The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-04-30

ginning to fear that Milly would IN
| deed be an old maid. which state of
! ffairs invariably seems to hurt the
mother more than the daughter. 1t is
| a sort of shock to their own pride to
| feel that they have produced some
thing which 10 man wants. Milly's
mother was delighted when, the next
| morning at breakfast, the girl ex-
pressed desire for a new evening
dress. >"Something really nice, moth
err, and a handsome wrap" a.
No homely girl can dress up and
suddenly appear to be Pavishing
fine birds and masseuse, hairdresser
and really gifted buyer for ready-to-
wear shop certainly did do wonders to
Milly on that momentous day. Dick
actually blinked his eyes bit as he
| stood at the foot of the stairway and
watched her walk slowly down. She
wore an apple-green tulle dress with a
| long, floating veil caught at the shout
ders and worn like a court train. Her
| yellow hair was held high on her head
| by a man-shaped Spanish comb and a
string of lustrous pearls circled her
slim throat Dick folded the heavy
green velvet wrap with its short cape
of ermine around her and then caught
her close to him with arms that
trembled a little. Happiness lighted
her eyes and curved her smiling lips.
You're beautiful, Milly," he said.
and then added, unsteadily, land
| you're mine. You make me think of
spring. eternal spring, and apple trees
/ in bloom
She had made a good beginning
| Aiiliy thought, as he slipped his arm
/ back of her in the automobile and,
| bending toward her, whispered. Lets
go home a. little early. I'd like you all
to myself for 4 willie.
But her period of happiness was
- =
ready in the ballroom, regal, superb in
sheathlike white satin. and fren the
time Dick entered the room everybody
there was instantly aware OF this
astonishing fact that Juanita had evil
IDENTIFY changed her mind again and
that she not only openly wanted Dick
but that she had also d scided to take
him. That it would not be an effort
less task was a foregone conclusion
adored her and thai he had beer
crushed when she had Tilted him.
Milly was instantly surrounded. fol
men naturally grarvitate TOWARD
beauty as flowers grow toward the
sun, but she was not so entirely sur.
rounded that she did not heal
Juanita's soft voice mul muir to Dick
Dick, dear, I've missed you terribly
See, I've saved half of my dances fol
you a4
In the ear turned a little toward tn,
two Milly heard Dick say, well
you're mighty kind, but I'm full up, al
but one ana Dicks voice was reas
surinety steady. There was not a hin
of regret in it.
Even when the news OF their en-
gagement spread like a little runnin,
forest fire in the dead leaves of small
talk Juanita still angled for Dick
Milly's heart under the soft green tull
; was as heavy as lead. She was just
dog in the manager. She could neye
make Dick happy, and she was keep
: ing him from Juanita, who coul(
crown his life with much Joy. Be
hind some palms that screened then
: from the ballroom where they wer
sitting out a dance, Milly turned Il
Dick and, stripping off her shinin,
new engagement ring. said heroically
Dick, you've always loved Juanita.
want you to be happy. Nothing els
really matters to me-" :
She was wholly unprepared 70
what followed, for Dick seized her il
arms that appeared to have been hun
gering for her for untold ages. H
! kissed her with q passion that kindle
the fire of her own. His heart pound
cd like the heavy waves of an angr
sea. "Oh. Milly girl" he said broken
~, II love you more than 1 ever love
anybody before. I never dreamed tina
there could be a girl in the world 70
: me like you, so beautiful, so sweet, g
: unselfish. I think that I have been Il
: love with you ever since I called yo
'Freckle Face Remember, sweet
, heart? I feel blissful contentmen
! with you that I never before expert
: enced. You're my girl. You're goin
, to be my own dear little wife. Wher
: Milly. when? Don't put me off,
! found out today that 1 could buy tn
) Henderson place way up there on tn
/ hill, if you like it. dear. Home there
,, with you waiting for me-. Whel
r Ni1ly? I love YOU SO. When?"
He was not to be denied. "Sooi
Dick. If you really want me-" she sal
: happily, but there were tears in he