The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-05-26
The Euening Story

(By Bryant C. Rogers

A CApdous Maiden.
(By Bryant C. Rogers.)
| John Fletcher. farmer, and his wife
didn't say to each other or to any
one else that their daughter Mile
was captious. They never used the
word. and didn't exactly know its
meaning. When they said was:
isn't that child (and later on
girl) plaguey odd in some of her
| ways?"
The older the girl grew the more
that plaguey odd trait developed. and
at sixteen, had she lived in a town. she
would have been referred to as q cap
tiousness up to that time had worked
no great harm, but now it began
to bring trouble.
All at once it became apparent that
Miss Millie and the hired man were
in love. She was sixteen and he
forty-three. He was q steady-going
old batch. and he) looked upon the
girl as a child. and he had to be told
| in so many words that she was in love
with him. He was hoeing corn one
day as steady as an old clock, and
wondering in q dreamy way why q
farmers hired man wasn't born with
two backbones. SO as to let one rest
while the other worked, when Miss
Millie came down from the house and
began:
"Peter. am in love-
Good Lord!' he exclaimed, as he
Yes, 1 am. ana who do you think
the Teller is?''
1T can't think" =
ITS you!"
Bless my soul!"
IT thought it would Jolt you. Yes,
Peter, you are the man."
"But-but-"
'Kneel right down and propose to
me-"
But can't. 1 dasn't. Your folks
wouldn't let us marry.
1T isn't for them to decide. Do
girls love?"
+ IL thought they always courted
| first" was stammered.
Come to think of it, I guess they
do. We will sit out on the back steps
in the moonlight tonight and court"
At o'clock that evening the farm
er saw them sitting out there in ten
der attitudes and asked of the wife:
What in thunder Is that gal up
to now?"
tions," was the reply.
but she can't be in love With Pc
| ter
But has he got the cheek to fall
in love with herr"
How do know?'
The wife refused to say a word to
the girl and the courtship continued
two or more evenings. During these
evenings Peter had proposed and
been accepted, plans had been laid
as to where they would live. and a
bridal tour had almost been decided
upon when the farmer decided to put
his foot down. There was no need of
action on his part, however. Miss
Millie came to him and said:
Father, I wish you would give old
Peter the bounce"
why, what for
Because for three days l was in
love with him ana got him to propose
marriage"
whats happened?"
IT don't know. but wouldn't mar
~ him II he was the last man on
earth! Bounce him and bounce him
quick!''
The father went out and found Pc
ter sitting on the barnyard fence and
waiting to say to him with sheepish
air: David, can speak with you q
moment?''
II love your daughter, and
You pack your buds and git!'
And he got" with Miss Mile look
ing on and laughing. That was specf-
men OF what ner parents cAueu ueH
oddly. In two years she fell in love
with five different hired men. and got
them all bounced. There were other
farmers around. and they had sons who
fell in love with the girl and reached
a certain point, which was generally
the end of the flrst week. and then they
were suddenly and promptly told to
make their skiddoo- There would be
broken hearts and threats Of suicide.
and mothers kept on the jump to adj
minister catnip tea
what in hlazes do you do these
things forr' shouted the father a. the
girrs thirteenth victim passed out of
the house with his hopes crushed to
earth.
frst sight, but in about three days
they begin to make me very tired"
but you can't go on this way"
Nor"
you'll turn down some chap who'll
commit suicide over It. and there'u be
the deuce to pay
Yes, suppose 80.
Miss Mile had added the scalp Of
the sixteenth victim to her collection
when, one day. young man hitched
his horse and buggy ut the gate and
entered the house 10 ask tor the farm
f1ank wlFa 1W3an n1amNNGea1 that