The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-11-11
EVENING STORY
A Girl of Today.
(By Susan E. Clagett. }


creature 1 have ever known and has
way with her that wins everyone!"
The mother!
1.-The mother! She left Jack shortly
after the. child was born. Jack had
been slowly going to pieces even dur
ing that first year. You remember he
married her within a month of their
introduction; just a plain case of let
ting himself go from the moment he
met her. But for the matter of that
we were all fascinated. Radcliffe was
the only one who had sense enough
not to SINCE his wings.
None of US realized how seriously
Jack was taking it until his quarrel
with Rad. 1t seems Rad had heard
something and went to the trouble to
investigate the story. He never told
me- but in the light of subsequent
events I made a pretty shrewd guess
Jack, of course, did not believe him
and their quarrel was bitter one.
Il saw her in Cairo one winter. She
was known there as Howland's wife.
L received several notes asking me to
CALL but I had too recently helped to
bury the boy, boy who had every at
tribute that goes toward the making
of a man, except the nerve, the cour-
age to withstand disgrace. For ten
wears his life was a sore trouble TO
the few friends he chung to.
He was devoted to the child and
we hoped thru her he would accom-
plish his salvation. Perhaps he would
have won out, but his system was too
weakened for him to rally from the at
tack of pneumonia. Rad took the girl
home with him and formally adopted
her but what passed for QuiXotiSm,
eight years ago is now giving rise to
talk. He is still too young man to
have an 18year-old girl in his home
with no other woman than his house
keeper as chaperon. At least SO says
gossip. I would like to strangle the
woman who started the ball rolling
Chandler took his pipe from his pock-
ct and viciously packed tobacco into
the bowl. AS he did so he caught sight
of car moving slowly down the ave-
nue..
There they go now" he said.
The other man leaned forward in
time to catch a glimpse of a smiling,
upturned face.
why don't he marry herr" he ask
ed. THAT would solve the difficulty
Hes 40, she IS. May and Decem-
Der, don't you Think"
According to old-fashioned ideas,
yes; but the girl of today is much
older than tie same girl of thirty
years ago.. She is more Independent,
more companionable; takes interest
generally in things never mentioned in
the time of her grandmother She
would be fortunate girl if he mar
ried her.
T.,
Chandler answered, as he moved away
The car that had attracted the two
friends moved slowly until it reached
the open country. When it turned
into the state road the girl gave a
little sigh of delight as a whiff of
honeysuckle reached her from the
road side, but the face of the man was
troubled. When he spoke there was a
Earring note in his voice she had new
or heard before.
THar-
she looked at him thoughtfully and
she spoke quickly, irterrupting him.
You have heard it, the talk. I
mean? Why do you mind? I don't"
You are too young to understand
all that it means, Mary. hoped the
gossip would miss you"
There is always some good friend
to tell you unpleasant things. At first
l was in fine temper, but after con-
sidering it seriously I came to the con-
clusion it was not worth second
| thought"
There you make a grave mistake.
I have been wondering what it is best
to do. You might go to Europe with
| Mrs. Merrick, or to Canada for the
summer By the winter some plan can
be evolved for your comfort and pleas
ure or-you might marry"
How silly you are, Mr. Rad. Just
disabuse your mind of that thought. 1
Will go to neither place without you.
As for the other plan, it sounds allur-
ing. Whom am 1 lead like a lamb
to the atari
DO you need ask? received a
manly letter from Wycoff this morn
| ing He is very much in earnest Last
week, Harding and Addison called
upon me, both upon the same errand -
What did you say to them?' she
asked euriously.
Referred them to you. Haven't
you seen them %
''Wen?"
Il told them I would be a sister to
Them she replied demurely.
Mary, have you no heart %
Oh, yes. my heart is all right, only
it doesn't happen to belong to any one
| of the three
The car swerved suddenly. then
came to a standstill. Radcliffe War
rem turned grave face to the girl be-
side him.
IT thought I knew all the men inter-
ested in you. Evidently am mistak-
en-. Will you tell me something about
him and where you met him?''
Mary Williams paused some minutes
before answering. then she asked ir-
relevantly:
.Mr. Rad. what do you think of
girls and women who do unusual
things %
That depends" he began lamely.
or course. But to particu1arize
For woman to ask man to marry
her?"
That is an odd question. Mary
Il am thinking of doing it,
''Why?"
Because I care for him I do moi
know that he has ever given me n
thought in that way. Other men have
found me attractive so why shon1dn.
he? If he won't discover it for himself
is it wrong for me to suggest that !
can make him happy?" and she turned
her flushing face toward the man be-
side her.
Not wrong" he answered, looking
into the shining eyes that told a story
of their own. But 1 think dear. the
man will say the words for himself
THAT he has not done SO is because