The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-02-23

quarrel with her. Perhaps that was
the reason now that the twinkly eyeo
mother was able to keep her plans
from her She said nysteriousiy-
you've heard tell that. your mothes
has friends in Albany, haven't you
well @navbe the friends have sons:
Nothing strange about that, is there
Then shaking her head at any turther
questioning from poor beWlldereu
Jerry she started to talk enthusiasm
cally about the rose dress.
The next morning after a good-na-
tured session with Mr.. Higgins they
left the breakfast dishes and went
down town to buy it. Nodding TINS
way and that to the clerks. they pre-
ceeded to the second floor of Sherack
and had the dress taken out OF the
window What a lovely thing II was
A. skirt that went out in billowy puIIs'
a little bodice with puff sleeves ana a
band of silver lace around the neck
that was finished off with tiny rose
/ buds.
Ten minutes later in the fitting
room the interested saleswcman was
fluttering about, dressing Jerry as II
she were a bride.
IL fits perfect" she cried, when the
last final pat was given and a rose
wreath brought from the millinery
department caught in her soft, curry
hair. isn't she lovely" she exclaimed
to Mrs. Higgins, whose faded blue eyes
were now as eager as girls. ana
lovely she was. with her cheeks soItly
pink. Like a rose itself on tiptoe.
There's a fine big mirror out in
the department Look at yourself out
there" coaxed the saleswoman-
Out stepped Jerry in all her sweet
beauty. But she did not move. She
stood perfectly still. Across the
ladies' department, walking with great
strides, came Jack Crawford.
Sam Tetlow told me you and your
mother werc up here" he said breath
| lessly, and then with a great gasp of
astonishment that was half marvel and
| half hurt he stood and looked at her.
| IT'S true then" he said huskily.
about the dance-about getting all
rugged up for some one else.
| [ heard it this morning" Then his
/ eyes met those of Mrs. Higgins stand
| ing in the fitting room doorway.
Look here, Mrs. Higgins, you've
always been my friend You're not
going to let Jerry turn me down TINS
way"
Mrs. Higgins smiled gently. ITS
up TO Jerry herself, Jack. She. can
| change her mind either way"
He turned fiercely again to Jerry.
Look here, if you like this other fel-
/ low better, why-why, all right. How
do you know he's the right kind? oh,
Jerry" his voice sank in utter misery,
| IT wanted to marry your
Perhaps you have guessed that
there were dream lights somewhere in
Jerrys blue eyes. Something must
have happened to them then. Right
there in the ladies' ready-to-wear de-
partment Jack reached for her little
hand. Come on. Jerry, please. This
pink thing'N be the beginning of the
rousseau, huh? Huh, Jerry? We
could tell them tonight at the dance
And back in the fitting room Mrs.
Higgins was complacently paying the
saIeswoman. 1t was not unit. that
night after all the hustle and hustle
of getting the young folks off to the
: dance was. over that she said to
father:
''Twasn't a lie. I do know folks in
Albany! 1 know Maggie Brandon and
she has a boy. I'd a gone down to
, fetch him myself to go to that dance
with her ' knew I'd never have to,
tho. Mothers aren't so old-fashioned
after ALL"
Copyright. 1922. by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate. }