The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-10-11
EDening Story
A Job for Annabel.
By II. LOUIS RAYBOLD


According to her friends, Annabel
was spoiled. According to her rela-
tives, she was an extremely lucky girl.
Wasn't she the only child in a large
and adoring circle of aunts, uncles and
cousins-not to mention parents and
ndparentS-whose one aim had
been, ever since Annabei opened blue
eyes on the welcoming world, to sup
ply her every wish and within?
Annabers most intimate friend, Car
lotta, said frankly that Annabel was
a dear, unless she was to carry
in her mouth turnout life the silver
spoon she had been born with, few
hard knocks and responsibilities would
do her a world of benefit In fact. she
went to considerable pains when Anna
bel returned from boarding school to
induce that young lady to complete
her education with business course
and get a job.
So persuasive was she that Annabel
halfway yielded. only to learn, when
she preached the matter at home, that
she would take a job only over the
dead bodies of her mother, grand
mother and at least three aunts. The
consequence was that Annabel con-
tinued to live a life OF idle gayety, at
odd moments envying the occupied,
| Independent Carlotta, and her parents
! continued to groom her for the one
| position they deemed worth while
| that of some mans wife
One by one, however, Annabel re-
fused the various youths with whom
| she had grown up She liked them
well enough, in a sisterly sort of fash
| ion. but when it came to settling down
/ with one of them indefinitely-no, in
| deed, and quite the contrary.
| "AnnabePs a smart girl" her mother
! confided one day to Carlotta's mother
She's not going to be satisfied with
any mediocre fellow. with brains
| IL y Tfr-ir1 nd nj
more. My little girls been used to
having everything, and less than that
will never satisfy her.
| Carlotta's mother refrained from
| speech for a moment. Carlotta had
! just announced her engagement to
Sam whitcomb, zone of the mediocre
! youths undoubtedly to whom her
| friend referred. Then. with an in
ward smile and no premonition as to
the wheels her innocent words would
set in motion, she remarked casually
! MY cousin who's coming. to visit me
from Nebraska would be Just the man
for Annabel-''
How so?' said Annabers mother
not without eagerness. ss
well" said the other. then hest
| loads of money" It wasn't what she
| had meant. but her statement was
1 sufficiently accurate.
How long is he to- be here?" The
| words were intended to convey casual
| interest. And perhaps they did.
But at any rate, from the day that
Lands Robertson arrived in town he
was marked for Annabeps husband
| Nor was there need to inquire into
| his personal status That he was 9
| cousin of the Cooper's was sufficient
| recommendation. Furthermore, he
was a valuable recommendation in
| himself. His attractive personality
| his good looks, his extensive knowledge
of western affairs, his immaculate
| wardrobe and seven-passenger Hmou-
sine-well, who could blame AnnabePs
| relatives for uniting in the opinion
| that he was the girls one best bet?
As for Annabel herself, day by day
| she grew to feel a bitter resentment
at being SO patiently thrown at the
| mans head.
| Hes years older than ami" she
protested one day to her mother, who
had been singing his praises tire
somely
| "Only fourteen" returned hel
mother promptly land because OF
that difference, think what he has had
| time to acquire that one of the young
| fellows could not geti And if his
/ business turns out as it should here
he expects to make this place his
home. At least, that is the impress
| sion I gather from Nelly Cooper"
! But Annabel turned coldly away
| her matchmaking family? That he
| thought nothing harsh, at least of the
girl herself, was evident enough. fol-
| he wooed her tenderly and steadily
| If occasionally his mind was troubled
| he concealed the fact, deciding that
several things could ne better told
when once sure that sne returned his
| love.
when Lands and Annabel had mo
| tored far out into aAcountry slowly
| ripening for harvest. Stopped at the
| top of a hill to cool the engine aftei
a steep climb, the two gaZed appre-
| c,atively at the green valleys and
checkered fields below. Then Landis
| turned gravely to his companion.
| Little AnnabeP' he said tenderly
'T must tell you a. few things about
myself. L"
But Annabel, petulant for some rea-
son or other, stopped MIN. PLEASE
| don't" she said. II always stor