The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-10-01
EDening Story
Thistledown.
BY FREDERICK HART.


They're just thistledownl They
simply float along on any breeze that
offers. and never try to resist!
They're no use in this world"
Stephen Hancock's voice was Bit
ter. His wife said nothing in reply.
but silently she agreed with him. If
Molly only wouldn't wear such ex-
agserated clothes, she thought.
1T isn't the clothes" Stephen
HancOcks voice took up her idea,
and she realized that she had been
are nothing-and that's nearly liter
ally true" He smiled wanly at his
own mild witticism. Its the ideas
that the clothes stand for. All Molly's
crowd are crazy for pleasure: they
don't care a hang what's happening
in the world, as long as they have
good time"
Mrs. Hancock sighed and returned
to her book. After all, Molly was
their daughter. and perhaps her wild
ways were somewhat their fault. 1t
seemed a shame that she, who was
naturally so pretty, should spoil her
good looks by the wild garments that
she wore and ruin her health by
dancing till all hours, but that seemed
to be the way of the younger genera
ton. The ringing of the telephone
bell broke into the train of her
thoughts.
who was it?" she inquired of her
husband as he returned from the
instrument. Stephen Hancocks voice
was not cheerful.
ley" he replied. Hes going to
Mexico on business for three months
all summer-and he wants to send
his boy here to visit US. OF course
couldn't say no; but 1 don't want a
wild youngster around here. Molly
I
any one crazy without another youth
to help keep the ball rolling"
But you asked him to Gomez"
"Of course! What could I do?
only hope he won't prove too much
| of a bore; heaven knows the younger
generation are offenders in that re-
spect!"
But three days later, when young
Harry Bradley arrived at the Hancock
residence, Mr.. Hancock was forced to
make gruging retraction of some of
| his hard words. The newcomer was
tall, good-loohing youth. with pair
, of eyes that had the habit of looking
straight at one in such a manner as
to create a favorable impression at
once. Molly herself welcomed him en-
Enthusiastically
"Oh, we'll have a peach OF a time
this summer!" she cried. I'll intro
/ duce you to the crowd-we have the
best times herei Youth like it-and
| they'll like you. We need some new
men, anyway" and SO on and so
on-the usual chatter of what is call
| ed the younger set. Stephen Han
/ cock snorted at his daughters words
and did not notice the strange lack of
| enthusiasm in his visitor. The latter
said nothing except a few remarks
however, and seemed to accept Molly s
programme without question.
| Two months of the summer passed
! Molly seemed as usual, and her crowd
carried on their various activities
much as before. Dances, teas, lunch
cons at the Country club, long motor
rides by moonlight-the hundred and
one useless amusements of a group OF
young folks who are bored with life
and afraid to admit it Young Harry
Bradley seemed to enter into the pro-
gramme with. if not with enthusiasm
at least acquiesence, and Mr.. Hancock
| found more and more occas sion tc
describe his daughters friends al
thistledown. ra-
But one evening Molly announced
at dinner that she was going to bee
early. This was so unusual as to cal
forth inquiries from her father Molly
replied that she was tired. and wheI
pressed said that she and Bradley haC
been for a walk in the country. Brad
ley smilingly admitted his completely
more than that Molly's father anC
mother could not discover. But aftel
Molly mad retired, Mr.. hancock sac
to his wife. That's the first really
sensible thing that she's done in years
I wonder what's gotten into her ?
Mrs. Hancock said nothing in reply
but she smiled wisely.
Bradley's visit drew to a close. H
was to leave in a week. his fathe
having returned from Mexico anC
wanting his son to join him in his of
! fees in New York. On the evening
that marked the beginning of tn
last seven days of his stay Molly wa
called to the telephone. She had 1