The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-11-15
Eoening Story
My Day.
BY MARTHA Nice. WILLIAMS

John Inglis began it-very badly at
that. Which is not at all like him
commonly he is a rock of refuge for
anybody in the neighbornood who let's
herself get over-girled. You see he
can do anything-cars, gated saddle
horses, two canoes on the mill pond,
delightful big old house, with an
adorable aunt to play propriety at
need, money in both pockets. a sweet
disposition, and the most engaging
brand of ugliness, unique, even distin-
guished.
He claims to have helped rear me
and intimates that he is not proud OF
the job. 1 know how to take that
as CUFF for public consumption. Pri-
vately he looks another stoFy-tko
he hadn't ever asked me outright, my
mind was quite made up to marry
him, when 1 was good and ready
say after 1 was rising twenty-five.
Maybe I ought to have told him-but
it takes SO little to make a man give
himself airs - even John. Then
really couldn't conceive his giving
Lady Loring a thought, except as my
friend.
Yet he called up at an ungodiy
hour-just after daybreak. wake up
the lady bird and have her ready to
ride with me-" he said. your toys
will fit her-she'll look fine in my
Mexican saddle-and tell her to let
AeE nalE IIy-lC Is d Qea0 match TO
TrimbIe Toes name and tail"
The impertinence of him! 1t took
my breath a second. I flared out at
him like house Attire, but he only
laughed back. Don't be foolish,
Nancy. Green eyes don't become you
not one bit" Then as I gasped,
you shall have roses washed in dew
If you're good. Otherwise-well,
the Lady Bird won't be Jealous of sis
ter blossoms" OF course, froze after
that-bade him come in a hurry
routed up lady-she was horribly
cross until she knew why-then she
asked me as she went into the bath
room: How rich is this scarecrow of
yours, Nan? mean in real money
belongings don't interest mel must
invest myself for hard cash, you
know"
st think he has as much as seven
dollars" 1 flung after her, SO angry
could barely keep my voice steady.
I wanted to tell her she'd be lucky to
get on a bargain eounter-but didn't
being hostess cramps your style
sometimes.
When they rode off to breakfast at
the Pines I had to laugh-John rode
so easy and lady so hard. It was
about her third time, in saddle
knew she wanted to hold on to Trim
BILE Toes maHe-but she didn't
must say she was game.
just then ddd game 06WHs WedfiAS
mostly a dressing gown and a worried
look. Mother was ill--he had called
the doetor-now 1t was up to me to
call off the garden party due that
afternoon-mother wasn't able to en-
dure noises or chatter, sQuealing, mo-
tors, and so forth, to say nothing OF
jazz, even on the lawn. A pretty big
order-but luckily 1 waited till after
breakfast to start carrying it out. The
riders were back then-Lady with her
nose burnt scarlet at the tip. John
lifted her aewn just as tho she had
been me, and set her on the piazza.
SO I had to say: ooh, do your boots
pinch. dear? I'm so sorry! Get them
off quick" John frowned a little
but forgot 1t when he heard the pickle
1 was Inland like an angel got me
out of it. Went home and took the
party bodily off my hands. I loved
him for it until he called up to tell
me everything was arranger, and
wound up with: "Of course you won't
like to leave your dear mother, SO I'm
coming to fetch the Lady Bird in time
to help Aunt Jane receive"
That made me muFderous-but L
had NOT time even to see red-for here
came the Lorton car, with Jessie Far
rel and Elsie Duke inside-all packed
around with bags, and suit cases, and
things, and explaining that they had
come this Thursday instead of waiting
until SATURDAY, Which tloy were ca
pected, because they were coming any
way to the party, and Mrs. Lorton
sighed over the price of gasoline. But
after all, it wasn't SO bad-I called up
John telling him to bring the big car
not the Foadster-that is, unless he
wanted to make three trips tete-a-tete.
When mother had fallen asleep I
tiptoed into Lady's room-found her
whimpering on the bed, her blistered
nose dripping cold cream. her feet
swollen two sizes, and red as beets.
"But-they-a-are not-the-w-
worst" she spluttered, "I-I-can't
s-sit down-I'm SO so-sore. But I
must go. Even tho it Seems I
can't hardly stand"
"Of course, you must go-you shall,
If have to get a litter I said crisp
Undetermined John SHOULD see the
wrecking was in the acute stage.
Lady's eyes were in commission-the
most dangerous things about her-but
somehow they didn't seem formidable
with a red nose in between
Elsie Duke is my evil genius-she's
taken that first aid thing-by time
she got thru with her Lotions and
salves and grease paints outright. she
had Lady on foot, looking bare shade
the worse for the ride. Keep your
veil down, and walk Spanish" she gig
gled, land sit out most of the dances"
she admonished as they sat waiting for
John. Instead came the big car, with
the handsomest young creature I ever
saw at the wheel. He sang out bare
headed, I'm nobody but Tommy. Got
to stow my load shipshape-eld John
ordered a call for one more passenger"
.She can have wou room" I said
primly-it was all 1 could manage
with the crowd leaving me behind.
Tommy grinned, eff you were dressed
I'd take you in my lap" he said. See
that you are dressed when I come back
for you-unless you want to ruin my
sweet disposition
The impertinenti But he didn't
have to wait. Mother fairly made me
go-and wear my pale blue frock
with the pink roses on it. Tommy
was in the roadster. knew him
perfectly If I had never seen him
Johns step-cousin and sworn friend.