The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-12-06
EVENING STORY
Preparedness.
BY GERALD ST. ETIHNNE.

the twelve shirts plsced on the counter
before him. and then produced roll
OF bills. '.I'll take the whole dozen" he |,
announced to the weary-looking clerk. |
There won't be another bargain like |
this for years" The clerk was too sur |
prised to answer. but as Jack was
| starting away he ventured to suggest
the purchase of something else.
mo. thanks" Jack smiled. I've
got everything else. have socks
! enough to last me for six years and
\ underclothes for just as long-to say
nothing of ties and suits of clothes.
There is not an article of wearing APP
parel that will need for years to
come that haven't got stored away.
believe in preparedness.
This war is going to knock prices
sky high, and I have figured I have
saved hundreds of dollars on what ,
/ have purchased and packed away. In
two years time we poor beggars who
have to stay home won't be able to
buy shirts like these l have Just
bought for $40 apiece"
The dress goods counter was on the
way out As Jack was hurrying past
lit light hand was placed on his
shoulder. He looked up to meet the
smiling gaze of Jessie Evidge. the jew
eler's daughter.
Jessie had been an old school-days
college. She had not changed much.
Jack thought, as he took the graceful
lily proffered hand.
IT was going to ask your assistance
with my parcels" Jessie laughed. be-
witchingly, "but see you have plenty
of your own. Have you been laying IN
a stock of things to last you until
the end of the war?
IT have just bought Nnore silk than
I can use in years. but believe In pre-
paredness. The way everything Is go
ing up silk will be out of reach within
a year or two. I have got the grand
est white crepe de chine for my we'd
ding DRESS How do you like it?" She
held up a fold of the goods for his in
spection.
"You will look splendid in . dress
of that" Jack enthused. You are
very sensible to purchase now. You
are the only person in town who
agrees with me, tho, I'll venture to
. say"
'Then we are the only sensible peo-
pie in town. she said: decidedly.
tsh to invest SO much of my little for
tune on things to put away, but time
will tell. Father thinks I have lost
my head. but at the same time he says
that diamonds will double in price
before this time next year"
/. ''Is that SOP" Jack exclaimed.
Goodness knows how soon l might
: Reed a diamond. I had better see
, Let me sell you one. I am help
ing in the store during my holidays.
I can tell you the setting she will like
|, best"
| rair but Jessie laughed gayly. He
: didn't make his choice the first day.
but called often to discuss it with the
eager young saleslady. He did not
tell her, of course, that he had not
met the young lady who was to wear
ha n w il
expectation OF being engaged some
time. It was following out his idea
of preparedness.
Once the purchase had been made,
he regretted that he had not taken
longer in making the choice. Not that
he was not satisfied with the one
Jessie had persuaded him to take,
but it meant the loss of an excuse to
l jewelers. daughter was in charge.
I Jessie had always appeared attractive
to him, but now she appeared the
most wonderful girl in the world.
Why hadn't he recognized her be-
{ fore as his ideal girl? he asked him
T SELF. Just when he had realized 1t
it was t6o late, for already Jessie had
bought h4rwedding dress.
. How lucky the other man was, he
> thought. fIt was hard to give her up
t | just as Ne had found her, as it were.
. Afttr he had purchased the ring
r Jack did not make any more pur-
, chases of things to lay aside. When
he viewed the thMgs in his wardrobe
> and every other Conceivable place to
store things the suspicion that he had
made mistake came over him. There
were, more things than he would be
t able to wear before they became too
far out of style to be presentable.
: How much better 1t would have been
r il he had saved his money.
. However, there was still a substan-
tial credit balance to his account in
the bank, but just the same he would
like to have unburdened some of the
T things he had There were enough
, clothes and toggery in his possession
to start haberdashery. His last pur-
, chase was the worst white elephant
, of all.
/ Most likely he was doomed to bach
, elorhood. now that the only girl who
could make him happy was engaged
to some one else. Perhaps it would
I be best to give everything he had
= rummage sale. They would think he
was drazy to have accumulated SO
, many things. Jessie would advise him
what to do, he thought, as he resolved
L That was Jessie's night to be in the
store. Jack arrived just before clos
ing time. There was no one at the
front of the shop and he waited i'm
) patiently for few minutes.
A stifled sob sounded from the rear
of the store. Jack was on the alert In
an instant. Jessie was crying; he
could recognize her voice even in a
sob. He was by her side in an instant.
, Whats the matter, Jessie % he
asked alphabetically.
!. Jessie. dried her tears instantly. II
have just been thinking what an idiot
ii am" she said mournfully. Il have
, bought more things than I know what
! to do with, and I'm just as foolish as
they've all said I am. Why. nave a
complete green trunk. and there isn't
/ even a prospect of me ever being
| married.! L haven't got q boy friend
| who cares anything for me-"
Haven't your" Jack cried out in
| delight. ~Aren't you engaged?"
i ssNy, eIa InnRfrO bgr,