The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-02-25
The EDening Story
A Short Cut to Acquaintance.
(By Catherine Cranmer.1


Good morning, family" was Moi
lies cneery greeting as she entered
the breakfast room where her 1atner
was scanning the market reports i'll
the morning paper and her mother
was giving a final touch to the table
already laid in faultless order b.
capable maid. In bluish-lavender
morning gown with creamy lace at the
throat, Mollie's radiant face and du-
burn hair were even more dazzling
than usual, and her blue eyes heId
eark twinkle of mischief.
Mother o mine, let's go away for
a month. You know it will rain all
through March,. and rain makes me
weep more than the clouds.
"Mellfe iAainsworth! Ofall the short :
sighted creatures, you are the most
lhopeless!" Her mother looked dlscon-
solately at the girl as she spoke
with the most eligible man in town
ready to drop at your feet and with
the two most attractive debutantes
canceling trips to Palm Beach ana
Aiken for fear you'll capture him
while they're gone, you want 10 go
away to escape the March rains.
John Ainsworth turned down part
of the morning paper, and looked out
ever his glasses at his wife. Her a.
rectness had rather taken his breath;
Mollie threw back her pretty head
with a jerk that caused her merry
/ laugh to end in a slight strangle
bah! Grapefruit has no sense or
bunoor" she exclaimed Tries to keep
me from laughing at the FUNNIEST
thing I've heard in blue moon
sFunny?" disgustedly. why, It 8
ANYTHING but funny
stNow, mother dear you're a jealous
painstaking mother for debutante'
and you're on the job every minute
Rut come on, family, let's all take a
vacation from our several pro1cs-
! sions.
She included her mother and rather
in a wheedling glance.
GAS for that eligible man-otherWlse
known as Leslie Morehouse.h ~
ready proposed and I've told nun u
too sudden, and that since people VINO
marry spend so much less time ~
balls and golf games than my 1o
at less formal affairs 1 really Ieel L u
have TO know him in society I'VE or
ten wears before I'd be really ana Truly
ACQUAINTED with him. Ant. -,
gasped her mother
EMMY. - +tosa
other girls will catch Leslie Morehouse
on the rebound. Oh, know mem!
They'll have to catch him on the
thinking" laughed Noble, las he is
leaving today for parts unannounceo
on a hunting trip"
Would you. mind telling me what
YOU mean by turning down the cdtch
| of the season" asked her mother'
with mock calmness-
81 mean Just what 1 told him,
though 1 softened it a bit, for when !
saw him with his society manners off
and his heart manners on, he did
seem pretty nice" Molly blushed a
biz but added: But don't look so
solemn. mother I'm still one and
twenty with beauty aplenty.' And,
daddy. throw down your paper and
let's all plan out some nice trip for
fun instead of for form Aiken and
Palm Beach are disqualified, for what
we need is some secluded spot where
we can talk common sense with each
other and with our souls and come
back home better acquainted"
THAT does sound like common
sense, and I've got a suggestion to
make about where to CO. Her father
was suddenly enthusiastic. "One OF
my clients has been after me for years
| to go out and enjoy the big fireplaces
and armchairs and first editions ano
mountain scenery of his ancestra
home that he occupies only about two
months in the year"
Ugh" shivered Mrs. Ainsworth, 80
can smell mustiness now.
-"Oh. no-pure imagination The
= chief attraction of the place is that i
is in charge of an excellent couple whC
; have a professional pride in having i
always in perfect order Roberts, whit
owns the place. is in South America
and 1 have permission to get the key
from his agent any time. Shall we g
out for a week, and, as Mollie says, ge
acquainted with each other?"
A few days later they made the pro