The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-12-03
EOening Story
The Son-Dau9hter.
By MARTHA Nee. WILLIAM

| AOAA~A@4 AALGAs
| By MARTHA Nee. williams.
Another daughter7 Seven In little
more than ten years. What is to be-
come OF that family is beyond me.
John and Mellis ought to see that it
is actually misunderstanding a family
Of this sort, with no chance of pro-
viding for it, Mrs. FORMER COM
mented fretfully, looking up from the
special letter in her hands
Miss brave, her spinster sister-in-
law said acidly, Seems like they're
I proud of their performance-in such
hurry to let you know of it,
'eThey arei You should near Mol
lie" Mrs. FORMER returned. Says
make single set of baby clothes
just a piece at q time as the first
were handed down And that she can
be thrifty without hurting the chill
dren in the least-they don't have to
wear things the least bit tight-shoes
even can be passed on, SO no feet are
cramped. feel like shaking her
/ but what good would it do? John is
| just as bad. I asked him what under
the sun he expected to become of his
family. He only grinned and told
me there might be too many women.
but never in the world could there
be too many good wives. Like Mol
| lie, 1 suppose he meant. Anyway he
sounded mad to me. No girl can
marry Well il she is not well brought
forward. Tho I can possibly do some
thing II I live to see them grown, I
doubt if one of the flock win have
looks enough or wit enough TO make
her worth my bringing OUT
YOU'D have to dress her-and
everything. Brother 'Lisha would
never stand for that" Miss brave
said reflectively.
Mrs. Former east up her eyes, say
ing piously Life is uncertain. None
OF US can count on it,
II there was a note of regret over
the uncertainty it was too we'll mask
| ed to fill a casual ear.
Mrs. Mollie BRyson's sole regret over
her seventh daughter was that she
herself was not likewise a seventh.
That would mean untold luck for the
small adorable mite-even better luck
than having come into a place full of
| loving welcome. John had a fair SAL
ary-they owned a bit of a home in
stead of having life insurance, so with
a trifle of savings against emergencies,
what need was there for worry?
Mrs. Former was Johns half sister,
the rich woman of the connection, so
of course her attitude toward the Bry-
sons set the family tone. All hands
| agreed that seven girls like stair steps
were next door to a criminal offense
one that fate could not afford to
leave UNPUBLISHED. Sparse visits to the
Bryson home usually mitigated the
visitors harsh judgment The girls
were adorable-rosy, radiant, reason
ably obedient, sunshiny spirits sin
gularly alike, yet agreeably different
1t was not, after all, So strange that
John, who had put by ambition to be
an artist for. a steady job, and that
.Moilie should say, looking at the
flock: Beats anything I could ever
have lima gined." But once safe away
prudence again prevailed-pity. kindly
or acid, was melted out to the reckless
parents.
Pretty girls. very pretty girls, with
sweet home voices adorable dancing
feet. and Madame Mollie's knack of
cookery, sewing and home making,
they were married out of hand as it
were before they came to nineteen,
to the rout and confusion of Mrs.
Former, by that time a well-doWered
widow. who offered to take Lenore,
the eldest, and give her a two years
chance to marry well-that is to say
rich. Indeed, there was candidate
almost in the offing-Major Burke,
man of millions, just turned sixty, who
had divorced one wife and buried an
other. hence was eager to find a sub
missive and well-broken third. John
Bryeon was so foolish as to resent even
a mention of him, saying: He shan't
look at my girl-as for anything
else"
"But-thinlz of the alimony, if she
got to dislike him." Mrs. FORMER
remonstrated-with a. result Of shut
ting herself permanently away from
her brothers house,
With five married daughters John
Bryson ehuckled over the fact that
there was neither a minister nor
millionaire c-nong his sons-in-laW.
True, one of item, eJoe Calverly, had
expectations, but they didn't hinder his
doing a mans part. Then Hymen
umbled-instead of Carrying off Miss
Marion seriatim, his dart hit Baby
Bernice, just turned seventeen. Then,
for the first time, John and Mollie
cried hard. 1t did not in the least con-
sole them that Marion said. trying to
giggle: Dad. don't spoil your beauty
you know you've got your SON
daughter left"
For how long, I wonder" John
said. viciously. Marion swept him a
courtesy. Years and years and
years." she said. I'm serious-you
must make me the son I ought to have
been. You don't know it-but I'm
can't you use me down at the office?
I won't tell Pm any kin to you"
''Why!-there is a chance. PooC
Lucy Ames has to go away for six
months-Im wondering if you would
fill in, and hold the place till she is
we'll again! There, / can keep an eye
on you"
How about my keeping one on
you?" Marion asked impertinently.
But as she ran away from her red
nosed parents, they smiled happily.
Their one eve lamb was. after all,
almost the pick of the block.
Marion filled the place so beautiful
ly in a month she was set the job of
assistant to the private secretary. She
had refused to be known as a BFyson