The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-11-04
EOening Story
Marie and Mary Ann.
BY I'd. IRVING KING

b IL IRVING KING
Mrs. John Henry Lucas was large
Of person, commanding of presence
and her husband had nobody knew
how much money. She had a French
nursery maid for the little three-year-
old heiress Of the house of Lucas.
I'VE engaged Marie" Mrs. Lucas told
her friends, ION account of her pure
French. We want Bebe to acquire the
real Partisan accent. This can only be
done by having a person speaking
pure French about the child when it
is very young. Maries French is so
pure that it is a real pleasure to con-
verse with her"
AS Mrs. Lucas's knowledge of
French was restricted to that tongue
as it is Transcribed on menu cards,
her praises of Marie's purity of accent
lacked that background of knowledge
which gives value to commentator.
However, considering that Marie had
acquired her French in a correspon-
dence school by the aid of a cheap
monograph, her accent was not at
all bad.
Every morning Marie took Bebe for
an airing in the Park and sat on a
certain bench in certain retired To-
cality while the child played about
under her watchful eye.
Ambition, hard work and a certain
amount of native shrewdness had
AotSCo NhoAAS AAOltl d WI Al q A'O-1
factory thru various gradations and
occupations to her present position
in life. Being a natural born actress.
she dressed and played the role OF
French bonae to perfection.
AS Marie left the house this morn
ing, however. she was in a state of re-
volt; Bebe had been particularly try
ing. She wondered If it would not be
better to CHUCK the whole business"
as her admirer, Policeman William
HrNC< asr1r - IL =
one of her former occupations. But
as she rapidly reviewed these in her
mind her fancy found no resting place
quite so comfortable as the Lucas
mansion. There was William McCor-
mick, to be sure. and his standing
offer of marriag e-and she was very
fond of William. But she had figured
out exactly the sort of home the young
policeman could give her, and she
asked herself whether she could be
satisfied with railways. Yet she did
hope William would come Strolling by
the bench in the park upon which she
intended establishing herself with her
charge.
The park was especially beautiful
this fine June morning, Marie took
her seat on her favorite bench, and
the child began playing about in close
proximity. Marie looked DIP the wind
ing path several times for q glimpse
of a familiar figure in blue. At last
she saw nlIn IneFe ne CAME WaLk-
ing slowly along, swinging his stick,
tail, powerful. blue-eyed, smooth
faced.
well" said william. pausing by
the bench, land how is Mary Ann this
morning, and how is the millionaire
kid? AS bent as ever on devastating
the property of the Park Department,
I see. If L was doing my duty now
I'd run you both in, charged with
malicious mischief See what that
IL II. l..
and think what you've done to
a policeman's heart-both city prop
erty and both wantonly broken by the
reckless and pampered minions of
wealth.
''Wiiliam," replied Marie, ct wish
you would not call me Mary Ann be-
fore Bebe. You have no idea how
quickly children are, sometimes, to
catch a name and repeat it, 49,. -
"Oh, chuck the Bebe stuff said
William, land church all your acting.
too. Come now, be a sensible girl
once more-the same sensible Mary
Ann Sullivan you were when you
worked in the department store and
we used to go up to the Bronx Zoo
and see the animals and eat pink ice
cream on Sundays"
There was Z. mischievous twinkle
in Marie's eyes and a smile on her
lips as she replied: William, I am
surprised at you! 1 thought the Off
cldI QlreCIlOnS were TO say new I Ork
Geological Park-not Bronx Zoo.
Suppose I should report you.''
"Don'ti DON'T" Grid William
for then I should be out of job
and not be able to furnish that little
cottage beyond the Harlem was tell
ing you about-the one Mr.. and Mrs.
Mccormick are going to live in. Come
now, don't keep me waiting forever.
How many times do you want me to
ask you to let me speak to the priest2
Isn't it about time you gave up this
French nursemaid foolishness and
come down TO earth? If it's me that
you object to just say so and I won't
bother you any more"
"Oh, william, it isn't you that I
object to-" sighed Marie, you know
it isn't. But L have got so used to-
well guess I'm a little spoiled and
. I'D I don't lrranr.r xzhat .,