The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-09-27


Josefa sang meckingiy. keeping time
with head and foot.
"win the flame that you're so rich in
Build fire in the kitchen,
Or the little god of love turn the
spit, spit, spit?"
Ending with a dance merry enough
to cure a hypochondiac. But it did
nothing of the sort to her sole speeta-
tor. Bess Leech, her some time chum,
was deep in very angry blues. Il
think you might have a little pity for
my head" she scolded: TITS splitting
Il came here in hope of quiet-and
consolation-and you're so cheerful
it's wildly disgusting"
why not be cheerful? Praise be.
I'm not contemplating matrimony on
the grace of God,-and expectations"
straight from the couch where she
had thrown herself, to say acridly:
Sour grapes, my dear! You know
you were quite mad about Wilmot-
and he has the same as confessed to
me, you attracted him-until / came.
mot REALLY" Josefa drawled. go
ing off into a gale of laughing that
made Bess sob angrily: II laugh to
think of you as the Angel of Deliver
ance, Elizabeth Betsy" Josefa ex-
planned when she could speak; with
your red hair, and the way you dance.
When you give your whole mind, and
body to it, nobody's Salome,-not the
loroginal blown lin the-bottle article has
! anything on you"
you! You're = disgusting" Bess
painted. ct won't stay here to be
Knocked II thought you were my
/ friend. not a Jealous cat" Bess re-
turned, however, without making
motion of departure. Josefa smiled
behind her hand.
"Better have lunch before you CO."
she said Swear 1 won't poison you,
no matter if I am jealous, and cat
Fact is Betsy 'Lizabeth, I believe
you're suffering the pangs of hunger
even more than love. Tell me, what
did you have for breakfast %
"Quite all I wanted, thank you,
Bess answered with her gravest dig
nifty, speaking truth literal, and fiction
actual She had had all she wanted
of rather stale. crackers and water
from the tap, but now there was
void sensation conducive to weakness
and trembling hands. Josefa knew it,
but was too kind, in spite of her rail-
| lery, to stress the point. Me myself
has a bear appetite" she said over her
shoulder. Keep house, please, till
come again; I shant be long"
She came back quickly to find that
Bess had sobbed herself to sleep.
Josefa looked at her with kind eyes,
| If merry ones murmuring, IF heaven
doesn't help these babes in the woods
I'm afraid they're in a bad way"
/ But nothing of that was in her voice
and manner when she reused Bess to
sit at a table we'll and beautifully
spread, and to find further the be-
loved Wilmot Just entering the door.
and saying: You here? Joe fooled
me. I thought she was cooking in
my honor"
Tin a designing person you know"
| Josefa retorted, always something
Iup my sleeve. This time it's some
thing for the pair of you-a chance
to honeymoon in a heavenly cottage
for six weeks or so, rent free, and do
work enough meanwhile to take you
half thru the winter"
Bess bridled at that but Wiimot,
otherwise Billy Johnson, said half
shamedly: "Mighty good of YOU. Tell
US some more
After the more had been told,
specifically the illustrating of book
that might lead to something perna-
nent, he dropped shamed eyes saying
huskiiy: "Joe-I--we really don't
deserve this of YOU
By her showing she had ''happensd'
to hear of the chance. NWilmot thought
the happening had been really an offer
to herself, which she had diplomat
ical1y diverted his way, knowing his
need. He wanted to thank her; some
how the words stuck, choked back by
memory of vainglorious boasts to his
new love. Josefa might have had him
for the taking. With BesS it was in
ldeed a matter of catching on the re-
bound" And he had the grace to be
heartily shamed by this brand of re-
lvenge. Well he would work hard, SO
as to do Joe credit with the publisher,
meantime keeping a wary eye for any
thing that might lessen in any way
his obligation. He had been rather
Appalled, by the prospect of matrimony
without money scarcely the price OF
la wedding ring. But how gainsay q
sweetheart extremely tempefamentali
Sure, in her lies salvation for her lover
land his money. Bess was almost a
genius, but lacking in practically.
She could never stand alone, for all
her looks, her charm. Wilmot had not
withstood her. but had shivered al
thought Of taking the plunge.
] She ate heartily of Josefa's provid-
ings. Certainly she had an appetite
for any fate. But, hunger once APP
peased, she began to ruminate-tc
mill over things in what she was
pleased to call her mind, with result:
rather startling. Josefa was plotting
to separate her from Wilmot She
must be made to understand that BesS
would never permit him to be patron
. lied by her. What if she was good
friends with John Brennan, head OF
the big publishing firm whose WORD
made or marred coming illustrators
If Josefa had meant fairtr she would
never thus have taken things in hel
own hands. Rather she would have
suggested to Brennan sending fol
Billy johnson and settling things mar
to man.. No Josefa was plotting, Il
show Billy what she could do for hin
I do n h i'm fro AcG nd Nv ~
J by appropriate him.
Hence, in her haughtiest drawI, sh'
said, rising from the table: 81 thinl
Well be going Wilmot-to the club
you know. Icy Biffski may be Their,
! if we go early. You can tell hin
| Nnllr ideas for Costumes. ,-r,,, lr,n1nr h