The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-04-30
EVENING STORY
The Surrender of Syhil.
BY LINCOLN ROTHBLUl

What il my girl up to again? ?"
smiled Mr.. Baldwin, with a merry
twinkle in his eye.
Nothing, dad" laughed the girl,
Who in a demure frock of checkered
organdie with its large Quaker collar
seemed to personify innocence o. any
accusation o. coquetry. Just because
Harvey has asked me to marry him,
and 1 didn't say NO. Mother says
cannot go anywhere with any o--e
else
Mother is right" responded Mr..
Baldwin, the verdict coming in so me-
chancicaf tone as if of habit, that Sybil
laughed again.
That's the trouble with you men,"
she affirmed with a determined man
ner in the wisdom of her years. las
soon as you win your wish you be-
lieve the battle is over. And further
more" this with a very decided shake
of her pretty head which nearly upset
the carefully arranged hair dress, ~ m
not so sure l really care for Harvey"
Mr.. Baldwin frowned. Guilty Ct
having humored his only child fro ..
the moment she s-as old enough to
grasp the fact that she could get any
thing she desired provided she teased
long enough, he now found difficulty
in restraining those very factors he
had fostered.
You ought not to keep the young
man in disquieting suspense. Sybil,
as he has great cares on his mind"
Great cares! Pooh! Why. I could
sell stocks and bonds" the pert brag-
gadocio announced, pointing a Well
manicured finger at her small self
Perhaps" And as Mr.. Baldwin
gazed with admiring love at his pretty
daughter, he thought that, as far as
personality was concerned, she would
make a most excellent salesman. even
if her stock in trade were refrigera-
tors and her territory Greenland. But
in addition to his own business" Mr..
Baldwin continued, "Pendleton IS also
in the government service"
What is he doing?" cross amined
his questioner, still unconvinced.
Mr.. Baldwin sputtered. I am not
at liberty to say
"Oh, of course" and the highly in
dignant young lady, with the air of
an abused martyr, skipped up the
stairway to slip into a charming street
costume of tinted wolfe, which hung in
soft folds to her small figure.
A wooden clock over the firepla ce
its sides bullying with hideous gar
goyles in miniature (Sybil had won it
at a war bazaar and insisted on its
prominent position), had just struck
two when she seated herself at the
piano and played the novelty bits of
the day in catchy time.
Where are you bound for?" asked
her mother a feeble note of remon-
STRANGE creeping into her voice. The
banging melodies she knew from eX-
perience were the forerunner of an
other expedition of her daughter The
superfluous excitement was thus re-
lieved.
For the matinee at the Studorium."
alone 90
No. With Jean Pritchard."
Jean Pritchard?" repeated Mrs
Baldwin in amazed ignorance, casting
a helpless and hopeless glance of APP
peal to her husband, who sat in ag-
gravating silence. Who, may L ask.
is Jean Pritichard ?''
You may. jeans duck of fell
low, just from over there. He's
But, further details were interrupt
! ed by ring at the bell announcing
the arrival of the subject of their
conversation, a dapper fellow dressed
in extreme faultlessness, whose rapid
shifting of eyes did not induce conf
dence. Sybil Sensed a storm approa CHI
ing, and to prevent hostilities waited
but few moments after the formal
tiles of the introduction and the cou-
pie left.
And she s content to go out with
SO foreien-looking a person." remon-
strated Mrs Baldwin to her husband
Il do not approve of this treatment of
Harvey Pendleton.''
Nor l." he responded, recalling
how he himself had danced attendance
upon his wife while she made up her
mind whether she could love and obey.
Perhaps we'd better forego being sub
urbanites and move from the village
back into town again."
The bells second sounding ushered
in a strapping, bronzed man of com
pelling appearance. The businesslike
severity of his clothes seemed to en-
phasize rather than detract from his
muscular development.
Mr. Baldwin arose with aIacrity
Hello there. Pendleton." and he
shook hands cheerily
'Where's Sybil tonight ?" the Young
man asked as he paid his respects TO
Mrs. Baldwin.
Just gone out for while" was the
placatng response from the diplomatic
mother. BE seated and spend the af-
ternoon with us"
Don't mind if I do. Have had a
very strenuous week and am pretty
we'll tuckered out" he added, aItho his
patent vitality belied the words. wish
Sybil were here
Mr.. Baldwin felt called upon to as
sist in the conversation to avoid men
ton of his willful daughter Yes. I
suppose during this reconstruction per-
iod your ACTIVITIES would be greatly
increased" he sidetracked with a very
knowing look to the young man, who
responded 10 the lead
The social unrest does create a lit
lie trouble He paused and seemed
70 recall the purpose of his visit.
With whom did SybiI go out?"
ana TO the direct question Mrs.
BALDWIN was obliged to give direct
answer With Mr.. Jean Pritchard -
Harvey Pendleton bounced from his
seat. Jean Pritchard!" he CALCULATED.
ITO the Studorium," came the an
swer IN unison from Mr.. and Mrs.
Baldwin, too startled to CRASH the
meaning of the young mans abrunt
departure as they watched with
amazement a leap that cleared the
steps. AnxiousIy they leaned from
the window as engine responded 70
his shifting of gears and the car
lurched down the boulevard toward
the central road with reckless dis, O.
gard for village traffic regulations
fehdIeton was careful driver but
as ne rev along the road full speed
ahead he skinned the wheels of a
milk wagon, skirted the tail of a dog
and cut the edge of a curb nasturtiIIn3
bed Failing fn cioxx- Jo.,-a