The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-07-29
E0ening Story
Virginia's Idle Hour.
BY H. LOUIS RAYBOLD.


takes a dislike to a person and there's
no arguing her out of IT, It's a pity
she feels that way about Stuart He
seems to me the very man for YOU"
The two girls were having a fare
well talk as Marion packed her going
away suitcase, for in just a few hours
that young lady was scheduled to be
married amid a profusion of flowers,
bridesmaids and flower girls, beneath
huge wedding bell at that very mo-
ment being suspended in the living
room below.
"It'z SO unreasonable" protested
the yonnger girl. Just because his
| politics differ from those of the fam
iix isn't an excuse for spelling my
life"
TT lookss' said her sister, "as If you
would have to do what 1 have wanted
/ to do right along-elope. Really very
much simpler than all this fuss. How
ever, cheer up, child. You never know
what may turn up" And she gave
wise little nod of her head which Peg
| gy remembered afterward.
| At the same time that the above
conversation was taking place, the
| best man and maid of honor of the
4 forthcoming nuptials were spee&6pg
! citywards for q few last errands.
This is going to be one busy hour,
| believe me-" laughed Virginia, her
slim gloved hands taut on the wheel.
! her eyes fixed on the dusty ribbon of
road ahead. There's the change in
the order to the caterers. the button
hole bouquets for the ushers. the con-
! fetti-and. oh, various things!'
| Il suppose can nevertheless man
age time for a forty-'leventh pro-
posal,'' flashed her companionsz' Some
time. I'm hoping, youm say yes alb
sentmindedly, and then your sense Of
honor will keep you to, your word"
1t seemed to Jack Andrews that all
his life he had been pursuing the elu-
sive Virginia and never quite catching
up with her. 1t, was always just like
| today-something perpetually occu-
pied her time TO the exclusion of him.
II it wasn't a question of teas and
receptions and dinner dances, then it
was war work or settlement work or
community canning. oh, for enc sin
gle, idle hour!
At that pointin his cogitations Jack
noticed that the water in thesTadfator
was boiling furiously and that the en-
CINE seemed unusually hot.
"Slow down" he advised. III see
what's the matter"
Matter enough it proved to be. The
fan belt had broken, and combined
search of the tool box and recess be-
meath, the seat disclosed no duplicate.
In other words, two of the prinei-
pals of the elaborate wedding planned
to take place SO shortly were stranded
apparently miles from nowhere in
which Virginia had taken because it
afforded a short cut from the Ken
dalls country home to the main pike.
Il ut seems to me-" unused Jack, who
had a memory for places, that there
i is a railroads station Somewhere
about" tss.tf $3.50 G
Sure enough, a walk TO the summit
; Of the next hill revealed a line OF
track and a small station just below.
We will have to take the next
train the city and telephone out for
them to meet us and tow back the
runabout,'' decided the girl. =
a few minutes trudging brought
| them to the station where they~found
the station master locking the door.
Next train? Wall. the local goes thru
: in an hour or so. You kin flag it, -
and he turned away.
Om long seat backed against the
station wall the two young people sat
, them down prepared to cool their
! heels indefinitely. At first ehere was
, little conversations Jack was content
Ito enjoy the sn6Af mess of Virginia,
lwhile Virginia berseIfs was worrying
] considerably as to whether they would
be on hand for the ceremony.
: Somehow 1 feel as if all the prepar-
ations for this affair were being wasted
on Marion" she broke the silence sud-
denly. she is only going thru it to
2 please her mother. Her preferences
are Tor a Weuu1ng with the least posi-
=: BILE fuss and feathers"
It's lucky you and I thinl1s alike on
: such matters" said Jack calmly. re-
| CARELESS of the fact that he didn't If
: | the least know how she thought at all
! Il Virginia gave him the benefit of g
= direct gaze from her lustrors eyes
iissWleht do you mean2' she asked
: then realized that she had given hin
: the opportunity he wished.
Two people who are going to marry
> each other ought to have the sans
!, ideas aboutfsuch things Oh, Virginia
:. [ have asked you so many times t
: marry me. You always put me off
: This time. please don't evade me. vii
Eyou marry me ?"
II : At/that instant a distant rumbl,
r caught Virginia's attention, and Jacl
e was forced to repeat his question
. Dear will you marry me2"
Z Yes" Taurmured Virginia in al
I ahsent-minded way a the train sweep
: round the curve. In answer to tn
d hoisted. signal. it slowed down an,
s stopped.
4 Aboard the train Virginia. and Jack
= who wanted nothing SO much as
d chance, to take up the conversation
:, where it has been interrupted. founs
i. the surprise of their life. As the,
: walked thru the coaches in seach o
y a seat. they saw, unrnista ka bly,. Afariol
n Kendall and the man she was goin.
a to marry .
: And at that, Marion was the mos
K lnruf<led of them all. Are you elop
y ing too2'' she asked
e "EIopingi" cried Virginia. Ger
i tainlys not But-aTe your
II ! Marion nodded.
!, But your mother and all tn
guests and the minister gasped vir
'>Oh, that's all right said Mario
% airiiy. I fixed that UP a long Will
II ago with Stuart Cushing the ma
i Peg wants to marry, ,yeu~ know
3 Ao4hsr would do anything rather tina.
is let the whole affair fall thru, 50
N told Stuart TO have HIS license xead.