The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-09-17
Eoening Story
Cupid Hath Ears.
BY A. MARIA CAwFoRp.

D a. manila Ia w i O1At(s
IT am always glad to find a widow
at house party" chuckled Ned Nc
Crae. Then 1 am sure I won't be
bored. One is certain to be amused
with one of the species around.
wonder why old MacNelson still fol-
lows in Hortense's wake! If she had
wanted him, she'd have taken him
long ago."
From her comfortable place in. a
hammock under wide spreading
trees. Lila Marshall regarded Ned
where he sat on a low stool near
enough to keep the hammock swaying
she drawled lazily. "Horty has sense.
Let her enjoy life as long as she CAM
Do you think that Mac as a husband
would measure up to Mac the lover?
I'll say he won't. Look at my worse
| half, playing tennis on a hot morning
like this, trying to fool himself that
he is young enough to attract little
Peggy O'NeiE Pass the chocolates.
old boyi My disillusionment hasn't
affected my appetite yet"
"Oh, I say, you're jealous of that
child. Aren't you the silly one when
it's plain as day your good old scout
| sees that the child is crazy about
Mac and that the presence of Hor-
tense is a real thorn in the child's
quivering flesh? He's just entertain
ing her to keep her from missing
her to death the first two days we
were here, until Hortense arrived?"
Lila sat up straight. 'Is that the
truth ?" she demanded. IF it Is
you just get your six feet of good
once and make Peggy O'Neil have
| the time of her life!"
Ned stretched himself and busted
a fleck of imaginary dirt from his
! spotless flannels. You're a cruei
woman to rush me around after a
feathers yet. I don't like them be-
fore they're seasoned. It's so much
more comfortable to talk to a finished
| product like you. A man doesn't have
to exert himself
| Lila grinned indulgently "And he's
\ GO on, brace up, Nedt You're a good
sort. Assume your own responsible.
| ties in the world. A real love would
do wonders for you"
! 1t was not until that evening al
| dinner that complication of affairs
| guests. Peggy O'Nei1 was the person
| ification of springtime. In a little
| apple green crock, and wisp of flesh
| colored tulle displaying rather than
hiding the beauty of her white throat
and arms, she made a striking con-
I
around whose flashing black eyes and
too red lips the acid of time was al
ready etching unmistakable lines. A
man would have had no heart If he
| had not been attracted to Peggy that
night, her fresh, innocent loneliness
her big, dream filled eyes. her flatter-
ing attention to those around her
| Lila's shrewd eyes soon saw evidence
that she had certainly started some
| thing when she had sent handsome
Ned McCrae toward the tennis court
that morning. For Ned, after years of
philandering,>~ seemed hard hit" by
the sweet young girl just out of school.
And MacNelson for the first time In
| his three year arduous pursuit of the
gay, fascinating widow was watching
Peggy with an undeniable light in his
face.
Afterward when there was dancing
in the ig ballroom on the third floor,
| it appeared even to Hortense that
good, dependable Mac was rowing at
blast. And just then, fate stepped in
and took a hand in the game.
Mac had been out somewhere on
the lantern-decked balcony with the
pretty exponent of spring.ime when
he suddenly presented himself before
Hortense. "Girl,"I he said. I've got
the devil Of a toothache. What in the
way out here in the country? I've
taken on a couple of drinks but they
don't help it a bit"
! Hortense rose quickly. There
seemed to be a motherly quality in
| the touch of her white hand on his
arm "Come on down stairs to the
den and I'll fix you up! I'll stop. on
| the way and get my medicine case out
| of my room. 1 travel prepared for
any and all emergencies"
spoken like a true widow"
| laughed one of the men sitting near.
When Hortense entered the coy
little den a few, minutes later she
found poor Mac huddled on the
| couch, his face buried in the cush-
ions. Nothing on earth can so I'M
nerve a man as a cruelty aching
| molar when he is miles away from
dental help. Here, swallow this!"
she commanded, sitting down beside
him. She gave him a little white
tablet Then III paint around the
tooth with iodine and aconite and by
that time the maid will be here with
!