 that little woman?' he asked
his nearest neighbor, 1.-THE one taking
to my SOM. He knew, Of course. who
it was, and the reply to his question
fell on unconscious ears.
THAT is Mrs. Leonard, the president
of this branch Of tn club and your
hostess
Thornton unceYemoniously left the
group Of persons to whom he had 6oen
talking and made his way toward 4fs.
Leonard.
When he approached her with ex-
tended hand, Mrs Leonard cast ., quick.
interested glance At him, then drew .
'.Jimmy! Jimmy Thornton.'. she
cried, in an unbelSeving voice. ana put
her hand into hi6L ''I would know
you II only one year instead Of thirty
had passed over your head" She va
speaking quickly to try to conceal the
great tide Of emotion that had swept
her almost from her feet.
And your Thornton said under
his breath. 'yOu have mot even
changed the goWn-im which pro-