The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-01-07
The Evening Story

r. "A Pesfecdy Good GoosebeEsy.
{By Martha McCulloch- Williams.)
BILLY. Come right over! Some
thing has happened"
''What?"
Cant tell you over the phone
but--you must know IT,
. us 1t male or female?''
''Shut up! won't say another
word"
The receiver clicked decisively-
and Billy Mant0n giggled. Commonly
she could guess by Rosa's indirections
the thing in hand. Billy had been
duly christened Willamette, by way
Of preventing jealousy among adoring
grandparents. She did not mind il
the name was such q mouthful-Billy
was har dy and c.mradely. She
matched the name-being SO human
nobody stopped to think whether or
no she were pretty. Such inquiry in
cold blood would have brought the
answer that sh came nearer beauty
than ugliness.
This indeterminate estate perhaps
was what SO endeared her to Rosa
Lewis, beauty outright, q belle, and
Of course a great coquette. Coquetry
had for her the charm Of forbidden
fruit, since she had known since she
was in short frocks that she was to
marry Dan Hoplkin Aunt Cora's
stepsOn. Aunt Cora had brought up
Rosa, in the handsome Hopkins home,
training and fitting her to be mistress
Of it. and Of the riches appurtenant.
Dan. sole heir to them. was seven
years older than Rosa He had grown
from thin fair tall boy pathetically
shy. more pathetically timid. into the
Swallowed manhood of the born weak
ling. Unfeeling folk said bluntly he
was lacking" Kindly ones put 1t
that he was too timid to show what
was really in h. l: They thought but
did not say. he was repressed by his
forceful stepmother-and no doubt
would be dominated all his life by the
wife Of her providing.
Rosa would rule him-gracefully
and not too unkindly AS well Rosa
as any other woman. He would in
fallfbly be henpecked. Moreover
whoever married him would do 1t
more for what he had than what he
| was. Indeed their joint world in
clined rather to look upon Rosa as a
sacrifice, q martyr to duty--first OF
course, to herself How otherwise
could she make herself so excellent q
provision? Further, by her sacrifice
| she would Insure peace in the family.
pitied Rosa. though she had warm
liking for luckless Dan, and knew his
seeming stupidity, was in large part
due to Over-dominance in those about
him. He was openly fond of her-but
Rosa showed no jealousy. Once, in
deed. she said recklessly. "Billy-ga1
If can find a better match, you
shall have Dam"
Biily's look-her sole answer
had made Rosa flush with shame. It
was the high Manton look that had
more than once awed mObs, or brought
brawlers to their senses in time to pre-
vent bloodshed. But there was no
trace Of it in her countenance. when
Rosa, in wait at the far gate, cried to
her, You wretch! To walk! You
know I'm dying to tell you every
thing
'Get busy Billy retorted laughing
and linking her arm in Rosa's.
! Rosa pressed it. running on. II
don't know how to begin-except in
the middle. I'm in lOve-dead in love
| with somebody you never saw-and I
| must see-O! q lot. You'll help me p
How" Billy asked.
Rosa looked away. Dams Jealous.
Frightfully! Only fancy it," she said.
four girls-the Ralstons besides you
and land six men. IL that about
right?''
Depends on the men, Billy an
swered tudicially. but I don't see
Wait! You will.' Rosa interrupted
her. "FOr-the man is coming-and
shall tell Dan I'm trying to make a
match between you and him.
II see! You aren't afraid of me-"
Billy said with q chuckle.
Rosa pouted. II am not afraid of
anybody-so far an his falling in love
except with me. goes" she said. But
II dare not tell anybody else just how
the land lies-and so-there might be
misunderstanding Lawrence will
have to seem dreadfully devoted-but
hope you can endure that for my
sake"
'How about mee Going to insure
drsa Sny susceptible. Billy aT teased.
Rosa looked worried: IT know you're
! Joking" she said. "But-I've thought
of that-thought too how hard 1t IL
going to be not to show I'm Jealous
even though know you two are doing
just what I intended"
Billy loosened her arm and turned to
face Rosa saying. Count me out.
please! I'll keep your secret for you.
But I won't be party to-treachery.
Dams house this WY
''0oosey! You don't think I'm
throwing over Dan in earnest? Not
| for q minute Rosa protested. But
you see-LAwrence and have
real caee-he's no more in dead ear
nest than am. We just want to play
the gameNthe Kreat big game of
| 1ove-malking until we are tired of
each other. We may be by time the
house party breaks up-just one fort
night. But-unless we have this
chance, we'll be 20 desperate. we may
even rush off and get mafried-and
that would ruin both Of US"
1T doesn't seem nice to me-tht.
flirting with malice aforethouGht."
Billy returned. Don't do it, Rose
dear-you are a dear In spite of all
your thorns. I'm not insensible to
| the compliment OF being thought =