The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-01-03
Euening Story
Popcorn Queen.

BY r. RAY BAKER.
AS the little roadster rounded the
curve near the tiny house, the wheels
ceased to spin so readily.
This would be a good time to call
on the popcorn queen. What do you
say, Madge?"
Madge Holbrook turned a glance on
him in which the presence of irrita-
ton might have been noted had there
been more light.
Popcorn queen?" she said with a
tinge of asperity in the tone. do you
mean old Mrs. Quentin? What a
name to apply TO her! Ted, you must
have popcorn on the BRAIN You're
eating it or talking about it all the
time. Some day you'll have a ruined
know that popcorn will destroy your
appetite consuming it by the barrel
the way you do?"
| Ted had brought the roadster to a
stop in front of the tiny house, which
perched on a green terrace, peeking
over a group of rose bushes and be-
tween the tendrils of a flourishing
vine.
Popcorn is an appetizer for me-
| he replied. Il just can't seem to get
enough of it. Yes. Mrs. Quentin is
the popcorn queen. You see she used
to be neighbor to us over in Valley
City and 1 call on her now and then
, to renew acquaintanceship-an to
consume a big bowl of popcorn which
she always prepares. She and her
husband, who works at the sawmilI
are perfect fiends for popcorn-as
bad or worse than I. I promised I'd
bring you for call some time, so let S
stop now"
Madge shrugged her shoulders and
adjusted her cape.
''All right, I'm willing, because it's
rather chilly and this will be an OPP
portunity to get warm. But don't ex-
pect me to eat any corn. You know
detest it. It's bad enough to sit
around and watch a lot of others fill
up on tt-and Aear them, too-with-
out being obliged to take a hand in
the performance. Remember, we can't
stay long"
Mr.. and Mrs. Quentin were quaint
kindly old souls, both with beaming
rudy faces, and they extended a
hearty welcome to the wayfarers. The
man of the house smoked a corncot
pipe while his wife busted herself ir
the kitchen, and the two young people
sat about the fireplace blaze, which
was glowing red. and discussed
weather, motion picture stars ant
congress with the genial old gentle
man. In the kitchen could be heard
a staccato refrain like the voice of {
machine gun, and presently Mrs
Quentin hustled into the parlor will
kernels which she proceeded to dis
tribute.
Il am sorry, Mrs. Quentin" said
Madge, "but I never eat it. 1t looks
tempting, but 1 really don't care fol-
it."
Land sakes girl." deplored the
hostess, but you certainly do miss q
lot in life"
b When the roadster had resumed its
rolling on the road Madge remarked
Nice people, but that popcorn eat
ing session nearly drove me wild"
Yum, yum said Ted. smacking
his lips, 81 can taste it yet. Madge
you must learn to like popcorn. By
the way. have you decided yet wheI
we are to get married."
Madge didn't reply at once.
Don't you Think she said finally
that it would be nicer for you tC
learn to unlike popcorn, seeing that
have no use for It? And, as fol
marrying, I haven't thought seriously
about it. In fact, marriage doesn't
worry me at all. You're a nice
enough friend. Ted, except wheT
never do for a husband. Let's tall
about the weather"
But Ted was insistent. Perhaps the
harvest moon, rising over the eastern
hills, had something to do with it.
But you can give me a little hope
ii
going away to the city-to get rich,
hope, and I want something to LOOK
forward to-"
The moon was not sufficient,
, bright to reveal the whimsical little
smile that played about Madge's rec
!. lips.
This much I'll promise, Ted" she
said, When I consent to eat pop
corn I'll also consent to marry you
In the twp years that Ted spent il
the city he did not amass wealth, but
he managed to obtain a nice little
nestegg. The city was a long way
from the village of Gregory and his
business prevented any visits home
until the termination of those two
years. He carried on a regular cor
respondence with Madge. and oc-
casionally asked her whether she hao
learned to like popcorn, to which he
always received a negative answer.
When Ted came home for his first
vacation he made the trip in a new
roadster. 1t was early in the fall