The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-11-29
Euening Story
Educating Caleb.
81 a. ". PEACH.

$50 I think a man in choosing a
wife should go at it as he would a
business proposition: then he is on
solid ground and not up in the clouds
from which he may tumble later on
with bump. I have studied a list
of available girls and have decided
that your daughter is the one. Mr..
Madison. Have I your permission to
lay the matter before her?"
Mr.. Mattison leaned back in his
deep library chair and gazed thru his
bushy brows at the frank open fea
turcs of the man opposite him. The
older man smiled inwardly as he re-
marked openly: Mr.. Andrews, do
not object to your laying the matter
before Edna. 1 know enough of you
to know that as far as character is
concerned and the ability to give a girl
a good home, you are all right. As to
making business proposition of the
matter of a wife. why, / have my
doubts. I would like to see you try
When Andrews's tall muscular fig
ure had vanished down the walk from
the pleasant Mattison home. Mr.. Mat
tison sent for Edna. She came in, rosy
from some outdoor recreation, her
brown eyes sparkling, her bright hair
holding still the imprisoned sunlight.
Sit down. Ted; I must put you
wise as you say it. to something,
her father announced.
"a secret-good!" she answered.
You bet it is. Andrews has been
here, and he-well, he has a business
proposition" Madison began and went
on to outline Andrews's idea of love
affair.
Edna listened with grave eyes that
at the same time were seething with
amusement. $50 I am the party of
the second part? ?" she queried What
an ideal Go out to win a girl as you
would buy a sack of potatoes!"
Andrews is simply out of his ele-
ment, that's all. He was an orphan,
grew up in one of those schools. and
has been fighting his way up in bust
ness; SO he doesn't know
81 should think he didn't! Well,
I'll teach himi"
Now, lass, be good to him. You
are the girl he selected from a long
list, after he had gone over the points
of each one. Anyway, don't be too
hard on him, but a bit of education
might help"
II think so. You keep weather
eye out, dad, and see what happens.
Andrews came the next day in his
car. Edna was ready for him, ready
for what she thought would be a
highly entertaining afternoon with
a new kind of male. She discovered
Immediately that he would need a lot
of educating.
He took her to the home he had
bought, a delightful spot command
ing a view of the river and the sea-
AS they finished their stroll about.
he paused and said simply. 'I wish to
offer you this home. Miss Mattison,
"Ard yourself with it?" she ques-
toned.
"Of course" he replied, a bit puz-
zled. LAS to my character and bust
ness, your father has all the facts,
h. mill ~ ria11
He does need educating" she ex-
claimed to herself Yes. but you left
something out of your propositions
commodity called love Doesn't that
enter in?"
That is a minor matter and will
follow in due course"
rs it?" she demanded, a little
angry. ut is important to me. [
want to be wooed and won-and
loved"
He looked at her quietly. and she
saw new light in his eyes, dim
came over her that he was desir-
able-clean and fine in character,
of the type who are true to one
woman until the hills give up their
dead.
Look" she said gently, "T want
you to come 60 a little good time. at
my home tonight Now don't say you
won't"
He came, looking the quiet strength
that was in him. Puzzled and awk-
ward at first, he thawed out. A.. One
the men who evidently knew some
thing of him let him to tell stories
of the lumber camps of the far north,
where his business called him each
year. They were fascinating tales.
All in all, 1t was an interesting eve
ming, and she knew that part of his
had begun.
She saw to IL that If continued
She drew him from his business into
her pastiines. She discovered a deep
bubbling stream of quiet fun in him:
she saw that he was getting more and
more in love-but he didn't know
it! Now and then she caught some of
her flirtatious friends trying to play
with him, attracted by his grave
air of assurance and COM
rnand, but they gave him up. She
smiled as she watched. and gradually,
tho she fought it, she felt a feeling