The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-06-08
Euening Story
Miss Quicksilver.
BY MARTHA Nee. WILLIAMS

saying: naughty. Naughty Pre-
tending not to know the first rudiment
Of the game
What game? ?" Arketh demanded,
possessing himself of an adorable
small hand and sitting appreciably
closer.
why. being engaged" Glare flung
malice. Then nesting a yellow head
in the hollow Of his shoulder: Poor
little mani Ought to have fallen in
love with a nice Miss Pinky Prim, in
stead of Miss Quicksilver. That was
my school name, so 1 have to keep on
living up to it," -.
II hate Pinky Prims," Arketh half
whispered, Slipping his arm about her.
81 have to hate everything that isn't
you. But, dear, being engaged is no
game to me. Rather the finest, most
"oh. me! my!" Clare cried, sud
denly erect. Now, tell me, right
straight, what story book that came
out of. I thought you didn't read
story books. 1 see I have mlh to
find out about you"
II rarely do read story books"
Atketh confessed. WHAT said may
be in all of them, but didn't need to
read it. I said the thing know
Clare had been laughing softly. Now
her lips shut in straight, tight line.
Looking full in her face one might
have said she was both shamed and
frightened. Arketh did not look. ne
could not, with his lips buried in her
soft, scented hair. She had gone TO
his head at their first meeting, six
weeks back. Shortly after she had
gone straight to his heart, never to
leave it, he was sure, however his WOO
ing might speed.
She was different, adorabl different,
from all he had ever known. His
father crippled by the accident that
had left Arketh motherless at five
had been playmate, comrade, teacher,
friend, to his only child. Life mad
gone well in the big, handsome home-
stead until the master of it slipped
away into the great peace
The end had come SO suddenly, Ark
eth stunned and desolate, had tried to
carry onto go around the world. as
the two of them had planned, against
his coming of age. But things had
fallen Observation-Disclosures annuities
had died with his Enthusiastically
and expensive idling before settling
down would mean an impairment of
his patrimony it would be unwise to
risk. Then fate had declared trumps
in spades-by means of Mexican min
ing investments. Arketh had spent
three years in an almost hopeless eff
fort to save something from the wreck
in reward he had started home with
a not inconsiderable salvage, and tar
ried by the way. to visit his fathers
step-sister his sole family connection.
She was queen of a rich countryside,
also gay, jolly, generous, loving young
folk with all her heart-perhaps be-
cause she was childless-and forever
making her house the pivot of things
social. BY contrast, the old life of dull
comfort, prim responsibility and mar
row vision appeared to Arketh prison.
1t chilled him to think of going back
ito it-even with Glare. Happiness
flooded him at thought of her, always
beside him, Frightening. and sweeten-
ing existence; but why tax her unrea-
sonab1y? Tho not rich. he had
enough money for a decent beginning
anywhere. even tho Aunt 1ura, who
was wild to adopt and make him her
heir, might possibly change her mind.
SShe was kind to Glare in word and
deed-almost too kind in fact. Yet,
intangibly he felt her attitude of re-
greet over, rather than hostility to, his
choice. He had not told her outright
even himself, until his ring was safe
on a rosy tipped finger. Now, in the
intoxication of the moment, he wanted
to shout. to cry aloud his happiness to
all the world. Instead he caught his
sweetheart in a smothering embrace.
asking in a shaken voice: Darling,
when will we be married?''
Right now," Clare said, sitting up
suddenly, rigid. $50 1 can't change
my mind; I'm dreadfully lazy, you see,
and making it up is hard work"
I'D like the job of making it up for
you-sha1 we say next week?" Arketh
began. She stood up, her face sybil-
line, raised both her hands above her
head, ana answered almost solemnly:
AS you choose. But somehow II
feel it must be now or hever''
BE ready at s in the morning. I
shall be here then with the minister.
the. license and Aunt Lura,' Arketh
I cried joyously. Glare put her hands
upon his shoulders, but dropped visi-
bly,. as she answered; ct shaf1't feel
safe until we are in your old home.
Promise to take me there straight
awayy'
IF Arketh was amazed then his be-
wilderment increased when he told
Aunt Lura of Clare's speech. She had
sat SPECIFICS thruout his tempestu-
Gus telling, but wide-eyed, her breath
coming short and quick, hands clinch-
kissed him, saying in a voice full of
ttears: MY boy-you-you must
know how sorry I am, but after all,
the girl may have a conscience-and
make you happy"
Plead as he might she would say
nothing more. II am going with you:
that should be explanation enough, ;"
she greeted him in the wan morning.
Neither of them had slept; nor had
Clare apparently. She was dead
white. with dry, burning eyes; no
more Quicksilver, but a figure of dole.
II dared not hope you could be SO
kfnd,' she whispered Aunt Lura, un-
der cover Of her stepmother's bab-
bling.
"Scandalous- perfectly disgraceful
marrying this way with no word TO
anybody said Mrs. Clifton. And
| with no clothes, nor cakes, nor brides
maids. Why, everybody would talk
for a year" Cfushihg-that was the
word for it-she never expected to
hold her head up again.
Notwithstanding the lady wore a
| satisfied air, yet delayed matters a
full quarter of an hour with utterly
useless arrangements. No, it wouldn't
| do to use the living room, the hall was
SO much statelier. She had already
| trimmed it with all the chrysanthe-
NUNS in the garden, not to name
! ferns. Then she had to fix her hair