The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-12-30
Euening Story
What's in a Name?
BY FREDERICK HART

it had not been Impossible to con-
| meet the idea of strong language with
| Margaret Davis. She was not at all
the sort of person one would sus-
pect of using any words stronger than
the above quoted expletive, and yet
it did sound suspiciously strong when
she said it. Something was evidently
I wrong with her world.
"Oh, dear."
No doubt about it this time. Some
thing was wrong and Margaret didn't
care who knew it.
1t was 4 o'clock on the afternoon
of January I, 1920. New Years day,
when the world takes on a new lease
of existence, and every person feels
as tho he were given a fresh start.
On this day of all days it seemed
strange that a pretty girl should ex-
press such apparent dislike for things
as they were.
But Margaret had her reasons
1t was her Uncle Emerson's best
| friend who was at the bottom of the
affair Uncle Emerson was a dried
up, squeaky-voiced sort of person,
who sent Margaret a present twice a
/ year-on her birthday and on Christ
mas-and who otherwise played~ne
part in her scheme of things, she had
not seen him for years.
But it appeared that Uncle Elmer
son had a friend-''a very close and
valued FRIEND" he had stated in his
letter to her; and he had, with mad.
dening avuncular complacency, told
/ this friend to invite Margaret to make
a call on him on New Years after
noon. Worse-he had accepted for
her. and then written to say that he
had told his friend to expect her, This
letter came on the same day that the
friends" invitation had arrived.
She knew the friends" address
but not his telephone number, and
there was not enough time to write
and decline. Uncle Emerson had
simply arranged matters without con-
sulting her, and there was nothing to
do but go thru with it. She looked
forward to an afternoon spent in the
| company of some snuffy old man who
would pirate of the days gone by-who
might even pat her cheek in a senile
way. But if he does that" thought
poor Margaret, Il shall scream and
bitel'" 1t did not appear to be q
promising afternoon for her, buA
neither could the friend look forward
to much pleasure, she thought venge-
| fully as she pulled on her gloves.
The name of Uncle Emerson's friend
was George. Farquharson, Esq. This
much Uncle Emerson had stated in his
/ letter, and the name did nothing to
| improve his standing in Margaret s
mind. She set out for her call in a
very unpleasant frame of spirit.
The house was one of those brown
stone front affairs that are exactly
like every other house in the block.
She rang the bell, half prepared to
leave a card and flee. but the door
: opened before she could get at her
card case and very old, very solemn
! looking man servant stood before her.
Miss Davis? Mr.. Farquharson is
expecting you. VIII you step into the
| reception ROOM"
Margaret did as she was bid. The
reception room was a depressing
chamber. with a high ceiling and old
I -
cheerful. Margaret made mental notes
of what she would do if she had a
chance at that room. She rose and
wandered about looking at this and
that horror of the early sixties, and
her spirits sank even lower. Then
t she scarcely knew how it came about
: she felt. that some one else was in
the room, and turned to see a young
man regarding her with a friendly
smile.
l Margaret was in no friendly mood
, and she did not return the smile. She
merely regarded the young man freez-
: ingly and said, Where is Mr.. Farqu-
l harson ~
The young man looked embarrassed.
This is Miss Davis, isn't it? Er-er-
Mr.. Farquharson is-well. he" he
stopped, evidently at a loss.
Perhaps I'd better go" she said
IF Mr.. Farquharson isn't we'll
I
81 quite agree with you were his
amazing words. This room would
look better with those heavy curtains
out and some cheerful furniture in it,
y Margaret blushed to the eyes. She
had evidently been thinking aloud and
this inpertinent youth had listened.
Il beg your pardon" she said freez-
S ingly. but I called in answer to a
: letter from my uncle to see his OLD
friend Mr.. Farquharson, not to discuss
furniture wlth-with-his secretary
e she finished awkwardly, guessing a
= the probabl occupation of the young
:. man. eff Mr. Farquharson is indis
posed. will you. be so good as to tel
him that called and that I am sorry
n that I could not see him" She turned
e to go. The young man took a swift
> step forward.
!. Miss Davis he said earnestly
q please don't go. Mr.. FarquharsoT
: viii be delighted to see you. To tel
a you the truth, he did not expect such
:. a young and-such a young lady tC
: icall. From your uncle's description OF
s you, you were quite different from
Il what I see you to be-"
a Margaret's eyes blazed. Then she
- suddenly broke into laughter.
= Il confess that ! don't look forward
e to the meeting any more than Mr.
= Farquharson," she said. Uncle evil
q IDENTIFY told him things about me
n things that aren't so. I'm not a horrit
d old snuffy person like Uncle, and Tn
V afraid that Mr.. Farquharson won
like me-"
He likes you very much indeed
said the young man calmly. II,
s thought that you would be horriC
. old snuffy person, and he was pre-
pared for a dreadful afternoon. 1 an
& Mr.. Farquharson, and I came so clos
e lt0 your uncle by helping him in some
3 of his antiquarian research work; anC
have been meaning to decorate thi!
Il room ever since 1 came into the in
II heritance of this house; and il yot
!, will come with me to the sun parlor
. which is really quite attractive, W,
g will have tea
IS Margaret followed him in a daze
: In a daze she was ushered into a mos
attractive little sun room; in a daz'
she was introduced to beautiful
: white-haired old lady, who was Mr.
IFarQuharson's mother. in a daze ShI