The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-09-04
EVENING STORY
Marrying Susie Off.
(By C. B. Lewis.


She looked up at him and frowned. |
Bobbie was II years old, and there |
were those who termed him pre- |
cooious. AT any rate, he thought he |
was man enough to boss his sister |
around altho she was s years older |
than he.
1T seems to me you take the great !
news rather coolly," he went on. Here
I've done for you what mother ana
yourself have been trying to do for
the last two years, and you haven't a
word of thanks for me-.
Robbie, what do you mean?" asked
the sister as she sat up and laid aside
her book.
Mean? Mean? I can't mean but
one thing 1 have found a husband
for you at last!'
"W-h-a-t!"
'Oh, you have come to your senses
have you? 1 thought it would aston
ish YOU. 1 have needed a brother-in-
law for the last two or three years,
but no one seemed to take shine to
you. I went out looking for one this
morning and l found him without
much trouble. Susie, he is cracker
iack-nicest Teller you ever saw, and
| / think he took a shine to me as
did to him. Curly hair, black eyes. as
straight as a bean pole and he mas
| got the pleasantest voice ever hearu.
| He is about % years old, and you
take my word for it, he knows thing
| or two 1 am going to meet him to-
morrow and bring him to the mouse.
and if you don't fall head over heels
in love with him I'll marry you off TO
some tin peddler. His name is Earl
lCosgrove, and he is a good Teller from
head to heels
Robbie Winthrop, what are you
talking about" half shouted the girl
why, about the chap you are going
to marry, of course" was the sober
reply you see I went out into the
woods this morning with my Flobert
rifle to kill a bear. 1 knew there
wasn't one left on Long Island, but l
thought one might swim over from
Connecticut Just to please me.
found the young man, while hunting
around. He is what they call a nat
uralist. He knows all about birds and
insects and animals and he was look
ing for specimens. 1 began to talk
with him right away. and he found me
so interesting that he sat right down
and began to talk with me. He said
he hadn't come across such a smart
boy in many a year. 1 think I gave
him some tips that he will make use
of in the future. I told him there was
a difference between a red squirrel
and a chipmunk, and he seemed
somewhat astonished. Oh. Susie. he
, is a peach of a good Teller, and only
hope you'll fall in love with him.
You are talking pure nonsense
. exclaimed Miss Susie, as she knocked
the cap off his head
There is no nonsense about it.
Susie. 1 didn't quite invite him to
come back to the house with me, but
1 shall tomorrow. 1 am going to do IL
| to show you off and see if you can't
catch a husband. After you have
been introduced to him, I will leave
you to play your own cards. A girl
twenty years old ought to know how
to play them. If you don't come tc
Bobbie Winthrop for advice"
You weren't forward enough and
bold enough and mean enough to tel
him you had sister," queried the
girl. as her cheeks famed up.
Il don't remember that 1 did, but
am rather absent-minded at times L
l told him anything about you, it wa.
that 1 hope you'd get married soor
because I was tired of seeing an ole
maid about the house. 1t shan't las
much longer"
Bobbie received a shaking which
clicked his teeth together and a pusI
which sent him far out of the room
and Miss Susie returned to her book
and soon forgot the incident Bobbi,
y hunted up his mother and related tn,
circumstances to her, and it was will
r, a very sober face that she receive,
u them and replied:
Robbie, you must not plague you
= sister about men. That is the way L
= make a girl hate them. Don't brin
= this young man to the house, an,
don't talk about Susie to him. If h
- is the right kind of a young man, h
y won't want to hear it, and it will onl
embarrass him. If you rs9et him again
- don't talk about our family affairs"
= But can't Teller like me talk !?
= protested Bobbie.
Z Yes, but talk of general things
u Bobbie went away growing an,
, mutterfng, and next morning he say
!, the stranger again. He was a littl
n more on his guard this time, and whel
hn had
and no one tried to pump him. For
week to come he was out in the wood
and fields with the naturalist ever
day, but not a word did he have I
say around the house.
They told me to shut my hea
n when 1 wanted to talk, and now tina
- ] don't want to they won't get wor
It out of me-" was the way he put it {
e himself.
= The following week he went ava
on visit to his aunt, to be gone
n week, and it was during this week tina
h Miss Susie took a saunter in the fiel
l. Strawberries. Before she had pickle
"a single berry she heard a voice call
q Ing to her and, looking around sh
n saw young man seated on log. H
beckoned to her to approach and a
J.. she drew nearer he said:
~ Il beg your pardon, miss but hav
- met with an accident. BY a careles
step I have turned my ankle and can
"a not use it. Would you go to tn
:, highway and ask aid for me from tn
- first passerby?"
Miss Susie was all sympathy at ono,
She told him to lean on her and sh
- would take him straight to the hous
J. where her mother could use som
IN remedy for the sprain. He hesitate
n to accept, but finally did with man
q thanks. and after a slow and paint,
h effort, he reached the house and wa
70 at once handed over to the tende
10 mercies of mother and the cool
m Later on doctor was telephoned 70
ye The patient gave his name as Ea
ID Cosgrove, but that brought no men
"A cries.