The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-01-11
Epening Story
The Majors Chastenings.

dSheup Herf accent intermediate De-
tween amusement and faint contempt
"Be-because 1 don't want you TO
shut your door in my face. You
women are so acknowledgement us
beyond reason, then pretend to be
amazed at-what is your own doing"
, the major spluttered, clinching the
arms of his chair so hard his knuckles
showed white.
las how? Examples. pleased" Mella
returned demufely. But talking of
examples, while 1 think of it, permit
me to call attention to my own case.
II let my angry passions rise. think
what a crouch I'd be-with the stead
fast provocation of my name"
whats the matter with your name?
Anyway. you can change it, the ma
jor retorted. grinning. Mella lifted
her eyes. "Mella. M-Ella.'' she ejacu
lated. Martha Elinor would have been
bad enough as the penalty of grand
mothers. but Mella-M ella Muiry-why.
sound like a counting-out rhyme"
"Your own fauIt-you know you
can change to Mrs. Elliot Jameson
whenever you have a mind to do it."
the major said airily; Mrs. Elliot
Gore Jameson on your visiting card"
Mella smiled. 1.-THE prospect tempts,
but it strengthens character. to over
come temptations"
"a heap easier and p1easanter to
succumb to them-witness this" the
major said audaciously, kissing her
full on the lips. the while he held her
close.
Now. should be wanting to swear.
But I don't" Mella said composedly.
wriggling free. you seeI knewthere
would be toll to pay whenever 1 pro
voked you into an outright proposal
"Soi You were sure you could?" the
major asked. half angry. wholly
amused.
Dead sure!" Mella flung at him.
.Thank you fora great deal. In
NV own name and-Mrs Jamieson's."
the major said stiffly, getting up with
a motion of finality. But after a step
doorward he stopped short to say, L
would like a bill of particulars. Was
I slaughtered on general principles or
to make a weekend holiday?
Mella appeared to ponder deeply
before replying, Something OF potn.
Every man needs to find himself-not
wholly irresistible. Women have
spoiled you, SO your need was pitiable.
You are chargeable with contributory
negligence, to say the least. yet there
must be a lot to you, else you'd pc IN
sufferable and past redemption.
rMore thanks!' the major snapped
again preparing to leave. Il suppose
I may offer congratulations-to Dr.
beverly. You'll send me wedding
cards, 1 hope"
aCan't-there won't be any. But
Won shall have an obituary if ever L
am a widow"
The major rushed away. What ne
said in the wide privacy of the lawn
certainly would not look well in print.
MelIa, nodding to herself IN tne
mental mirror. sighed a sprightly sigh
peeyed-a right smart. I'm glad OF 1t.
Do him good. A man naturally mates
other rnef1-i1 case of gfrl-Dut
rival his own size wouldn't be nearly
so wholesome for the adorable Jamie
son as poor Billy Beverly, who has to
be helped if he is to make love decent
Nv, Billy is a sort of compend or the
metals-as good as gold, as bulky as
silver, as dull as lead. BY token OF
all which l shall put him out of his
misery-in the happy fashion of turn
ing him over to Miss joey Dancy, to
whom he viii be as mama from
heaven"
Mella, you perceive. was rather
lawless young woman, as well she
might be, having never known the
chastenings of brothers, sisters, cou-
sins or aunts. Sole heir to doting par.
ents reasonably rich, the wonder was
not that she flirted or danced or sang
or rode Or sat silent exactly as pleased
her, but that it pleased her to be for
the most part singu1arly delightful
and considerate entity, eager to give
pleasure, even where she knew the re-,
turn would be jealous criticism.
Also and further, she had certain
social prescience that made her adept
in strengthening tangles. BILLY Rever-
ly needed wife with money and man
a cement, if he Were ever to be any
h1It md tlln
Joey Dancy had money, and was
openly in the marriage market-but
she would hardly have looked at Billy
If Mella had not SO much more than
tolerated him as to make the major
furious. There had been a feud, po-
Htely yelled, betwixt the two girls
since Mella had put up her hair. If
joey could be made to believe she had
snatched Billy a brand from the Mella
burning. There ,Mella giggled and
went off for a spin in her small cleo
trio, taking Billy along, and ostenta-
tiously passing three times by the
Dancy place. And at the psychological
in Passage Three she refused
Billy for the fatal third time. When
he asked: do you mean it; cross your
hearth" she nodded mournfully, whis-
pering more mournfully: At have no
heart, Billy. A bad, bad man has
taken it-and run away" Then some
how, as women will, she shed Billy
upon the Dancy piazza and whirled
away, but not until she
had said privily to him: -s'I ought not
to tell-but Joey loves you dearly. 1t
would make me mighty happy to see
you happy with her."
So she was not surprised when Billy
doomed joyously next morning:
''Mella, you're a witch for guessing
and other things. Sure. I'm engaged
to Joey-day's set and everything. Old
folks gave me their blessing. Made
me feel about seven feet high
When she had said all the proper
things several times over. she got rid
of the exuberant lover, who went out
bealning with the sun. The major.
coming for what he told>himself would
he final goodby, encountered him
halfway down the lawn. misread his
face. and passed on with the briefest
Icy greeting. The ice had melted
when he came upon Meila. looking out