The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-14
EDening Story
A Diplomatic Courtship.
BY II. IRVING KING

the people caIleQ hlnI-Wno aIta1neO
his ends by diplomatic ways and wiles.
He called peristentIy at the house of
the Widow Halstead and was seen
often in company with the widows
pretty daughter, Catherine. He fire.
quentIy took along Hates elder sister,
Martha, on their outings and treated
her with much Difference at all times.
For that was the regular thing to do
when one was in love with Kate. Ev-
erybody knew that the matrimonial
key, as far as the younger sister was
concerned. was in the hands of the
more austere and palmer elder daugh-
ter of the house of Halstead.
Kate was a pretty, fluffy little thing
with no end of admirers and always
ready for good time, while Martha,
like her scriptural namesake, was
careful and troubled about many
things. And that was of necessity.
for Martha was really the head of the
family, tho the Widow Halstead posed
as such with much ostentation. How
ever, it was pose only. Martha man
aged things-among other things
small family income.
Mrs. Halstead was a great stickler
for the prophecies, and strong in what
she called her principles" among the
most cherished of which was the doc
trine that the younger daughter
should not be married before the
elder.
Harold Raymond was such a deep
one that there We're more than
few who prophesied that he would sue
coed where many before him had
failed. AS to Kate's feelings in the
matter there could be little doubt on
that score. The pretty manner in
which she blushed and looked down
when rallied about the marked atten-
ton Harold was paying her was de-
lightfur to see. At first Martha took
her PIE. sures rather sadly in the COM
pany of Kate and Harold.
After a while Martha became I'M
wontedly cheerful, and entered with
actual gayety into the companion
ship of Kate and Harold; gave up
her custom of watching them in
gether as if she were trying to de-
eide whether they really loved one
another or not seemed to have de-
cided the point. And at the same
time Harold, the diplomat, executed
what all Hillsborough regarded as a
master stroke of strategy. A college
friend of his, Cyril Thornton, having
just been graduated from a medical
hang out his single" and become
rising young DOCTOR" just as
Harold had started in as rising
young lawyer" And the very first
the doctor to the Halstead girls, and
thereafter what had been an insep-
arabic trio became an inseparable
quartet.
their little coterie with such evident
pleasure that the gossips, male and
female, were seen saying: Deep
fellow, Raymond-he has got the
doctor and Martha hooked and now
has plain sailing with Kate" No,
not all the gossips said this. There
were wise ones who replied: "Bosh!
Martha HaIstead is a predestined old
maid. She'll never marry. The doe
tor is trying to cut out the lawyer and
the doctor has got on the right side
of Martha. 1t is easy enough to see
that she favors the medicine man
more than the man of law"
1t was fact that when the four
were out in the doctors car Mar
tina somehow seemed always to man
age to sit with Thornton But what
could you prove by that? Did it not
leave Harold and Kate in a. more ad-
vantageous position for love-making?
Would she do this if she had selected
Thornton as her sisters husband?
Things were going along very agree
ably m this way, when Mrs. Halstead
took hand, and in secret conference
with her elder daughter said majesti |
cally: Martha, have noticed that
that young lawyer, Raymond, has
been coming here quite often of late
that it was about six
months since Harold had first begun |
calling at the house, Mrs. Halstead's
discovery was not so very astonishing |
after all. Il presume that he is be- |
ginning to present himself in the guise |
of a sutton for the hand of your sister, |
Catherine. Now you know my prin- |
cipleS. L want you to speak to him |
and tell him that it cannot be. I. my
self, am really not in a state of health |
which would permit of my stating the !:
case to the young man. 1t might be |
disagreeable, and my nerves, as you |
know, will not stand anything of a |
-s-s,rr IL
But, mother" demonstrated Mar
tina, there is another young man who |
calls here. too-Dr. Thornton. Shall !
1 speak to both of them"
DIR. Thornton" replied Mrs. Hal |
stead, "is another matter entirely. His !
principal reason for calling here is
the interest he takes in my case. 1t !
is a most interesting one. He told me |
SO himself. He has been especially at |
tentive to me and when 1 limited |
at some pecuniary remuneration Tor /
his excellent professional advice he |
assured me that the knowledge he ac- |
quired from a study of my symptoms /
and he was pleased to add the |
pleasure of my conversation-mor !
than repaid him. No; We will elm
mate DR.. Thornton from the discus
sion. You will speak to- Mr. Ray
mond."
But. mother" protested Martha, |
would it not seem rather indelicate-l
my unmarried state, as take it, being
the reason for rejecting Mr.. Thorn
toms suit for Kate-wouId it not ap-
pear rather indicate in me to state
your principles in the matter to Mr..
Raymond"
Not at ALL" replied Mrs. Halstead.
You will speak as from me. There,
there-don't argue the matter any t
more. Did any mother ever have SO
much trouble with her daughters as
I have?" And then. pathetically, Il /
wouldn't have if you would only get
a beau of your own"
"Oh, mother" cried Martha. blush
ing. i've got one" and ran from the
ROOM leaving Mrs. Halstead dumb
with amazement. That evening when