The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-04-17
EVENING STORY
Jim's Investment.
CBy Louise Oliver.)

The front door closed and MISS
Martha, catching the so d, called out
cheerily, rs that you, Betty"
Yes answered Betty, appearing
in the kitchen doorway and drawing
off her gloves.
What's the matter. honey? Tired?"
"A little"
I'm making you some ginger cook
les, the kind you like"
Betty put her arms around her
aunt and gave her a tender little hug.
1T isn't my body or brain that's tired,
it's just my disposition. I'm tired of
everything, aunty."
Not me, 1 hope, honey"
No, of course not, silly"
Nor Jim? ''
Betty gave no answer and her aunt
looked up into her face in alarm.
why, Betty, what's wrong?"
II don't think 1 know exactly. I'm
just tired of everything"
Surely not jim! Why, you're to
be married in a month! Maggie Har-
per is coming tomorrow to do the
white sewing. thought I'd hurry up
and finish here and we could go down
to McAllister's and pick the embroid-
cry for the petticoats.
Il don't think l want Maggie to
start the white sewing tomorrow, and
L can't bear the thought of Miss
Gauge fussuing over a silk dress and
serge suit for me, and 1 despise the
regular round af parties for brides
where you see the same people and
the same silver everywhere you go.
L don't seem to want anything-here.
Miss Martha, who had been looking
forward to these very festivities with
childlike anticipation, stood open
mouthed.
Its just this way, auntiev' bright
ening. Il have a plan. 1t isn't that
I'm tired of jim; I'm sure I'm not.
but life in this humdrum old town is
wearing me as shiny as on old coat.
need freshening up bit, and If L
don't get it now l won't after I'm
married. for I'll have the house to
take care of, and Jim, and we won't
ever get away, for we can't afford it.
So I'm going now, while l can, and So
are YOU Betty picked up crisp
ginger cookie and took quick little
bites Already her eyes were shining
and the color was flooding her cheeks.
Were going to New York"
New York; gasped Miss Martha
Eyes. I've got a thousand dollars
IN the trust company. That will buy
US a few buds and take US to good
hotel for week.
"a thousand dollars for one week."
| Miss Martha sat down weakly on the
edge of a chair. why, it's taken you
five years to save it! And you were
going to get some things for the
house, and'-
yes, I know" impatiently. but I've
decided that Jim will have to take
care of that. I've made up my mind.
We're going tomorrow. auntie, and
that's all there is to it. You'd better
get ready
| That night when Jim came he
| heard the news. He took it quietly,
so quietly that Betty was little dis
appointed. Il think it will do you
good, Betty, and Aunt Martha, too. If
you like, I'll send word to my cousin
Eddie Stevens in Brooklyn to act as
handy man. It's better to have a man
around if you want to go to places in
the evening. It's hard getting taxis
after a show and things like that"
Twill you miss me, Jim?"
"Of course l shall"
What will you do in the evening ~
| 81 can put down the linoleum in the
bathroom and kitchen if you have
| time to pick them out tomorrow morn
ing And I can put up the shades all
over the house. The other things can
wait until you get back. By the way.
I'll wire for rooms, if you like. The
New York hotels are very full, they
say"
Really Betty missed a thrill she had
expected. She wanted Jim to be
crushed at the idea of her going away.
She sighed. Practical, matter of fact
man.
New York was a confusing whirl
from the moment they arrived, and
the prices staggering, from their
twenty dollar-a-day rooms at the Gilt
more to their forty-five cent cup of
coffee. But Betty had decided not to
let money worry her. The first day
they bought few clothes. After that
they devoted themselves to pleasure, or
at least Betty did.
Eddie Stevens was invaluable. He
had lived in New York long enough to
know places, and being a journalist
he knew many interesting people. Be
fore she knew it Betty had a round
half dozen of ardent admirers who
made life interesting.
4 There were dinners and teas and
luncheons, matinees and skating par
ties and dancing. Betty bought more
clothes and her stock of money dwin-
died.
Every day there had been a letter
from Jim. but in the whirl of excite
ment Betty only half read them. I'll
have Jim all the rest of my life.'' she
said, land this will last only a few
days. 1t seems ridiculous to be read
ing about matching the figures of oil
cloth when the tips I give the floor
boy in one day would pay a man tc
put it down." she added pettishly tc
Aunt Martha.
"Dearie" said the good soul anx.
iously- I'm afraid this trip isn't go
ing to be for your good. Instead OF
making you better contented with
things to come you are only going tc
be dissatisfied with what's ahead
It's not fair to Jim. 1 hardly know
my little Betty any more. 1 DOM
like New York. I wish we. were
homer
wen be home soon enough," an
swered Betty rather bitterly. Jim:
a dear, of course, but 1 do wish we
could live here. 1t would do him sc
much good-he'd broaden so. Peopl,
here don't mind spending a little
money and Jim would soon learn t.
be like the others. 1 feel that h,
thinks I'm extravagant to waste m,
money this way and it irritates me
I'd like him lots better if he didn'
! think so much of money" she de
, clared.
He has to, Gea.:" Tended he,
aunt. "And the reason he has worked
: and saved is because it meant you