The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-11-17
EDening Story
Good Patient.
By MARTHA Nice. WILLIAM


fectionH Dorothy said plaintively
with her most fetching glance. Her
sole auditor, ]. Hubert King, ESQ, ac-
cepted the tribute within at face value,
tho he made a pretense of depreciation
with That's just your awfulIy too
kindness
Impossible said Miss Dorothy,
with an accent deserving italics. 1--WE
watched and studied you ever since
you came. trying to pick a flaw. Tell
me-is there nything-anything at
all-you really can't dor"
THAT remains to be SEEN" ]. HUI
bert answered with a significant look.
Dorothy dropped her eyes, murmuring
delicately: when you see-won't you
please tell me?''
IF you promise not to sympathize,' -
from j. H, essaying the. subtle. She
clapped her hands crying joyously:
| Instead I shall felicitate you. It must
be dreadfully lonesome-this being in
a class by yourself"
She was, you perceive, wholly de-
void of conscience-at least where the
male of her species, oozing fairness,
conceit and wealth, was concerned. J.
Hubert was truly as perfect a speci-
men of the gentleman strictly hand
made as was ever turned out by tutors,
tailors, masters of each social grace,
as ever admired himself in the tiniest
French plate mirrors. He was indeed
the supreme dCul6NSheII OIL MS
worthy parents-plus the millions
thriftily accumulated in the cloak and
suit trade. They had toiled early,
married late-after the money began
rolling up, came this browning mercy,
son to inherit it. So nothing had
been spared, much less scanted, toward
his perfecting. 1t spoke we'll for his
native fiber that he had not come
thru such bringing up utterly worth
| less.
Dorothy, in the rashness of youth,
did not see that the superpolish
Tended her. also amused her-she
felt it rather the part of womanly duty
to abate it. Therefore she played will
| O. the wisp, letting him approach
within arms length, then dancing,
glancing, beyond reach or comprehen-
sion. Now and then unkindly, she
| treated herself to flattering him to
the top of his bent. He purred under
it so naively it was worth while. Be
sides she truly owed him something
for the orchids, motor parties, candy
and so on wherewith he had strewed
scene.
How dare you do it. Dot? And
how do you endure him ?" Johnny
Detmold, the child of the house, de-
manded when ]. Hubert had taken
himself impressively away.
Thru being a humane person." Dot
retorted. Don't you know how cruel
| it is to deny sugar plums to children
who expect them?"
Hmm! Must say J. H. is pretty
well grown!" Johnny said, shaking
| his head 'Fess up now. Dotsy! You
have real serious Intentions else you
wouldn't, couldn't, shouldn't ought to
| play no sich game"
"Of course I have-and the best in
tentions in the world" from Dotsy.
| Hes due to carry marks of me to his
graye-and thankfully. To learn that
| he can't buy something he wants SUI
premely will be so good for him he
twill hardly know himself"
Expect to be remembered in his
Which? Johnny bantered. She
flung her left slipper at hint had
come off when she tucked a foot IN
der herself in the hammock. Johnny
eyed it measuringly. cinderella
plus" he said gravely. whats the
number Dot or 90
Three D-and a mile too big!"
came back to him, but not rancorous-
ly, as she ran unevenly inside. From
| the stair-head she called back: 'T'n
tell on you Jack o. the Bean Stalk!
Your mother shall know how little
you respect age! I'm three months
! older than you
'And seven years wickeder-at the
very least. Jack chanted. hugging the
| slipper. Indeed I think you used to
be spider-just Been reading in a
Dug-book how the lady spiders serve
| their mates"
| I'm sorry for the one who tries to
eat you." Dorothy countered. Johnny
sighed deeply. 81. H. will afford such
| a full meal you won't have any appe-
ute left" he said judiciously. ''Stin
believe you'll get your come-up-
pahce. a fl1rt in silk is twice a flirt in
crepe And with all those millions
| my! my! the army, navy, law and
medicine. will be fighting for you
ana get left when you pick up the
crookedest stick of a1l''
For answer the other slipper came
nurtllng thru the doorway, along with
| Dorothy's wickedest laugh.
Her last laugh of that timbre Time,
trott1ng hard withal, brought her six
hours later to a crucial, vital moment
| she never forgot. She bent to hear
a feeble voice say from swathing ban
| cages: Please marry me! At once
they will come too Iate-I want to
| leave something in my place"
1t was King who implored. He had
| saved child from death under a lum-
berlng motor truck and been crushed
| in doing it-fata1ly crushed. said the
| surgeons. Struggling back to con-
seriousness he had asked for her-his
people were thousand miles away.
| Twelve hours of life remained to him
! by the word of wisdom. Dorothy
| a!one dared TO ga1nsay 1t. She caught
! his one free hand in both her own,
saying clearly: Listen! It will be
| harder to live than debut better
worth while. You must not talk of
marriage nor think of dying. I shall
stay here to prevent. A hero does not
4 shrink from anything
"You-you mean you won't be my
wife? % the weak voice half sobbed.
Not now. Weeds wouldn't in the
| least become me-" Dorothy flashed
back. Get well. Give your whole
mind to it, then Wen talk further
about it. I can't let you think SO i'll
/ of me as that would make a death
| bed bargain"
"WiH you promise?" King began.
! She cut him short with: "Only to
stay with you until I can tell your
mother you are going to live-to be
| the man she had given the world. You
have no right to sulk. because you are