The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-19
EVENING STORY
Mr.. Sudds Speaks.
(Rv Keith KENYON.


Mrs. Van Kreeper, elegant in rich
black silk, drew on her gloves prepar-
atory to a mornings shopping. Out
side the big stone house a dove-gray
car, with two men in dove-gray liv-
cry, waited before the steps.
Then something occurred to ting
mistress of all this magnificence and
she pressed a bell Send Mr.. Sudds
to me, Hutchinson"
When the private secretary APP
peared she sat down. I've Just
thought of something, Sudds, and
go out. Take that chair there.'
He obeyed. Eyes, Mrs. Van Kreep-
err" He had never forgotten his em-
pioyer's dictum when he was cutting
want people to talk much around me-
do enough myself"
Its about Miss Joanna. She is
coming today, Sudds."
Eyes, Mrs. Van Kreeper!" Mrs.
Van K. had never said to keep a note
of interest out of ones voice, SO he
didn't. The whole household sat up
when Joanna was mentioned and the
whole household sat back when Jo-
anna was there. But of that later
Its little difficult for me To ex-
press exactly what 1 want you to do,
but it amounts to this: Her grand
father and myself want her to get
married. It's our lookout to see that
you know, are both dead, and the
earlier she marries the better, for we
ere not going to live forever and there
are settlements to be made and SO on.
You understand
Now, I'VE tried to talk marriage to
her and so has my husband. but she
| just laughs at US. So I have been
thinking that if you would put the
gravity of the situation up to her,
show her the business side of it and
h or dI1tv IN IlS orb a.
sired result. And incidentally there
| are two young men you might men,
ton. One is Reginald Crecy, the
! other Houghton Vane. Either one
would be acceptable to us. They have
family and money and all that. You
understand"
yes, Mrs Van Kreeper Am 7 to
| understand that I am to approach
| Miss Joanna this morning on the sub
/ ject?"
Not necessarily, but I thought
might not have another opportunity to
| speak about it. But soon, Sudds. She
| is young and impressionab1e and /
| want to get her interested in these
| young men before others make their
| appearance. You understand, hope,
| Sudds?"
/ Eyes, Mrs. Van Kreeper. We do 1t
in England A very good plan, Mrs.
Van Kreeper."
| IF you say Mrs. Van Kreeper again.
Sudds, I'll fire you. That's a good
American word-fire. hope you I'M
| derstand it, SuddS.
| Eyes, Mrs. Van K-perfectly." sub
| stituted Sudds.
Joanna came. The house was alive
and astir with new life before she en-
tered the door. Youth, beauty, vital
/ ity and a certain quality of incorrigt-
bility that was irresistible came with
1 her.
She changed her clothes and, trilling
| a tune as she came down stairs, she
stuck her head into the small office
off the library.
Hello. Suddsy!"
How do you do, Miss JOANNA
ooh, just call me Joanna"
"Rut Mrs Van Kreeper would"
"Oh, can Mrs. Van Kreeper. Yes, r
4 know she would, Sudds. So don't do
j it when she's around. When there's
just you and me, though, you do as
say. I'm going to call you Billy
"Oh, Miss mean Joanna. What
| would Mrs. Van-'
Never mind, Sudds. I mean Billy.
| Come on out and show me the new
| shrubbery and the last batch of pup
/ pies and everything. Let those letters
| co.
''Gladly, Miss Gladly, Joanna!"
"Oh, never mind calling me that if
| it's going to give you st. Vitus's dance.
i You can make it 10 if you like. That's
right. Lock up the dask. Say, Billy,
you've got a beautiful head. We did
/ Apollo in clay at school and the model
] looked more like the bad man than
the standard of manly beauty. I was
/ thinking what a peach you'd make
and how crazy all the girls would be
| about you. Don't look so shocked,
Billy. You need to go through board
/ ing school and get sophisticated Too
| bad you're English You'd have made
| a perfectly bully American. Come on
| now and tell me what grandma's got
up her sleeve about Reginald Crecy
and Houghton what's his name.'
Sudds found his tongue after
awhile. she wants you to marry
| them. Miss Joanna, 1 mean Joanna.
Jo."
Mercy! I couldn't do that I'd get
cross-eyed trying to keep an eye on
each of them at the same time
well, she wants you to marry one
of them. I guess she doesn't care
"Oh, Just onet"
yes. that's it'll You get me now,
Miss mean Jo."
And I'm to tell you that it's your
duty to her and Mr.. Won Kreeper to
make a proper alliance and these men
have money and family
And red hair-that is Reggie has
and an awful temper and he's self
ish as pig. And Houghton hasn't
enough brains to go in out of the rain
and he's sick in bed most of the time.
Besides, they both drink like fisher
men. You don't want me to marry
them. do you, Billy2 Now answer me
in your own capacity, not as grand
mas secretary.
mo, Jo."
Thank you, Billy Watch out. You
nearly stepped into the lake She
grabbed his arm.
Sudds touched her hand and Grew
) his own quickly away just as a little
girl reaches out to a feel a silk dress
''Billyi" after silence.
Eyes, Jo"
; did you ever hear of Capt Miles
Standish 30
yes, Jo.'
"And Priscilla ?"