The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-10-27
EOening Story
A Word Out of Season.

|
hadn't she been christened Rosetta or
Marriette or even Clairette, all of
which studded the pages of history
and fiction, especially the best seller
sort? Even Mrs. Conyers, the god
mother, did not know: she had sim
| ply found the name upon a printed
| scrap, repeated it, giving final full
value, then bestowed it upon the help
| less brothers orphan baby-in result
here was Ettare Brent.
| A quicksilver girl. elusive as sun
| light, always smiling, unless she
| frowned or pouted. No middle ways
for her-things were thus and so or
| not thus and so. AS poor young Rich
ard Franklin was to learn to his con-
was her AFFECT slave does not in any
way distinguish him. Brush Creeks
young men, even it's outland visitors,
J suffered chronically that condition.
How could that be helped when Ettare
had such way with her? A witch
way, said Mime. Franklin. Richard
had been abnormally sensible-gallant
| enough on the surface, but holding
aloof from captivity, until he came.
| saw and was conquered. At first he
was nearly as angry as his mother
over the fact of his captivity. It
was Ridiculous country bred girl,
with freckles plain to view, who
hadn't a insle accomplishment save
riding like a Centaur and dancing like
| the wind that shook the barley. Cook
ing. of course, was no accomplishment
rather an integral part of the fem
mime curriculum. But in some fash
ion she not only caught but so held his
fancy he forgot her irregular profile
and quite failed to see the freckles.
Externals no longer \mattered. His
day began with the thought Of her,
night lowered when, as sometimes
happened, she shut herself willfully
away from his consciousness
Bush Creek said he "had it mighty
bad" rather chuckiing over the sit
uation. Still-it did not willfully con-
spire against him. That lies at the
door of Tony Gray-plus opportunity.
Tony had sister, Ellen. of whom he
greatly desired to be rid. Now Ellen
chose to peak and pine for Richard,
with no mora justification than vaIen-
tines, Christmas books and orchids
when she came to the Junior Prom.
He had given her a whirl there with
the best will in the world, but with
no thought Of anything to follow. Since
the Grays had a Brent cross it was
natural enough to pay long visit to
Ettare's father. Tony had aforetime
singed his wings in the flame of Et-
tare-and recovered. But he had not
lost appreciation for her very hand
some Inheritance. 1t was her moth
er's monochrome of the later brood
could claim share in it. Tony, who
loved getting money only a little less
than spending it, thought it a clear
providence that it should be so.
From Halloween to Lent Bush
Creek went the space-and so breath
less it set everybody gasping. The
Brent house, Of course, was the storm
center-with two gay girls in resi-
dence, and dozen eligible males
circling moth-Iike about them. Tony
played the game beautifully-took on
himself the burden of keeping things
going. Motor rides and dances that
ran to daylight, private theatricals and
trips to real playhouses in the nearest
city came hot ON the heels of one
another. The Christmas dance outdid
anything ever known in those rural
precinctS-TOny had got a band from
the city and wonderful things for the
tree. 1t was set up in the big Brent
hall with a backlog glowing in the
huge fireplace and pine, holly and
mistletoe wherever a spray could
hang. Dancing there was out of the
question-with the night outside
balmy as in May. But nobody could
ask better ballroom than the attic
schoolroom, bare-floored, many-win-
dowed and lit by swinging lanterns
high overhead. The dancers had
paired by lot for the rest of the even
ing-chance had given Ettare to Tony,
but there had been management in the
II.
But nobody minded-riotous fun pre-
vailed. Around second chicken crow
there was something of luli-Josy
Green improved the stilling hour to
say. smiling at Tony: Never was
such a party-and we may thank you
for it. Say-when shall We have 1t
over again?"
''It's nothing to what you'll see
when marry Ettare," Tony an
swered, smiling down at his partner.
who smiled back lazily, adding:
Right o! Then you'll see little pigs
flying with angel wings-and broom
sticks hunting themselves witch part
ners"
Everybody 1aughed--but Tony said
under cover of the laughing, glanciag
across at Richard and Ellen, There's
happy sight. My heart sings to
see it-Dick and Nell have made up
and are going to live happy ever
after. They quarreled last year-had
been engaged only a little while-now
they've come to their senses-and Pm
saying in my soul Bless you, my chill
dren!'" then with a deep sigh: Real
have been tragedy if they had been
stiff-necked and ruined two lives"
solomon never said anything
truer," Ettare countered, dropping his
arm and curtsying deeply. Shall I
go Offer my Fluctuations? ="
that would spoil everything" Tony
protested.
Ettare smiled oddly THANK you
for the warning" she said, 'I will
not speak the word out of time that
might upset beautiful things"
She was no coquette. but all thru
the whirl she had rather held aloof
from her faithful Richard. But after
New Year he felt a fine subtle change
in her-she was not kinder, nor more
hospitable--that would have been i'm
possible; rather more receptive
things did not slide off her conscious
ness as they had seemed to do. SO
he gathered courage-aH he had lost
and more, and set manfully to a
stronger wooing, but one that some
how was masked rather than open
He did not neglect Ellen-perhaps
because of Ettare's imperative sug-
gestions.
But in between he found occasion
for delicate attentions, more delicate
-. r. Id s~E -