The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-01-31
EDening Story
Sparring Bill.
BY H LOUIS RAYBOLD.

Francesca - pretty, scatter-brain-
ed, flirtatious Francesca-was honest
to-goodness worried. So worried was
she that her usually blithe step Jagged
as she walked homeward thru the
tangingly crisp autumn air, and her
fair brow was puckered in three fret
full wrinkles How under the sun
was she going to get rid of poor old
Bill
You see, Bill Thorpe was the very
first one of Francesca's victms-and
there had been many-to cause her so
much as the tinieSt twinge of regret.
Perhaps this was because she had
known him since kindergarten days,
or perhaps it was because she had fig
uratlvely speaking, walked over his
PROSTATE body with a more heartless,
rough-shod tread even than usual, pre-
Stunning on his infallible good nature.
However that may be, the fact re-
mains that Francesca was experience
ing very real desire to spare Bill the
pam she telt was going to occasion
him when he came to see her that
night.
May run up this evening, Fran %
he had telephoned her. 81 have some
thing thats-well, something L want
to tell you" And even over the coldly
impersonal wire his voice had rung
strangely vibrant. 1t had come at
lasti
Now, between you and me, deep
down under her genuine concern for
Bill, Francesca harboi ed a motive
other than altruism in breaking defjn-
| itely with Bill. For how could she
! expect, as long as he hung around her
| like faithful watch dog, alert to
fetch and carry, that Roger Benedict
would propose? Roger was not the
| sort of man to interfere with a rival.
| And meanwhile there was Betty Lane.
/ tho Tr-nffioSk rirl il,
| town crowd which included Francesca
and Bill and Roger. Oh, she must
| be very firm with Bill, for his own
good-and hers
Arrived at this decision, Francesca
quickened her step a bit and hummed
a gay little tune beneath her breath
Bill was faithful and friendly and ever
dependable, but Roger-oh, Roger wa.
young Lochinvar and Prince Charm.
ing rolled into one. If only Betty
Betty" Rounding a corner Fran
cesca pulled UP short as she all bu
catapulted into the object of her no
| exactly charitable thoughts. "Bett,
Lane! Haven't seen you in a yer!
dogs age!' She was a1most-not quit
Jealous of this trim little Betty. 81
attractively gotten up in her tailored
suit and smart little neckpiece AM
cocky yellow felt turban, but not 70
worlds would she have betrayed a sig
(
see me, dear"
Betty nodded. her brown eyes mys
teriously radiant 81 will, frankie
and when do-oh, I can't tell yo1
yet, but I'm-I'm going to have glori
Gus news. You'll seei" The word
fairly dubbed forth and then Betty
all unconscious of the havoc she ha
wrought, swung gayly by.
Something to tell me-somethin
giorious-that means. oh, no! Bett
and Rogerl Why-why, I was worry
ing about sparing Bill and now no
all I've got left!"
The Bill that Francesca found tina
evening when she came downstairs
was a Bill who acted precisely as ner
vous lovers since time imnemoria
have been supposed to act--wallxinl
| jerkily about the room and eXaminini
| pictures and books and various object
with unseeing eyes.
With a start he gathered his wit
together at her entrance
''It's-it's a wonderful night, Frank
Just wonderful. Moon and all. yol
know"
| "Yes?" encouraged Francesca eve
SO sweetly, seating herself remotely Il
a corner.
'T-I-hang It. Frank. I've got T.
get it over with" Bill helped himsel
to a, chair opposite and looking quit
miserable, paused in what he was say
| ing Then he braced himself ant
, plunged. We've known each othe
for years and years and years and
| Years" completed Francesca. Yes
Bill After all. with Roger gone, i
might be the sensible thing to ham
on to Bill for a while.
''Well. I've always thought. Frank
| it would be you and I, but-well, i
/ isn't! I've gone and gotten engaged
to another girl and-and, doggone it
love herr
Francesca rose slowly. not so mucl
in dismay as in utter perplexity. Bill
| her property, engaged to another girl
| Good heavens, and she had beer
worrying about sparing his feelings
And was this the way it felt wher
somebody turned you down-the way
she supposed her victims of the pas
| had felt-yes. as she had expected
Bill himself would feel this very even
ing? Well, she was merely being pait
| in her own coin. 1t was up to hei