The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-04-05

She was going to release some man
for service. she announced. Arguing
against her was in vain, and after sew
| era1 family councils of war, it was de-
| cided to let her go her own sweet way
1T would usually be a family dis
grace" her mother said to Dixon
James one day, for of late Dixon was
usually to be found somewhere about
| the Burden summer place 1T really
| would be a scandal to have ones
daughter be a street car conductor
| usually. but nowadays girls are doing
such odd things. Perhaps that is no
| worse than being an elevator girl, and
one of the Van Dyckman girls-per-
fectly splendid family. you know-has
just gone in for that
| However, Dixon James was not
quite SO resigned as was Mariana's
mother. Mariana went ahead with
| her plans, and having applied for the
| position as conductor, resignedly wait
ed the three weeks that were to
elapse before her services would be
needed. To make the time pass more
pleasantly, Dixon got his mother to
get up a house party at their country
place. and Mariana packed her little
| trunk and rehearsed the new dance
steps with considerable enthusiasm.
There was to be a little dance the
first night of the party and Mariana
was laying out her newest dancing
frock, and other accessories, on her
bed before dinner, when DiX's mother
IAN old-fashioned, little gray-haired
lady with a twinkle in her brown
eyes-knocked at her door.
Mariana, dear she said. Il am
asking you a favor that 1 don't think
you'll mind granting. First, did you
bring any riding togs?"
"Oh, yes, indeed brought two
sets-Dix said there would be some
riding. I'd love to let some one have
either OUTFIT
That is sweet of you, dear" said
the older woman, but that isn't the
favor. You see, we are two men shy.
There are seven girls and only five
men-two of the men have just got
their commissions and had to disap-
point US. Girls do dreadfully hate to
dance with girls, but / thought for a
lark you'd be willing. to play man.
DIX says you make a wonderful boy.
You understand wear your rid
ing things and play man. will you?"
Mar1ana's enthusiasm was genuine,
and willingly did she hang her pink
ruftles and furbelows back in the
wardrobe and don her most boyish
riding suit
You can lead. can't you?" Dix
asked her after dinner when they had
cleared the floor for the little dance
and Mariana admitted that she could
, It's awfully decent of you I'll in
troduce you to the girls you don't
, know Well call you Teddy to make
it seem natural
Mariana had not at first realized
that she was to play the role of Ted
. dy for the entire house party, but she
was, and so her dressing simplified
. itself to simply changing from one
rlo1nS suit for day wear to the other
. Tor evening. In the meantime she
, danced only with girls and rode he
size them and walked beside one or
the other of them on all the little
> outings and really saw nothing of Dix
, or any of the other men
= AlteI al the guests had retired one
hlsEt Mariana knocked at the door
: OF one of the girls-one she had heen
eScortng on d moonlight stroll that
q evening If you have two dressing
gowns would you awfully mind lend
v lns me one? I've only got the pajama
+ sort and-well, I am getting tired
: wearing trousers. 1 want to be pir1
+ Just IN my own ROOM And the
other girl laughingly handed Teddy
l ligee. neg
By the end of the five DAYS, hons.
party Mariana went about only viii
uiIIlcuity concealing her grievance to
p waro her hostess's son, Dix. Eyentn
aLy OF course the grievance mad,
user known to Dix and there was al
little and blinked back a tear, Tb,
!, other wouldn't blink back So ..ba,
al
u drew filmy handkerchief from his,
preeches pocket and wiped it tenderI
away.
n I'm not, a bit jealous" Teddy he
gan Il don't mind at all thai vo,
!. nave gone about with all the othe,
! girls and haven't even looked at me
out-Wei, guess what makes m,
i Ieel peeved is that L had such a prett,
d dance frock with pink ruffles an,
: lace and everything made just for tn
II / party and I haven't had it on once
q rms was D1xs cue and he took il
and as he gathered the fearful littl
Teddy in his arms-they had met, i,
: the woods by chance when gatherin,
n sticks for a picnic fire-he explaine,
= MS entire plot to her. Yes, he love,
her distractedly, and had longed to b
= with her every minute. But he want
- ed to make her give up the idea O
q being a conductor-wanted to shoy
. her that sometimes there were adva n
u tages in being just a girl