The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-07
EUening Story
The POacher.
BY LILY wANDEL.

|, Lucille hau 16llen IN love with reg
gle Devereau. He had asked her &c
marry him and she had acc$pted him
but she was not happy at all Reggie
did rot measure up to the man of her
to fall in love with-and once again,
she felt, had her emotions ruled her
rather than her mind. 1t irritated her
to think she had been so weak when
her reasoning powers told her plainly
that a marriage with Reggie would be
a fiasco.
In the first place, Reggie was one
OF those nice, mild young men who
ara switched over to anybody's opin-
ion and whose tact and good nature
| border on weakness of character. In
the second>place , Lucille's entire fam
| lily, and it was long, rambling ore
was waiting for just such a man TO
lean upon. There was a whole string
| of old aunts and uncles and second
| cousins who were looking for a free
boarding house in which to end their
days; mum nervous young nephews out
of luck, ready to welcome an uncle
who would be easy to touch a half
dozen young, pretty nieces who wished
earnestly to study music or something
| and had no funds. They flattered
! Reggie, catered TO him and filled the
parlor the evening he came to call
| on Lucille. The latter watched keeniy
| for thes lightcst sign of masterfulness
| in Reggie, the least indication to as
sert himself but she looked in vain.
Z
! opened a sporting goods store and
! took the populace by storm. At a
| church social Lucille met him and
was fascinated. He was just the Gi-
| rect opposite of Reggie: he made it
known at once that he wouldn't
stand for any nonsense" everybody
| had to give in to him, he was not
man to back down from the slightest
| opinion that he might express. He
was big, fine looking fellow and his
| masterfulness was like a magnet. 1t
also attracted Lucille. She never for
| got the first night he called.
The parlor was filled as usual,
| line of aunts and cousins beaHing
J with welcome and sweetness and a
couple of flapper-nieces at the piano
| twinkling alternately with coyness
and fascinating pertness In five
minutes the room was empty except
for Lucille and Jim. Il don't stand
for any nonsense, you know" he had
| smiled in his tyrannical way.
After that when he called the par
Tor was always empty before he ar
rived. Lucille adored hire-he was so
masterful in the smallest thing.
Things went his way stood still
1t was delightful to see the family put
firmly in its place, to be no longer
bothered with innumerable hangers
on" wherever ope went.
A couplp of times when Reggie
called Lucille was ''out,"- and when
she did receive him he only looked at
her with big. reproachful, doggy eyes,
but never said a word about Jim
calls. If Lucille pitied Reggie 1t was
a pity that bordered on contempt.
Nevertheless, she realized that things
could not go on forever this way
she would have to make a decision be-
tween the two. It was peculiar that
as much as she admired Jim she had
not the heart to tell Reggie she was
thru with him. Her reasoning told
her that it was the only proper thing
to do, that Jim was the right man for
her. yet the memory of many tender
moments with Reggie kept her waver-
ing. She was positive that if she had
Jim at her side facing Reggie she
would be capable of making her
choice, would have the strength to
tell Reggie to go.
Then again in a gentle mood, her
heart swayed toward the evenly good
natured Reggie. and she felt that she
was not giving him a square deal.
She tried to reason it out, look at
the future in a cool. practical man
ner. weigh everything carefully. In
variably the balance was decidedly in
the favor of Jim. But she had not
the courage to tell poor Reggie.
Then one night after sleeplesS hours |
an idea suggested itself. She won
dered that she had not thought of
that solution sooner and saved her |
self these days of indecision and |
whole affair. She would invite the |
two young men for the same evening, |
but neither would know that the |
other was coming, and Jim, who |
would not stand for any nonsense, |
would soon settle the affair.
The very next morning Lucille tele- |
phoned Jim to come up that evening, |
and he answered in his usual authori- |
tative way that it had been his inten- |
ton and he would be there earlv.
Then she called up Reggie. He was
delighted to hear her voice; he |
thanked her humbly for calling him,
l.
about coming. do you really want |
me. Lucille ?" anxiously-
why. of course. Reggie, otherwise |
I wouldn't have asked YOU" she spoke /
very sWeetly.
''Luci1le! Darling. you make me
very happy. I'll be there"
Jim arrived first. Disposing of his |
hat. he linked his arm thru Lucille's
and led her straight to davenport,
and. once seated, ne kissed her.
"Jim!" said Lucille reproachfully !
but pleased.
Look here, honey girl. you and 1
had better come to an understanding"
he said. There's that little shrimp
Reggie Devereau hanging around here
and you know I won't stand for any
nonsense!"
Lucille laughed a little and Jim
continued:
when I want a thing. no matter
how small. 1 always get it. and when
I've found the girl love. well--a little
thing like Reggie won't stand in my
way, that's all-and he might as well
know. sooner or later, tina. 1 don't
stand for any nonsense"
Lucille drew in her breath. Reggie
might come any minute. poor Reggie.
And hardly had she thought of him
when the door bell rang.
The portieres parted and Reggie
came breezily into the room. Hello"
and stopped a second when he saw
Jim settled with Lucille Oh the daven-
port. Lucille jumped up and extended
a friendly hand, Hello, Reggie" kind
~. won't you sit down."
Hello. Reggiei" called Jim patron
izingly, getting slowly to his feet
Good evening" answered Reggie
Stiff1y at Ix-riT XII inf hfs : :