The Topeka state journal., 1922-04-19

end of the line stopped suddenly. then
as suddenly resumed: .o.
Here she is now. came the 49, NoISS
And Charles heart began beating
"Hello.'' came NIary's voice breath
lessIy. Il almost didn't get here"
glad that other girl didn't ring off be-
| fore you came. If she had rung or
don't believe I'd have called you Up
again.
said the girl, sincerely. What's your
name % she asked curiously.
Say, that would hardly be fair,
would it2' said Charlie Since L
| can't come around and see you. it's
only fair that you shouldn't know my
name, don't you think?'
II guess that's right. said the girl-
"And besides Charlie laughed.
think how romantic this is,
"Did you say 'rheumatic?' queried
the girl. with a laugh in her voice
You know what 1 said" declared
Charlie, and he laughed. too.
Before Charlie rang off that eve-
ming they'd had quite a conversation
And during tho following evenings
they became so well acquainted-oVer
the telePhone-that it was only nat-
ural they should want to see each
other So at last they made an ar
rangement. Charlie was to come to
the Y. W. c. A. the following evening
at 1880 o'clock and look for girl
near the entrance with a red hat and
wearing a white carnation- He. too,
was to wear white carnation.
But be ready for a surprise and-a
disappointment" cautioned Mary
Il know I'll not be disappointed"
said Charlie, but you may be-"
But Charlie had little fear of Mary
being disappointed for he knew that
he was a good looking, outstanding
fellow of the type that pleases most
girls
Promptly at the appointed time
Charlie entered the Y. building, his
heart actually fIuttering. At once he
looked around for a girl with a red
hat and wearing a white carnation.
But no such girl was visible. So
Charlie, now thinking gloomily of the
disappointment he had been eau
toned against found a seat and
looked around him glumly. Just op-
posite him. in chair near the door.
was a beautiful girl with rosy cheeks.
bright eyes and general look OF live
lsness that caught his attention at
once. Now if only Mary could be this
girl. But this girl had on a black
hat and wore no carnation.
] Then, as Charlie was weaving n
! romance around the girl opposite him.
/ he received a shock. Coming toward
the door was a girl wearing a red hat
| and a white carnation. But such u
| girl! Poor thing. she couldn't help it.
But at the sight of this girl who was
/ SO unSalnIys so nOmely, so altogether
displeasing. he folt as tho all the world
/ had suddenly gone dark and all the
/ joy of life had left him. At first he
/ wanted to turn and run. But then
| his instructive good breeding asserted
| itself. 1t would never do to play the
| girl such trick as that.
So Charlie rose and stopped the
girl.
Pardon me- he said, you're Miss
| Mary Davis, aren't you 30
The girl looked at him in surprise
4, Then a look of understanding came
| into her eyes.
phatically.
And once more life seemed worth
/ living to Charlie.
Il know how you made the mis-
take" said the girl. MARY lent me
] her hat for this evening and gave
me this carnation. She said the car
nation was important. I know she
| wanted you to think that I am her.
/ but I'm not. There she isl"
The girl turned and pointed Iii
! rectly at the beautiful girl seated
near the door who had so fascinated
Charlie and whose cheeks were now
In some way Charlie thanked the
girl with the red hat and then rushed
to. Mary.
This is wonderful-this is the best
luck in the worIdi" he cried.
Mary looked up at him shyly.
I
queried.
Il was-a moment ago." said
| Charlie. But noW-oh, but Pm glad
/ to meet you"
! For a moment there was silence
! as he gazed delightedly down at her.
But how about you ?" he quer-
| led finally. 'iAreN you disappointed ,
You fixed it up nicely to give your
self a chance to look me ever before
| meeting me. Are you satisfied ?"
Mary looked up at him with friend
/ ly, honest eyes.
IF l wasn't she said frankly. I'D
never have stayed here. I'd have
gone up to my room and you'd never
have met mel'
Charlie smiled joyously. He knew
instinctively that his dull evenings
had been banished forever.
Copyright, 1922. by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate)
He: Jen's a nice girl even tho she
is a bootlegger's daughter.