The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-03-11
Eoening Story
White Goods and Peggy.
BY RAY LEWIS.

stacks the snowy plHoWcaseS anu
sheets and towels. Brown. & Co., on
whose weekly payroll Peggy's salary
appeared. as very small item, was
having its annual white goods sale,
and it always stirred in Peggy's do
mestic heart longings for a home of
her own. Her dreams of home were
literally illustrated with pictures of
stocked linen closets, exquisitely ap-
pointed dining tables and buffet draw
ers filled with finely laundered nap
kins and scarves and doilies- All the
harder to bear were the dingy table
cloths and too seldom changed towels
of her boarding house.
The way to make goods these
dreams was to marry And all Peggy
had to do to be married was to say,
Yes, Henry" But she hadn't been
able to bring herself to tie point of
saying, Yes, Henry" because she
wanted to say, Yes, jim" Yet how
could one say yes to question one
had never been asked?
Henry was an assistant floorwalker
and very popular with the girls on
account of his clothes. his repartee
and his Willingness to show them a
good time All of which character
istics Peggy admitted were excellent
but after all not the only ones essen
! tial for good husband.
For instance, Jim at times dressed
shabbily, was far from quick with his
! tongue and hadn't ever shown her
what the other girls would have con-
sidered much of a time at all. But
whenever Peggy thought of Jim, she
! thought of him as a person who would
/ wear WELL" and what finer quality
! could the man have with whom you
expected to pass from youth to old
age?
But she had not seen Jim for sew
| eral months-in fact, she had heard
lind efinitely that he had gone south.
/ AS the short January day drew to
close and the lights twinkled thru
out the store for the benefit of the
hurrying shoppers. Peggy rested
headachy brow on her hand and tried
| to bring herself to a decision. She
knew that Henry would be waiting
ioutside and that some time during
+ the walk home he would probably
put his frequent question; Wen, ola
girl, when are you and me going 10
| tie up?"
made up her books she went to the
| dressing room, took down her coat and
hat and walked slowly out into the
chilly night. Henry was waiting at
the corner.
Some weather. all right said
Henry. You ought to be wearing
regular fur coat. grille. Well, one of
these days''-and he winked signifi-
cantly Then, Anything on for to-
night" he asked.
Peggy hesitated. ''No-o-o. she said
at last
''WelI. I'll be around about s. and
we'll talk a few things over. Got to
leave you here to see a man." He
lifted his hat with elaborate courtesy
and turned down a side street.
Peggy felt a sense of respite, but
after all, she reflected, it was only for,
a couple of hours. Then she was going
to say. Yes, Henry"
Eight O'Clock brought Henry, his
sleek hair brushed to a line, a carna-
tion in his buttonhole.
And he didn't waste any time in pre-
liminaries Ready to set the day,
Peggy?' he asked the moment he had
established himself in the least uncom-
forta BILE arm chair the boarding house
parlor afforded.
course I want to get married some
Gay and have home
Sure you do" said Henry. 'and
here's the man that will get one for
you-a couple of furnished rooms as a
starter. and some day a regular swell
apartm ent."
Peggy involuntarily burst forth, "Oh,
Henry, not furnished! Couldn't we do
that ourselves?"
Spend a lot of money for. stuff
when you can hire it twice as cheap.
Nix on that. girl. Us for the furnished
| rooms and our meals OUT
Peggy saw her reas ms for marrying
Henry gradually disappearing. But she
reminded herself that~it wasn't pos
sible she would he willing TO marry
him just for home.
Come now, be a good girl and say
, you'll marry meio pleaded Henry.
Peggy looked very desirable as she
sat opposite him, her hands folded,
her eyes the color of velvet pansies,
her lips tremulous.
Peggy sighed. Perhaps any old
home was better than no home at all.
Bravely she prepared to say the words
which she knew would bring Henry's
arms about her. WELL she began
slowly.
The doorbell rang violently. Peggy
! Bumped up to open the door, not sorry
for the interruption. On the step
stood a tall broad-shouldered person
who smiled with evident pleasure as
face. 1t was Jim.
She brought him in and introduced
him to Henry, whose face assumed
the aspect of a very black thunder
shower.
| Peggy endeavored to keep the ball
! of conversation tossing lightly about
but it always fell with a duh thud
when thrown to Henry. In despera-
ton Peggy said the first thing which
came into her head. What do you
think of the furnished rooms instead
of a regular little home?"
Jim looked surprised. That's
funny you hit on that. / just went
to look at a little bungalow today,
| big enough for two. I'm sick of fur
nished rooms
Are you going. to be married 30
asked Peggy.
/ Il want to be. but I don't know
about the girl" said Jim, gloomily.
Same here" growled Henry.
! Bungalows are lovely, said Peggy,
hastily It was bad enough having the
two evidently trying to sit each other
out without becoming involved in
personalities.
I /. But presently Jim rose and held out
his hand. wish me luck about the
girl" he said. I've got to co.
/ Every bit of luck in the world.
/ jim said Peggy, and if Jim wonder
ed why the hand she gave him was
| cold or why her lips trembled as she
spoke he gave no sign.