The Topeka state journal., 1914-02-21
The Euenir,e Story
Once Too OFTEN.

noisily boiling kettle.
ARTHUR. 1t is time you married and
| settled down." she said.
| Arthur Holt drew his chair nearer
the tea table. He put down the big
brass poker with which for the past
few minutes he had been idly prodding
| the fire.
I'm mighty glad you are getting
| sensible, Felicia said he.
"Oh. fiddlesticks!'' said the girl, but
she flushed slightly. You know I
didn't mean that. I've picked out the
very girl for you.''
"Again?' said he gloomily.
She's coming here to stay q month.
She was simply made for you." she
declared. she has Just such queer
tastes as you have about old brasses
and Early French literature and motor
ing. Besides she's a raving beauty"
II shall want her name before I get
ly taking out note book and pencil
Her name is Barbara Allen" said
Felicia gravely.
He wrote it down in the little book.
j"Age?''
twenty-five"
"Disposition?"
Don't be silly!'
rs she sound of wind and limb. kind
to old people and all that?"
Felicia in stony silence handed him
a cup Of tea.
There's cream in it," H. demurred.
That's for your levity." she said.
NOW, Arthur, want you to meet her
and to be awfully nice to her.
Holt sighed. "All right. Just as
you say, Fee But one thing 1 won't
do. won't fall in love with her any
more than I will with any of the 9TH
ers you've picked out so prodigally for
me. As you say. and as you're quite
tn a kf fo.l,
ried and settled down. It would please
the &plks awfully. They're bounding
me all the time about it. especially
the mater. But listen. Fee: positive
ly refuse to fall in love with anybody
but you. or to marry anybody but you.
That's settled for good and all time. ;"
She dropped a lump Of sugar into
her cup and turned to him.
Don't. don't persist inu being silly"
said she. We've had this out 30 many
times. like you awfully well. Arthur,
but don't love you and I never shall.
And that's settled, too.''
i He stirred his tea gloomily. Then,
without touching it, he picked up the
brass poker again and began to prod
the fire.
I'm mad" he announced, real
downright. darned mad. You do love
me, but you won't admit It. You keep
me dangling about and -'
Arthur" she said sharply.
"Oh. all right. Then you don't. But
won't marry any OF these others just
to please you. I'm a faithful. loyal
soul-a one love. one woman man. be-
lieve 1t or not, as you like
Now. Bah Allen" she began.
Holt arose with great firmness.
r. Il won't hear about her. I'm going
home" he announced.
Moreover he went.
A week later he sat again before the
same fire. A radiant girl had just put
out the spirit flame beneath the bub-
bling kettle.
Really and truly she. awfully aw-
fully in love with you. Mr.. Holt" said
Barbara Allen. but she's too sure of
you. There's the trouble. If you
hadn't let her be quite 30 sure Of you
it would be better. 1t is never good
for any woman to be too sure Of a
man."
We'll" said Holt. what am going
: to do?'
: Barbara Allen laughed and flushed
beautifully.
here's a scheme. Well bring Fee to
her senses. you and I. She's thrown
me at your head and you at mine.
t She's prating about how we were made
) tentive to me. and I'll-I'n do my part,
, and We'll let Fee see she can't be too
. sure Of you after all. I believe shed
, marry you in a minute II she thought
! really she was in danger Of losing you. %
Holt reached over to pat one Of her
| slim hands.
GOOD girlv' he said heartily. TITS
. a gor'
He put down his cup. and arising.
: began to pace the room.
, go motoring. wen give her some
! thing to think Of. eh. in the next few
weeks?"
I Therefore. after that Arthur Holt
- OI
tcred together; they played golf to-
: gether all day long at the Country
club. They hunted old brasses together
!, about the countryside.
Felicia watched them with outward
and visible satisfaction: but a close
observer might have noticed a GER
> tain wistfulness about her when she
was with Arthur Holt. which was sell
dom enough these days.
'She's beginning to take notice al
ready." Barbara declared one day.
You're one little brick!" said Holt
with conviction.
. Then came the time Of Barbara's
departure. The last day Of her stay
her for long spin. They lunched to-
gether at a quaint little inn in Sudbury
and late in the afternoon they came
whirling homeward.
Ward the western hills, dropped behind
t them and left only a red glow in the
twestern sky.
a Barbara and Hok had fallen
Istrangely silent.
ei They shot down a long slope and
icroesed q gurgling little brook.
you can be quite sure OF Fee now"
3 said the girl. She'll not be taking
lchances with you again. I'll bet. You
. should have done this before"
We've had q bully time of it, any
y tway," said he suddenly. Haven't
tyou rather liked It :"