The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-08-16
EVENING STORY
Fusstub Bobby.
BY JANE OSBORN.

BY JANE OSbOh->-
Bobby, dear, love you so"
breathed Agnes on that first moon
light night that Bobby told her that
she was the only girl he had ever
cared for and that he wanted to make
her his wife in the autumn. Bobby,
really and truly love you, she
veranda of the porch of her Aunt
Sophia's summer cottage. land I'm
going to be perfectly happy all my
life just to be your wife, even II
you are as poor as can be, and II we
never have a maid or anything: They
both sighed, expressive of their COM
plete content, and then there was a
long silence.
I'm going to just love to cook for
you, Bobby" breathed Agnes. and
I'll get your Aunt Maria Barton to
show me just how to make that egg
less cake You don't ever eat any
eggs. do you. Bobby"
Bobby assured the girl that he did
not. He never had eaten eggs, he
said, and he couldn't endure them.
Moreover, he couldn't endure any
thing with vanilla in it or anything
that had pepper in it. Besides there
were only just about three vegetables
that he cared for. That's why" as
so. I'm miserable at i hotel. I'm
not one of your fellows that can,
adapt himself anywhere, and be-
cause I am SO rather particular and
discriminating, Agnes. III appreciate,
what you can do to make me happy"
$50 it really is a blessing that you
are particular whispered Agnes. 1T
will help to endear you to your home,
won't it, Bobby, love?'.
That was the night of the proposal
of Bobby Burton to-Agnes Arnold, and
the next day, after Bobby had gone
back to his Aunt Maria Buttons cot
tage on the other side of the lake,
Agnes told her aunt that she was en-
gagged, as she followed her aunt about
| the house in a rather aimless way at
tempting to assist the older woman in
the household tasks. Sometimes she
carried a spoon from the djning-room
to the kitchen in the wake of Aunt
Sophia, bearing a tray full of dishes,
and sometimes she circled the rooms
with a buster, which she forgot to use
as she circled.
''Well, if you like him that's all
| there Is about it." commented Aunt
boy. But my LAM" she exclaimed,
laying down frying pan hard for
emphasis, "he's certainly a fusstub.
You'll have to knock that out of him
! or you'll have a pretty TODD. Who
| ever heard of a man that couldn't eat
thing? I'll bet his aunt has spoiled
| him. Fusstub Bobby. that's what your
uncle calls him, but you can break him
| if you begin in time"
| But Bobby says that will endear
/ hin to his home" commented Agnes.
| We'll. 1t isn't going to endear you to
your home any," pronounced the aunt,
and the time may come about ten
years from now when you're going to
t think differently of Bobby's fussy
| ways"
The two women didn't argue and
before many. days had passed Aunt
Sophie had told Agnes that she really
liked Bobby and that she was glad she
4 had made such q wise choice of hus-
band. In the meantime she was plan
ming house party for her own son,
Tom. Arnold, who would be home for
a vacation in midsummer. Bobby was
| invited and SO was Agnes. but that
| was not all. Some twenty other young
| men and women were included on the
| list and Tom Arnold-Agnes's cousin
was making interesting preparations
| for what had turned into a regular
| camp party. Tents had been put up
4 for the guests and finally Aunt Sophia
and her husband declared that they
were going to clear out for the young
4 folks, save that they would spend the
nights in the cottage, for the sake of
chaperoning them. But the entire
management of the camp was to de-
pend on the team work of the guests.
! To Agnes was delegated the task of
| keeping the dining tent in condition.
1 Cousin Tom did the ordering. Dish
washing was done by all the guests in
| reason Bobby was chosen as cook.
There are SO many things you
don't like" said Tom Arnold, land
the rest of us like everything. So if
wen like 'em. And if any one of us
! was to do the cooking, why we might
accidentally get some pepper or van
lila or egg in the cooking and 1t might
I give you the spring halt"
At first it seemed to Bobby that it
would be entirely appropriate If Agnes
attended to the cooking. but cooking
for twenty included the lifting of
heavy pots and pans and such assis-
lance he had was from one or other
of the other boys. Besides Agnes had
| all she could do to take care of her
own assigned tasks Sometimes she
tried to come to his rescue during
1 those first days, but soon she left him
to his own devices.
4 I'D suggest getting all the cake and
/ baked stuff from the store or one of
the farmers" said Tom, as he returned
| from a provisioning trip, but they
use such lot of eggs that you would
| MT like it. They even use eggs in the
bread, they are so plentiful here" Tom
insisted. "If it weren't for that, cook
ing for a hungry crowd like US would
be a cinch."
The first two or three days Bobby
shaved in the kitchen tent most of the
day. He had sent to his aunt for spe-
cially suitable recipes, and he worked
late and early at them. Visibly his
fspirits dropped. however. The fourth
day Bobby woke with a look o. grin.
| determination on his face. He ate
| breakfast that he had prepared partly
the night before and then immediate
1y afterwards while the dishwashing
squad was putting in it's work he had
a consultation with Tom.
Look here, Tom" quoth Bobby, elf
II have to make cake and bread and
everything the way I'm used to it to-
4 day 1t will mean that l won't be able
to go off with the rest of you people
i on the excursion to the chasm. If ]
/ buy the stuff ct the village store can
get off with the crowd Everyone else