The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-08
The Euening Story
Miss PeIina-Diplomat.
(Rv Mabel Ora ham KuiDe

crochet hook, as she heard gay
young voice call, Are you home,
auntie?"
'"To be sure I'm home this time of
morning." replied Miss Pelina in her
brisk manner. but with fond look
in her keen old eyes as they rested on
pretty Mary Harvey.
What is your mother doing this
morning?" she asked as the bright
haired, bright-eyed girl dropped kiss
on her wintry old cheek.
shes making a new girdle for my
yellow party dress. There's dance at
EIliott's tonight. "And"-almost tim
Idly came to borrow your little
gold chain, if you don't mind"
Surely. surely. Who is going to
take you?'
Good old Joe, auntie"
Fool old Joe, I'd call him." snap
ped Miss Pelina. ANY man that will
let little chit like you make him
miserable and still won't marry him is
a fool for lack of sense"
The little chit" threw her head
back and laughed delightedly.
who's going to take Cora Davis?"
Miss Pelina asked shrewdly.
Cora Davis was Mary's dearest
enemy and the girls face darkened
trifle as she replied, Mr.. Brown,
think"
1.-THE one who came here a few
months ago to open his real estate Of
flee? Old Joel Browns grandson?
Hum-well, if he's anything like his
sporty old granddad he'll soon have
you girls quarreling over him.
Mary's face famed consciously as
she replied:
He really is very exclusive, auntie.
He hasn't called on any of us girls ex-
cept Cora"
'.She's the only one whose father
has an oil WELL" drily commented
Miss Pelina.
"Auntie, you're unfair" burst out
the girl.
There, there soothed Miss Pc
lima You look just like your Aunt
Sallie when you are angry Poor, poor
Sallie, how 1 did love that child"
Some one is always saying I'm
like her," pouted Mary. And they're
always prophesying some kind of bad
luck for me just because she eloped
with that cheap actor and made such
a mess of things"
"Sallie did not realize he was
cheap until it was too Late said her
aunt soberly.
After the girl had gone, Miss Pc
lima shook her head sadly. IT mustn't
let the poor, contrary child muddle
her life as Sallie did," she unused
aloud.
A few minutes later she was at the
telephone asking Mr.. Brown if he
could call at her house that after
noon.
1t was a very pleasant-faced young
man who waited in the old-fashioned
parlor at the hour she had set. Too
pleasant, Miss Pelina considered him,
as she took a swift, appraising glance
at his too-candid blue eyes and his
too-smiling full lips.
''Smir6y," she whispered disgusted-
ly to herself.
81 knew your grandfather" she told
him.
Il can't believe you were any
where near my grandfather's age"
young Brown CALAMITY assured her.
Exactly what the old rogue would
have said" thought Miss Pelina.
Aloud she grimly remarked: I'm
six months older than he was But let
us get down to business. I hear you
have the selling of the lots in the new
city addition
The young mans eyes cleaned
shrewdly as he volubly explained the
desirability of the lots.
Miss Pelina casually remarked: II
wouldn't want Mary to have any
trouble with my investments after
I'm gone-Mary Harvey, my niece, 1
mean
Is Miss Harvey your niece? She is
a charming girl-very charming"
And growing more charming each
second" thought Miss Pelina Gym
ically.
When the young man went, he car
ried with him the conviction that
Mary Harvey was to inherit her great
aunt's wealth, which was exactly the
impression Miss Pelina wished him to
have.
Early the next morning, Mary came
running in.
'Auntie, dear" she cried, you were
unjust to Mr.. Brown. He didn't look
twice at Cora Davis last night, and he
was perfectly devoted to me. And
everybody knows her father has ever
so much more money than blessed old
dad"
How did good old joe appreciate
his devotion?"
Mary tossed her head.
81 gave Joe to understand that he
cannot dictate to me. And I'm going
driving with Mr.. Brown this after
noon.'
Miss Pelina nodded her head. as If
this were no surprise to her.
The afternoon seemed very long to
the nervous little old spinster, and she
sighed with relief as she heard Mary
burst in at the front door.
'Auntie," she cried, I'm upset"
What upset you?" asked Miss Pc
lima jocularly. mot the automobile,
I hope"
Don't joke, please" begged Mary.
1T was that odious toad 1 was driving
with
What did he do? asked her aunt.
tOh, he didn't do anything. He lust
looked. and he was SO soft. and-and.