The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-06-20
EOening Story
The Right Girl. :
81 HAREIET BRUNKHURsT

10 a GOuLLIy lawyer anu
that's that"
Kitty tilted her pretty head, saucily
provocative, secure in her youthful
charm and lifelong affection that
backed their engagement to marry.
You mean you won't marry me?''
betraying him You are bres ling our
engagement"
mot necessarily" said Kitty. light
". You don't have to be country
lawyer unless you wish
But you have known always that
1 planned to take up practice with my
father" said Jimmy with some dig
nifty.
You meant to when you had to-"
corrected Kitty. There is no shadow
of an excuse for it now. There is the
opening in the Sharp & Smiles offices,
and even if you must give your time,
your aunt's legacy makes it possible.
Then you'll have a start Here you
will be buried all your life-but shall
not be buried with you" she added.
Jim was usually ready of speech.
but he was patiently unable to hold
his own today.
Put it up to your father" sug-
gested Kitty. ASK him which is the
best proposition. yours or mine" And
Kitty waved a gay good-b5 as she
darted from his side to join a group
OF girls across the street.
Jimmy swung down Mai street,
with his head held high. and ran up
the stairs to his fathers law office,
taking the stairs three at a the.
1t was rather a disorderly office.
There was dust where dust should not
line and nine-to nths of the law tones
on the shelves needed rebinding. Yet
Jimmy liked the place
James Seymour looked up from his
smile faded as his son impetuously
poured out the story of Kitty's ulti-
matum.
well. son. he said at length,
you'll have to settle it for yourself
1 haven't made much of myself-but
L always thought Kitty liked me az
that. Still, it is bad business letting
the right girl go if you can help your
self. I'd think it over"
Jimmy wet down the stairs one at
time. He stopped to look at his
fathers battered tin sign. He had con-
fidently expected to put up a new sign
bearing an added legend of "& Son."
Well. he'd have TO see Kitty.
Kitty, however, had said her say
aud would say no more. Nor would
she permit Jimmy to say fmore-un-
lesc it were to announce his accept
ance of her proposal that he become
a city lawyer instead of a country pet
ufogger. That was the word she used.
cussion was useless. Kitty was out for
one thing-it was that or nothing.
And Kitty was entirely independent.
She, too. was college bred, and she
munerative position in the city She
could have the city without him, but
she was eager to share it with him.
The country she would not have.
Think it over" she said as they
parted at the end of her vacation,
Jimmy went home to think it over.
He went out in the garden to think
undisturbed Then he saw the little
girl next door Madge Hilton. washing
her collie dog. That was a ceremony
at which Jimmy always assisted when
at home, so he promptly swung over
the low hedge and set to work.
SGoodness, Madge," he said sudden
ly, what have you got your hair up
for2"
Jimmy SEYMOUR" cried Madge in
dignantly. I've had my hair up three
years-since 1 was sixteen. A lot of
attention you pay to a person"
You had it in curls not two weeks
ago" declared Jimmy.
That is about as much as one
would expect you to see when Kitty
is around" laughed Madge.. Don't
blame you. tho I've always been
crazy over her myself"
Thanks a lot, Madge," said Jimmy,
gratefully. How old are you-nine-
teen? Don't see how it happened.
Well, say, since you're that old, maybe
you can help me out. Do you think
country IKE lnJOleraDleE on re
than Kitty and ought to feel
it if anyone would"
We'll" Madge spoke slowly. I'm
not like Kitty, you see Kitty was al
ways ambitious, and sne is doing so
wonderfully in the city. You can see
that she wouldn't want to give it up.
While I'm not clever bit"
Seems to me l selected a remem-
brance for a small neighbor who was
of her class last June"
said Jimmy, smiling.
"Oh. that" said Madge deprecating-
~. "But-I'n tell you something
awful. I don't want to go to college.
was glad to finish school. l like
to be out of doors. free when I want
to do anything. I'd hate a position
even a splendid one like Kittys. Be
sides, of course, I'm all daddy has
I'd have to stay home"
Jimmy had to think things overt
was simpler far to talk them over.
And Madge was a sage listener.
1T doesn't sound ambitious" ad-
mitted Jimmy, but what 1 want is to
build up just the sort of business my
father has. Taking care of peoples
interests, seeing that they get deeds.
wills and contracts that will stand I'D
Of the life around me-and being
Jimmy Seymour to half the county.
Id rather have dads standing here
than be governor. And Kitty says it
is wasting my life"
STILL" said Madge thoughtfulIy.
you couldn't take much comfort in it
If Kitty didn't You have to consider
her part, too
But Kitty would have the biggest
house in town, and every one knows
her and likes her. Isn't that better
than a stiff struggle for position in a
city where no matter how
high you got there'd always be mac
cessible inner circles"
You talk too fast.' said Madge.
Il should say it isn't so much what
you get out of life as whether you
like it,"
Sometimes you are a lot like
Kitty" said Jimmy, and meant it. Yet
Kitty's hair was soft and black while
Madge's was crisp gold
Better not say that to Kitty