The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-11-30
EDening Story
Olga.
OAS d
BY DORA NOLAN.

Also, so said the world in general,
Olga was tickle; and for this her
mother took her to task. telling her
that if she did not mend her ways she
would end by marrying a good-for-
nothing.
Poems might be written to Olga's
eyebrows, which she wore, las is;
sonnets to her extended, upward
sweeping lashes; and her hair. long
and curry" could have served as an
inspirational ad for the most expen-
siVe hair tonic. But Olga's strong
older men, too, fell for them like pins
after the shot of an expert bowler.
1t was as tho they were constructed
ef some rare stained glass, beautiful
in the sunshine, but not permitting
the admiring gazer to see what lies on
their beauty was the reflex of his
own alteration.
First it was an ensign, and an of
ficer of the United States navy was
not to be scorned, Olga's mother said.
why, who can tell! He may be an
admiral some day!" olga liked him,
she owned up to that, but insisted
that she did not want to call the wide
world her home town.
Then came an engineer of the me-
chanical variety. He was earning
weekly hundred and, as Mrs Landry
=
be sneezed att" Olga liked him, too,
but he was a widower and told Olga
that she reminded him of his wife
Olga answered her mothers question
as to why the young engineer came
no more to call with the remark
that she did not relish taking the
place of a piece of string tied around
a mans finger. Mrs. Landry replied
with sigh, Il wish you would some
times talk English, Olga that 1 can
understand"
The next was an engineer of the
electrical persuasion, who had made a
name for himself. He was twelve
years Olga's senior. As Olga's mother
phrased it, 1T would give you such
an important feeling to see your hus-
bands name mentioned so often in the
papers" To this Olga made answer
I don't want my ehildren's father
to be an old man when they are just
graduating from college, mether!"
Followed a Yale student, who must
Journey yet some way thru the realms
of knowledge, and an atmosphere"
actor from MoVieland. Olga how
ever did not like the idea g icing
engaged for two or three yea nor
of living on air, even of the screened
variety.
Number six had recently passed his
twenty-first birthday and had re-
ceived, along with divers neckties and
fund amounting to $4,000. This, to-
gether with a fourth interest in an
aged millionaire grandfather, he Of
Tered to Olga as a sort of premium or
bonus along with himself. Leo Dan
forth was what old ladies call "a nice
boy" and friends "a regular fellow"
with the accent on the adjective. Olga
liked him rather better than any of
the others, her mother suspected
olga was thinking it over.
Perhaps her daughters telnerity in
letting such an offer hang fire rem
dered Mrs. Landry speeehIess; or just
possibly she realized that since her
urging had never helped meatters be-
fore, it might be well to propitiate
Lady Luck" by pretending to look
the other way
Leo came often until one evening
when he stayed unusually late. Olga s
mother heard their voices on the We
randa long after she had retired. They
seemed to be arguing about some
thing. The next evening Leo did not
come, nor the next. For whole week
Olga's mother forbade herself to put
one question to her daughter. Then
Leo drove by in a spang new roadster
with another girl! A girl nearly as
pretty as her own offspring.
Olga" she almost Kissed. "have
you lost all reason2 Are you going
to let that knoek-kneed Harris girl
get away from you the best chance
you are ever likely to have? Leo
Danforth would be a nice boy if he
didn't have cent! And when IT'S Just
like finding a thousand dollar bill in
Il cerear package, instead of a slip that
may possibly get you 6 cup and
saucer If you live long enough to save
the other four hundred and ninety
nine" Mrs. Landry paused distract
ed perhaps by admiration OF her own
smile
ssAFot1,o,,, /o1-. -,
the hiatus), don't worry your head
over Leo. 1 told him to stay away for
time and give me a chance to see
him with other girls. I want perspec-
I tive-just to make sure that he will
wash well and not fade in the sun, as
it were"
and while you hesitate the Harris
girl will nab that $4,000 and you will
be left
ooh, well. mother interrupted
olga, and her tone indicated that she
wished the. subject to end for the time
being, of course I run the risk of
losing him. lost the chance to have
a dress of that Bingham 1 liked so
well, didn't [? 1t took so long, you
remember, to decide whether or not
the sample would stand every possible
test that the material was gone when 1
went for it. I come by that suspicious
trend of mind honestly, mother. Don't
blame me If 1 apply it to the chCos-
ing of husband instead of a fabric"
Mrs. Landry was speechless.
Olga returned from her afternoon
bridge club to find her mother await
ing her on the veranda steps. news
paper in hand. Grinlly she held it cut
to Olga, forefinger pointing to a news
article on the first page. Olga read
1t was the old, old story; a crooked
financier and his victims, whose
wealth he had promised to increase
even as the 1oaves and fishes. There
was list of dupes. The miracle
worker could not be found. Among
the names was that of Leo Dahferth,
and there was a local addendum stat
ing that the grandfather Of the young
man. eft was reported had disin-
herited him immediately upon hearing
the news.
Olga looked up from the paper and
the stained glass effect was very pro-
nounced in her beautiful eyes. LEO
is coming tonight for his answer,