The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-17
EVENING STORY
Decision of the Twins.
(By lola Forester.)

"Poll-eei"
No answer. Don looked cautiously
thru the bannister rails. Sometimes
it is very handy to be only three and
a half feet high. Below, in the long
center hall, everything was quiet. The
twins loved the hall when the noon
sunlight streamed in thru the big
stained-glass window at the bend of
the staircase. The window showed
rare, soft, amber tints above a bed
of pink and violet foxgloves. and the
sunlight thru it crossed the hall in a
path of light.
1t was the luncheon hour. Don knew
that the grown-ups were safe in the
dining room, but he did think that
Polly might have stayed within hearing
distance. There was a full-length oil
painting of her hanging in the recep-
ton room, across the hall. BETTY, the
other twin, liked to run down from
the nursery to look at it. She said 1t
was SO interesting really to have such
a person for a big sister. The fur
cloak fell back from her white Shout
ders and you caught the satiny SHIN
mer of the primrose gown. There was
a long rope of pearls about her throat.
But Don loved her waves of brown
hair and the way her eyes seemed to
look right at you as you came down
the stairs.
Just now he almost thought they
held a reproachful expression, quite
as if she understood all that had nap
pened in the nursery in the last ten
minutes, SO he called again anx1ously-
"Oh, Police! Betty's eating the gold
fish" The little door under the stairs
opened cautiously and Polly looked
out, shaking her finger in warning
You Donnikin.' she exclaimed IN
a whisper. Don't you dare call my
where I am. What have you been do
ing now?"
"'Tisn't me, Polly" Don protested;
Its Betty. She got on a chair ana
picked them out, and said she was go
ing to eat them"
From the top of the stairs same
shrill indignant protest.
"I didn't eat 'em. 1 played they
were all whales and put them In the
bathtub."
Polly took one look in the direction
of the closed dining room door, gain
cred her skirts about her and fled up
the stairs Don watched her disap-
pear, Betty clasped in her arms The
ways of sisters were beyond his ken.
He began to pine for the companion
dining room door opened and Uncle
Hal came out, followed by tae doctor
Don approved of the doctor first be-
cause he was not a doctor of pins ana
bitter medicines. He was the new
rector over at the little stone church
where the twins went to Sunday
school.
Don understood that he had been
college mate of Uncle Halls. and there
fore was an all-around good fellow.
AS they sat out on the veranda now
in the deep willow chairs, smoking,
Don sorted marbles on the top step
and eyed the doctor, thoughtfully.
WHY had Polly hidden in the little
closet under the stairs? why were
her eyes suspiciously red? Polly was
easily. In fact, Don knew from eX-
perience that she rarely cried unless
she was good and angry.
Noticing that Uncle Hal was doing
most of the talking, and that the doc
tor was rather absorbed, he began
TO connect him with Polly's attitude
toward life, and to regard him sus-
piciouslv When Uncle Hal went down
to the garage Don ventured to take
his place beside the doctor, and talk
to him as man to man.
you know" he said, Betty ana
I've I've decided you ought 10 marry 0i-
"Oh, you have, have your The
doctor smiled down at the little six
year-old figure in tan linen beside
him. But has Polly decided? Have
you asked her?'
1--WE did, said Don, cheerfully, but
she told US she didn't have any opin-
ion of any man who wasn't brave
enough to do his own counting. What's
counting? Has it anything 10 do with
kings and queens? Or is it about the
police"
"Courting," repeated tho doctor,
gently, lis what people call wooing,
Don, and wooing is er-er-"
Just hanging around girl that
you like?" innocently.
The doctors face took on a deeper
tint. He smoked in silence.
You see,' went on Don. -'she was
under the stairs, crying, hiding in that
little closet. and I wondered if you'd
made her mad. Course, Betty and
like you all right, and we've decided
to take you into the family; but I
suppose Polly'd have to agree, too,
wouldn't she %
"Donl" Pollys voice was fearfully
dignified as she stepped from the
doorway 81 think you had better go
down and play on the beach with
Betty. The doctor is leaving very
soon.'
II didn't tell him what you said.
Polly" said Don, reproachfully. II
only told him that Betty and I had
decided. 1 didn't say you had decid-
6us dl all
Polly's face was as pink as a rose
as he scampered down the path to
join his twin Just at the foot of the
street, with its row of summer bunga-
lows, was the crescent-shaped shore
line. Polly'S face was a study as she
watched the retreating figures of the
twins.
The doctor dropped his cigaret stub
over the veranda rail.
rs there any special reason he
said, why you should treat me in this
way?"
Polly turned on him hotly.
Because you've chosen to stay in
this little summer resort, simply fag-
ging for the angels, and marking time,
when you ought to be right in the
thick of it. You know that HaFs go
ing. I'd go in a minute, if / were a
man. AS it is, I'm joining the Red
Cross and forming a unit here among
the girls of the summer colony. Why
on earth don't you do something?
ApvthinPf If yoI1'ra not good for