The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-12
Eoening Story
Making Believe.
BY A. w. PEACH.

she was dusty from khe long rae 10
the village; the old buggy was indeed
almost on its last legs" and. of
course, Prince, ancient as he was, had
to make believe he was mortally
frightened at a. big, red and yellow
roadster that swung by.
The little group of summer visitors
stood on the corner and he was in their
midst, standing tall and straight in his
with polite amusement, and she could
not blame them. She knew she flush
ed under the tan on her cheeks She
had never been more uncomfortable
in her life.
Then Prince reared, and with swift
strides the tall figure had swung to
Princes head Alice saw in the gray
eyes lifted to hers the same amuse-
ment, mixed with an intentness that
she did not try to analyze.
'T don't wonder your horse was
| frightened at that car: its colors are
| a bit loud" his pleasant voice said.
She found tongue enough to say
that old Prince was merely making
believe, and drove on knowing that
she was cutting anything but a grace
| full and impressive figure.
| 81 just wish could get a chance to
show him!" she said to herself with
a little anger. II suppose he thinks
I am just country girl--a rube-ess.
| On her way home, with the memory
| of his amused glance in her mind, she
| planned what she would do to him If
she got the chance. She had given up
| her training as a nurse to help her
| father and mother on the old home
! place. She thought she knew enough
| OF life to understand most men, and
she reasoned that she would have a
! little amusement on her own behalf il
! the chance came.
| The next day the chance did come.
She was busy in her mothers be-
| loved flower garden when she saw
the tall figure in fishing toys come
stalking up the path. Her heart
Hello, Maid of the Flowers he
the brook and thought I would ask
permission to bide a wee"
She was embarrassed a bit, for
again he had caught her in a plain,
| bingham, working gown; but she
planned rapidly. She was determined
| to show him that she was not to be
| laughed at.
She welcomed him, and as supper
time was near at hand she induced
| him to stay.
She almost forgot in that en-
| chanted hour what her dire purpose
was; for he chatted so pleasantly with
her father and gave her mother the
quiet courtesy that 10 born of the
Afterward she hurried to her room
and changed TO a gown that she knew
set off her dark hair and eyes, the
rose of her cheeks and the bronze of
her skin. He, on the other hand, was
CARRIED in the rough togs of fisher
man. He would suffer this time.
In the coy summer house, while
/ the long evening twilight Jagged,
| they talked. She made UP her mind
she would flirt with him outra geously.
II n L.
his quiet enjoyment of her mood and
manner, but the Irritating amusement
that he had shown in her appeared
again.
| Only when he left her did his at
tftude change; then as he held her
hand in farewell he said, quietly, ct
want you to ask me to come again;
and Just to please me will you wear
the Bingham gown you wore among
the fIowers?"
Too surprised to question him,
puzzled, too, she assented.
She watched him as he disappeared
into the dusk, and she stood a little
while In silence. She knew. then. that
/ of all men she had ever met he APP
pealed to her most.
| But is he using me just to enter
tain himself? Why is he so amused !?
Why does he want to see me again
and in that homely gingham?" she
questioned herself, but vainly.
He came not once but twice, and
the last time he told her he could
come but once more. The informa-
ton sobered her, for in her heart
there was yearning Cor him that had
Esrown and grown in the mysterious
way that heart finds heart.
His amused attitude had continued,
except in rare moments. She had
tried to meet it in every way but
failed. For his last visit. she made up
her mind she would be herself.
She dressed for his visit with no
deliberate aim at effect. and after the
quietly enjoyable supper walked with
him to the summer house.
She busted herself while the light
lasted with her sewing; then when the
! afterglow faded on the western noun
tains she laid the work down. With
a, little ache in her-heart over the
him quietly:
viii you tell me, Landon.'-she
had used his name for some time
in the easy familiarity of summer
friends-"5ust why have amused you
so? Please tell me. L know 1 am "a
country girl and uncouth-"
| Hush!" he said quickly. Then he
/ came suddenly and sat down beside
her, leaning slightly Upward her. II
am sorry if you have seenany sign of
my amusement; hardly know that it
existed. 1t has pleased me to see you
trying to be something that the Lord
/ never intended you to bel'
She rose, her checks flaming Then
all the tiRe he had known she was
making believe!
He caught her hand. He drew her
| down clase to HON.
Don't be angry" he said gently.
II ought not to be-" she answered
/ submitting.
There was a little silence; then he
said: II knew how you felt that first
meeting. but when L saw you 1 knew
| something more. Because of 1t came
this way fishing. Because of that
am here now"
She tried to hush the trembling that
went over her lest he know. Was he
playing still?
You played at make believe except
| tonight: you have been your own
sweet. true self. But have not played
at make believe Don't you think you
ought to reward me ?" his tender voice
| said