The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-12-29
EOening Story
Broken Resolutions
BY JANE OSBORN.

b I JANE OS6ORN-
Tom Judson went down to breakfast
New Years morning with his shirt
cuffs dangling. Moreover he had
watched the old year out and the new
year in at his young sisters party and
had promised to go skating with the
crowd" by 8 in the morning. This
meant an clock breakfast. He was
not in a cheerful frame of mind.
What in thunder do you mean by
swiping my cuff buttons. Peggy?" he
said to his sister, who was already at
the table pairing an apple with anna
BILE precision. Look" He held up
Dangling shirt cuffs.
only this cooed Peggy, who was
eighteen and uncommonly pretty She
held up her hands, showing the cuffs
of a blouse of masculine cut. 81 needed
them, dearie, so before you were
awake came IN and got them. Don't
be huffy, sweetheart, it's New Years
day"
well, ypu needn't be so absurdly
good natured," growled Tom. You're
not usually so pie sweet this time in
the morning"
mo, dearest" said Peggy But
it's New Years day and I've made
some resolutions. Ones to be very
good-natured. And I'm beginning on
too" she added, drawing very small
piece of paper from the strap of her
I wrist watch. Il knew you wouldn't
make any for yourself. Here"
Tom read in very small, rather
childish writing. these resolutions
thought by his little sister to cover
his besetting sins:
Not to flirt-
Not to be scrappy- That's because
! you punched Peter when you caught
him kissing me- explained Peggy.
Not to be late for dinner-"It an
n ovS CoOly -
Not to be hoggish-This had special
reference to neckties, fountain pens,
cuff buttons, etc.
| Not to get engaged before 1924.
| Because unattached men are scarce
and we need you in the bunch to piece
! out with when the regular men are
away"
And I'm not regular man." said
Tom.
"Oh, Tommy" cooed Peggy 4 didn't
mean it that way 1 meant when the
boys in the crowd weren't here. or
| course the girls like you, but you're so
/ old" Tom was all of twenty-five.
| Tommy dear" resumed Peggy I've
asked some of the girls to come in
| this evening to practice a new dance
| step. We're a man short. That is we
are a girl extra. Sally's bringing her
! cousin. You'll come, won't you ,"
! Tom looked over the list of reso1u-
! tions Peggy had made out for him,
several times while he ate, and before
he left the house that morning he had
promised Peggy to keep them, that is,
if he could.
Toms social engagement in his own
and his sisters set kept him until
| darkness had begun to settle But,
| as ne reflected, il was only half past
| 5, and with half an hour TO get home
and dinner at half past 6, he would be
in good time for dinner. He could
boast to- Peggy that he had kept all
his resolutions at least for the day.
He was aware of the fact that there
was a young woman walking hurried
" beside a man, on-the opposite side
of the street. but he did not give the
matter much notice even when they
stopped in an apparent argument
Then he haw the young woman quickly
cross the street. She waved her hand
and firmly bounced upon him with a.
''Why, Marmaduke, dear, how glad 1
am to see youi' 1t seemed to Tom as
if in all his life he had never seen
any girl look so entirely charmed to
| clap eyes on him, yet he was sure from
the first that he did. not know the
Young woman. She vas shaking
hands with him and looking archly,
almost ardently, it seemed to Tom,
| from eyes very deep and tender. II
was too dark to see just what color
they were. He didn't know her, and
Tom felt that she knew he did not;
still if she wanted to pretend that sine
did, what harm?
Tom remembered the first resolu-
ton given by Peggy, Not to flirt- "
! There would have been satisfaction in
keeping them ALL but still greater
satisfaction in becoming acquainted
without an Introduction with girl of
such apparent charm.
81 thought it was you, Marmaduke,
she said walking beside him and
laughing gayly. "Of course, you were
on your way to our house. We half
expected you but I didn't know you
would come this way" 1t seemed to
Tom that the girl was talking very
loudly. Father and brother are at
the house on account of the holiday.
They will be so glad to see you, Mar
maduke--" And then in an aside she
said, ''Marmaduke Buffers your
name"
She had heard steps behind them
and then Tom realized that the man
who had been talking to the girl on
the opposite side of the street had
Tcrossed and had caught up with
them.
man. well dressed but with his hat
drawn far down over his eyes.
why, I'm Marmaduke Butler-I
think" stammered Tom.
well, you can stop annoying this
lady" said the stranger. "She's a
friend of mine and I won't stand
for any strangers talking to her"
The man pushed his way. trying to
walk between the girl and Tom You
never saw her before in your life, did
you? You don't know her name, do
you?"
The girl had crossed in front of
Tom and was hanging on his arm
Tell him you are an old friend"
she was saying.
I'm an old friend said Tom with
out conviction.
st don't believe it," snarled the
stranger. I'VE don't neither of US
know her well. And I came along
Tom did not wait to know what
was coming next. He shook off the
girls hold, his fists clenched and
his muscles frightened without Volt
| ton. The next minute he had struck
out toward the annoying stranger,
and with the third blow the stranger