The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-07
The Euening Story
Cunid Versus Dad.

who's going to take you to the
dance tonight % asked Emily Barnes's
mother at the supper table.
Emily hesitated a moment.
Mr.. Sands,'' she replied finally.
Her father looked up interestedly.
THAT young chap who's trying
scientific farming on the William
place? l must be on hand to meet
him tonight. He might want to rent
my farm this spring, although l must
warn him in advance that a bachelor
can't make a success of it. 1t takes
man and his wife to make it 60"
Now, daddy, dear, please don't start
that again." pleaded Emily. Every
time a really nice young man comes to
to see me, you get busy You act as If
he was your long-lost son-in-law, and,
of course, that disgusts any decent fell
low. What makes you do it2'
It's this way placidly explained
her father. your grandfather was
always so cold to me each time went
counting your mother that it made me
wilder than ever to get her, so 1 de-
cided I'd use the other plan and be so
polite to the young chaps that they'd
quit coming for lack of opposition. l
don't want to lose my little girl YET
Then and there Emily resolved that
| if it were possible, she would keep her
father and young Sands apart. If they
father could not, by his extremely
clever methods, disgust him so he
would come no longer. Could any
| logic be clearer?
Accordingly that evening she met
the young man at the door with:
IN all ready, you see.'
Am / late?" he asked with be-
wildered look at her cloak and gloves.
mot at all. But Mrs Carman asked
me to come early to nelp her with the
| decorations. Lovely night, isn't it?'
as she descended the steps with aston
/ h1If Sfin IA
Many were the subterfuges to
which Emily was forced to resort in
the next few weeks to keep her father
| and young Sands apart, but always she
was growing more devoted and ap-
pearing at her side whenever she ven
| tured outside her gate.
Came the first day of May, fragrant
with apple blossoms and musical with
the hum of bees. The young people
planned a May day picnic. The girls
were to spend the afternoon gather
ing wild flowers in the woods near
the village, and at supper time the
young men were to appear, carrying
the baskets of lunch previously pre-
pared by the feminine contingent.
AT five o'clock of the eventful day,
! the girls, laden with spring blossoms,
were grouped about Mrs. Carter, their
jolly little chaperone, watching the
group of youths Fastening down the
! Here we are!'' shouted Joe Baker.
81 made them let me lead the pro-
cessfon after Billy Sands had to fall
out, and had to carry two baskets
Where is Billy Sands?" asked
everybody all at once.
''At home, nursing a sick COW or a
silo. or something. Anyway, it's
something that swallowed an ear of
corn or a can of soup or something
answered truthful Joe. They came
running out for him as we passed his
farm. He was awfully sorry to miss
the fun. I speak for his piece of cake
now,'' he finished, thereby starting a
young riot.
Emily's lips were smiling, but her
heart felt queer and heavy as she
gathered the bottles of olives and es-
capped to a broad stump to open them.
What is the matter with me?" she
asked herself desperately. Il never
was this upset about man before. If
1t hurts this much now, what will it be
when father sends him right about
face? There's just one thing to do
and that is to quit him right now"
She returned the olives to the noisy
youngsters around the campfire and
murmured about going to the spring
to wash her hands
Even at that distance the laughing
voices sounded plainly, drowning the
noise of approaching footsteps.
Then a voice at Emilys shoulder be-
gan: Miss Emily, I'm SO sorry''-an1
she turned to find the only man in the
world close beside her.
All the glory of the spring day came
back with a rush and settled in her
, white little face, flooding it with color
and warmth an6 happiness.
"Oh," she said, and held out her
hands as a child might have done The
; man, with a choking cry of Sweet
heartl" gathered them close.
Then he burst out boyishly: 1--WE
met your father
The bottom fell out of Emily's uni
, verse
mot really?'' she gasped.
Young Sands was amazed.
You don't understand, sweetheart,
he explained. "He-he liked mo.
t know he did. I'd always been afraid
he despised me, because-because you
never introduced me to him.
Emily was sobbing now, her face in
her hands. She believed she could see
in advance the sordid finish to hel
fairy story.
Are you crying because 1 met you,
father?'' asked Billy Sands quietly.
!, YES gulped Emily truthfully.
The young man grasped a tree trunk
, for support.
Perhaps you'd rather I went away
where I could not trouble you and
your people?" he hazarded shakily.
IT you only would" choked Emily n
you well enough for even that
Emily's hands fell away, her we
little face aglow with joy.
Honestly, Billy? Then it doesn'
} matter if father does make a parade
: over you" And she finished he
t stammering story on his shoulder, i
!. arms tightly holding her.
D 1.-The sly old fox laughed joyou
t Billy Sands. 81 know he and 1 lik
each other When we go home to
night Wen tell him we are ready t.
= TRY that little farm of his on shares
r that little farm that needs man ant
: his wife to run it.'-(Copyright, 1916
by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate-)
Proof.
Are you sure the world is happie
and baffer2