The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-01-30
.EDcning Story
As Plain as an Old Shoe.

with the very shortest night to
make up for it, sensible Jane retort- /
ed Glare pouted: II know that. Miss I
Smarty-but you know L am not talk !
ing about real time; I'm just so tired [
waiting for tomorrow. and the train |
and the Springs afterward. How can
you sit there stock still? You've never
been anywhere, either"
Sure enough I hayen't-but fidget-
ing won't get me there minute
earlier-and it may get me there cross
and tired and red-eyed from lack of
sleep" Jane began.
ooh do hush, old Commonsense!"
Clare flung back, poudng- you have
no business to be always so right I
almost hate you"
Hate me all you like-f 1t does
you any good" Jane~returned tram
quilly. ASLEEP it can't hurt me-and
Pm going sound asleep in just about
two minutes.
Glare wanted to pinch her equable
cousin. Herself a bit of human quick
silver, she really resented James even
temper and lack of nerves. 1t was
well she lacked nerves-otherwise
Grandma Bingham's open favoritism
would have made her unhappy. Clare
could do no wrong in grandma's par
tia1 eyes. Jane, indeed, often got
over Clare's small transgression-
which could not be visited upon its
rightful object
Orphans, bare week apart in age
they had come to womanhood neither
FRIENDS nor enemies Clare was 1ar
and away the better looking, Jane the
more intelligent, capable and obedlent
also something richer.
There was the rub@the home
would be hers when grandma no long
err needed it, also fine silver, emma,
rugs and so on, that had been her
IL hrn
a bride. Naturally grandma pinched
herself, and would have pinched the
household for Clare's benefit had not
James guardian put his foot down on
such scanting. A curmudgeonly ola
bachelor, lawyer, grandma rated nlin;
because fforsooth he did not melt at
the Establishments of her pet Yet ne
had not been iIliberal-masters he had
engaged for Jane gave free service TO
Clare. When grandma brought' the
girls to town, for Christmas ana Easter
shopping, Mr. Joyce behaved hand
somelv to everybody, buying theater
tickets. paying for dinners and other
incfdentals quite as tho he really
liked it.
More, this journey was at his in
stance, and more than half at James
cost AS well pay for grandma as any
other chaperon, said Joyce, adding
that Clare need not spend extrava-
gantly-she would not require an
etxra room, and there would be space
enough for her in his big Limousine
Glare was enchanted, especially after
grandma bought her two new evening
gowns handsomer than anything Jane
owned.
II ought to come home engaged to
a millionaire" she said over her Shout
der, looking at herself in the big
blurred pierglass IF l do-be sure
YOU will never see me here after the
wedding 1 hate this frowsy mussy
place, stuck full of samplers, and por-
traits like signboards. Granny is the
only thing I'd take away with me If
L could"
|, Jane laughed provokingly. Spring
water somehow does not understand
! quicksilver. Some ways she was gem
| erous as sunshine, in others too just
to be over merciful. Free of envy or
| jealousy, she could not in the leas-
understand Glare, who ran on resent
1 do because you know you can have
them if you choose-as I can't"
| Never mind. Clarissy" Jane said
smiling. you don't have to give
houseroon to any of the horrors here.
I'll give you a brandnew wedding
present. What shall it be-a diamond
ring or pearl earring?"
If only you'd give them both now
without waiting" Clare breathed fer
vently. They'd help SO. You know
| money loves money.
| Il thought marriage was a matter
! of men loving women and getting love
| back again." Jane said almost sharply,
| But if you mean what you say you
shall have your gew-gaws."
The morrow came at last. A little
later the limousine went. In result
| BeechWood Springs had mild sensa-
| ton, made manifest in the flesh of the
Leslie cousins. Ono was, it was whis-
pered. quite, quite rich; one mighty
easy to look "a, said youth masculine.
| Also to dance and flirt with, but never
| beyond decorum-there was always a
black satin dragon with high lights OF
| gold spectacles and point lace looming
pin the background. Somehow insidi-
| ously rumor crept about that the
| beauty was likewise the heiress. Then
| Jane. who had been a hopeful pros
/ pect. found herself rather out of
| things. except with plain elderly folk
who liked her clear, precise speech,
| her pretty Difference to age.
| She danced, of course, moderately.
walked a bit. took motor rides. but
always in the family vehicle, whose
handsome solidity was equal to a COM
mercial rating. She was kindly re-
gardful of grandmam, tho every one
| saw how the land lay there. Indeed
there was not dissenting voice when
old Major Anstey said fervently.
watching her: "A real girl, nice as
IHey MAKE lheIl, ana the only one IN
all this crowd"
The major was somebody-after
just what fashion nobody knew. Light
| broke when a youngster with all the
earmarks of great riches fell upon the
old gentleman, Rugged him, thumped
his back and cried: "Old foxi Smoked
out at last! Tell me what deviltry
you're brewing here in the wilds.'
'None at ALL said the major with
ltwinkIing eyes. Fact is, Ned, my boy.
I'm up to my eyes in a plan to-join
the Salvation Army"
| After which the pair locked hands
and laughed loud and long.
Inside a week Beechwood Springs
revolved about E. Forsythe Anstey.
He had brought two cars, a valet
chauffeur. and drove himself like an
/ angel-or a demon, according to the
reporter. He was grossly but affec-
ltionately impertinent to the major,
who, it came to be understood. was