The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-07-17
An Unsuccessful Bachelor.
BY MARY MORRISON.


love, mani You don't know what
you are missing. Just look att us.''
And always the echo would follow,
But just wait until Peggy jerome
CONS home from Honolulu
To say that Roger King became
FESTIVE after a week of this is putting
it mildly. After two weeks, he be-
gan to show signs of positive i'll
humor. And when, on the first day
of the third week, he stopped in at
i the Tom Stedmans for a friendly chat
and Mrs. Tom pulled out a letter with
Honolulu postmark, saying, II just
must read you this letter from Peggy
to show you how awfully bright she
is" he must be excused for saving I'M
der his breath:
Damn Peggy" That's what New
ton did to Roger King, by nature a
most polite and well hammered young
man.
You tell me again what a bright,
beautiful, bound -to-make-any-man-
happy sort of girl Peggy Jerome is,
and I'll be off for Colorado so fast
that you can't see me for the dust.
| Is it a crime for a man to be single %
he ragged, when they protested.
'Yesi" answered Newton with one
accord.
"Wen. I won't be reformed by
Honolulu Peg, anyway" he retorted
rudely.
So Newton was warned and became
| wiley and artful and conspired against
him. '-'-'-7N
1t was the night of the jennings
dance. Roger was looking forward
to splendid time. He adored dane
| ing, and as he tied his tie with great
care in front of the looking glass he
hummed "Dardanella" gayly He
climbed into his car and started off, at
perfect peace with the world, declar-
ing that since he had stopped his
friends attempts at playing cupid by
one damn" and two rude remarks,
Newton was the best town this side of
heaven and he'd fight any man who
said otherwise.
Mrs. Jennings met him, beamins.
I'm SO glad you've come at last,
! Roger. she said sweetly I've been
teillng some one all about you and 1
yant you to meet her. right away
If she can only dance, I'm her de-
voted slave for life," swore Roger.
not" %
! Dance! Talk" exclaimed Mrs. Jen-
nings rapturously. why, young man,
she IS the most wonderful dancer. the
brightest conversationalist, the"
Lead me to her" cried Roger. in
terrupting, Whats her name?'
| Peggy Jeromet" announced his
! hostess, She's the prettiest-''
/ But Rogers back had disappeared
out of sight down the hall before she
had time to finish
F., Plague take it," he cried, as he
made for the door that led into the
safety of the garden. He sank onto a
stone bench and gazed fierceIy at the
moon. which smiled back at him be-
nignly, quite untouched by his ill
humor. Here he was, enjoying life
and thinking Newton an earthly para
dise-when this Peggy creature had TO
loom onto the horizon again and spoil
it all.
"Drat it ALL" he ragged, They
haven't even mentioned her for six
weeks,"
A tempestuous. furious rush which
ended in the sudden occupation of the
other end of his bench made Roger
jump up in surprise.
oh, beg your pardon" said a mu-
seal voice, which somehow reminded
Roger of springtime in the woods
| when the call of the birds mingles
with merry noise of overlooking
breok. L came out in such hurry
did not notice anyone was here.
You see" she continued. after a
there is man in there that would
rather die than meet. 1 hate himi"
Good" exclaimed Roger, full Of
his grievance, Il rather think we're
kindred souls. There's girl inside
that 1 just won't meet, even il it
means that I've got to go to Colorado
to escape her.
Whats the matter with her
asked the girl. I'm wager that for
sheer unpleasantness she's not patch
on my man."
i She's awful groaned Roger. the
tortures of his few weeks in Newton
sweeping over him. Point by point,
know she can Guido your friend,
any day"
well. let's match them up. then.
ir1
You starti'
ITO begin with, she's very bright
do hate very bright people," began
Roger.
one crime worse than being bright it
is being eligible retorted the girl.
"She is bound to make any man
happy" exclaimed Roger in disgust.
He is so handsome and strong.
Ughi" cried his companion.
'She plays beautifully on the
ukuleIel" continued Roger.
What" demanded the girl alb
.ruptly.
'swho are you?" she interrupted.
Excuse me. I should have intro
duced myself Roger said. My name
is Roger King-why, what on earth
is the matter -
The girl was looking at him in horri-
fled amazement. Il thought you were
in there she gasped. jumping to her
feet, poised for flight
stop commanded Roger. do you
, mean that you were running away
from me-that 1 am the unpleasant
creature who is so eligible and hand
some and strongi"
Yes faltered the girl. You see.
they kept writing me about you. every
letter received was fun of your do
ings and sayings, and I became rather
, fed up. I'm afraid In fact, I wrote
them about two months ago that If
/ they couldn't write to me without
hauling you in they need not expect
any answer from me. I didn't mean
: to tell you this so brazenly-but you
. see. they did ram you down my throat
sou
Good Lord" CALCULATED Roger,
You're Peggy Jeromei"
ssXas hraafhed the GIRL