The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-06-14
Eoening Story
You Just Can't Tell
BIZ MARY MORRISON

who's coming?" asked George
Forrest, as he glanced at the fourth
teacup.
Margaret Ellis and Diana laughed.
Don't grow excited. George" said
Diana, "she isn't your style at all;
looks like the outskirts of the smallest
town in the smallest state in the union.
She is SO embarrassed If man speaks
to her that she is apt to fall into her
teacup; she Is the one woman in the,
world could swear has never had
love affair"
Margaret here added her voice to
the description. "She bushes in horrid
red spots, too. I'm afraid you won't
be- at all intrigued. my dear. I had to
ask her because she's Aunt Sarah's
adopted daughter and Aunt Sarah
| stands for all the riches of Croesus."
+ George Forrest smiled. urbanely:.
points. But he thought to himself:
MAY the good Lord protect me
from society cats like these! For real
humanity give me a nice, kind BUSH
man of South Africa OF an hospitable
South Sea Islander. I'm going to
make myself so agreeable to this
maiden who bushes in spots and looks
like Pokeville, Delaware, that they
never can say no one ever flirted with
| her, at any rate"
The doorbeli rang at this moment
and into the room came the girl. Her
skirt was too long, her ears showed,
her lips were not scarlet but natural
all this George took in at glance.
And she seemed far from her ease
| when she greeted Diana and Margaret
Ellis. AS had been predicted, she
| blushed violently, and unbecomingly,
when Diana offered Aer a cigaret
Diana winked at George, and George
noticed that Miss Townley saw the
away as il to hide the hurt express
sion that spread over it.
| Good for you, Miss Townley," said
he, drawing his chair close to hers and
flor you alone" look which had made
him famous as the best little lady
killer in New York. why women
| think it is cute to have cfgaret dang
ling from their mouths every minute
| in the day. can't see. I am glad to
! meet a modern girl who can re1use
one"
| But I'm not modern girl. I'm
/ afraid, "sfaltered Miss Townley. There
was something very appealing about
her, and her eyes really were rather
| beautiful when she looked straight at
one. George began to find the game
| interesting-and it pleased his sense
| of justice to see Margaret Ellis and
Diana fall back in their seats in help
less amazement.
Better and better" smiled he at
her quite unnecessary admission; "if
you tell me you don't 'toddle' I'll want
| to kiss your hand"
1T don't" laughed the girl. And
when George put his words in action
she blushed again, only not unbecom-
ingly this time.
Margaret Ellis smiled somewhat
frigidly as she watched the scene
Don't let Mr.. Forrest deceive you
Isabel" she put in. you can't believe
one word he says. you know. He's
Ananias and Sapphire rolled into one
the truth isn't in him."
Isabel Townley looked quite seri-
ously at Forrest and then back again
at Margaret. well as our old gar
dener up in the country used to say,
You can't always be pleasant and
l truthful at the same time.s And he
| is awfully pleasant, isn't he?"
| George Forrest laughed with a
| spontaneous ring to his voice that was
not usually heard in the. drawing
rooms he frequented. The girl was
great-she wasn't dull and she was sc
absolutely naive. ass ~
/ you've said a mouthful, queen
he quoted as he took her empty cur
and put it down on the table.
IT you don't toddle and you dom
smoke, what do you do all day2" asked
Diana. She thought she'd better max,
some effort to be agreeable as long a;
i George Forrest was leading the way
She did wish, tho, Margaret had no
asked Isabel today of all days. She
wanted Forests attentions herself.
"Oh, I'm quite busy with the house
keeping in the NOTWITHSTANDING and
lall that-and in the afternoon mother
and always go some@place together
driving or to the theater or opera, and
in the evening 1 play chess will
father. We're chess fans, father and
IT, she said. looking at Forrest.
"Jovei that's great" he exclaimed
! real enthusiasm in his voice. ITS tn,
best game going We have a ches.
team over at the club and play Wild,
every Monday night" Again Georg,
and Isabel were. conversationally
alone in the field.
How >splendiai Father taught m,
to play when was only eight year.
} OLD, and ever since we've been the
greatest pals. When two people 81
opposite each other at a chessboard
J somehow it makes a difference in age