The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-03-13
The Euening Story
Choosing.
(By Grace Kerrigan.

|
(By Grace Kerrigan.)
You will have to choose between
| them, Trixie, said DR.. Lane, looking
over his spectacles at his pretty
| daughter.
Trixie pouted mutinously. but
| dad, I've told you that I like them
| equally well. How can I choose from
among three perfect dears like Harry
and Frank and Bob? They are like
''It is evident that they do not share
that fraternal feeling" retorted her
father. dryly.
| "Oh, dear!' sighed Trixie
I'm my own opinion" pursued the
doctor. severely, they are exceedingly
foolish young men. Why one of them
ali Of them, in fact-should have
headed girl is beyond my compre-
hension. The sort of wife young
man really needs is a sensible help
mate who knows her own mind and
ly believe the child has taken Of
fense!" He polished his glasses vigor-
| ously and looked at the draperies be-
hind which the slender form had van
| ished.
| Trixie met her mother on the stairs
| and Mrs. Lane stared after the whirl-
| wind of pink that swept past her. She
went into the library in some pertur-
| baton.
what is the matter with Trixie ?"
| she asked.
1.-The same old story, Mary. It's
| this Harry, Frank and Bob business
| i wish they would go off and marry
some other girl and stop bothering me
about ours If Trix doesn't want to
marry them why doesn't she say so
and end it?'
Mrs. Lane smiled thoughtfully. 81
am afraid, my dear, that she really
does care for one of them and she is
afraid to choose
afraid? Trixie afraid of a mere
man? Pooh!"
"You don't understand girls, James,
ct am glad you were not the COM
pick sort, Mary! But what are we
to do about Trixie and her lovers
morning about the matter-asked me
to use my influence with her and 1
promised! Frank Demarest called me
on the phone and made the same plea
i promised him, too!'
How about Bob Hayward ~
1.-THE transaction struck me as being
so absurd, 1 just called up Bob and
asked him if he needed my assistance
dickens! Said he didn't need any
help in his courting-if he couldn't
win the girl he wanted without assist
ance he guessed he didn't deserve
her" The doctor chuckled softly.
"Why, James Lane!" protested shis
wife weakly. Did you really say
that to Bob?"
IT did ask him the question but he
was very hot about the matter, my
deari
"Oh, dear, I don't know what to
do" sighed Mrs. Lane. 1.-The other
girls married without any trouble, and
really wouldn't care if Trix never
married and went away from us-but
wish she would put these three
young men out of their misery. They
keep dangling on, hoping that she
may make up her mind. They are all
fiercely jealous of one another-but
somehow, 1 do wish it happened to be
Bob Hayward; I like him.
$50 do I. but they are all likeable
in a way and all equally desirable as
to character. By the way, my dear,
they are all coming to dinner this
evening"
then" decided Mrs. Lane, as she went
to the telephone.
Trixie Lane dressed for dinner that
night with her mind quite made up
to accept Frank Demarest if he
should ask her to marry him. She
liked Frank, she assured herself; he
was always jolly and pleasant and
would make. the most delightful hus-
band. Harry was inclined to be jeal-
Gus, and Bob-well, Bob Hayward
was quiet and thoughtful and diff
dent-and really she wanted-well,
she knew what she wanted!
TriXie Lane was not coquette. Still,
she wore her green charmeuse be-
cause it was Franks favorite among
her gowns, and she wore pink roses
because Harry liked the combination
of pink and green, and the tiny pink
rose tucked behind her ear in the coil
of soft black hair was a mute testi-
monial to Bob's remark that she
should always wear flower in her
hair.
So, when she greeted the three
young men with equal cordially,
Franks heart leaped at sight of the
green frock, Harry smiled quietly at
the symphony in pink and green. and
Bob never saw the rose in her hair
because his eyes didn't go beyond her
lovely face.
The Human girls, Nellie and Grace
were charmingly vivacious and de-
voted themselves to Bob Hayward
and Harry Brinton, SO that Trixie
found herself laughing gayly at
Franks sallies and quite deceived her
interested parents.
Really, 1 was hoping it might be
Bob Hayward said the doctor after
dinner.
so was T. agreed his wife; 81 like
his independence-and, oh, dear, I'm
afraid he is my favorite!''
ct wish he was Trixie'si"
Meanwhile, Frank Demarest was
proposing to Trixie in the moonlit
Of her resolution to the contrary, gen.
tly refused him.
"Did-your father say anything to
you He rather-rather promised to
speak a good word for me-, growled
Frank, unpleasant1y
You asked father"
Yes Franks voice trailed off
aimlessly.
with new decision in her tone; but
I really do not love you-as 1 should
and so-you understand? ''
ST understand" he said bitterly.
"shan we return to the house ?"
They had reached the front door
when Harry Brinton rushed out