The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-09-30
EUening Story
The Dangers of Repetition
BY II. IRVING KING.

The Ashtons lived IN a brownstone
house, in a brownstone street. IN
brownstone district, which was an is
land of solid wealth and ancient re-
trade. Jack had a steam yacht,
played polo and belonged to all the
best clubs. In short there was moth
ing of which Jack Ashton really stood
in need but a wife-and to the sup
plying of that deficiency he was now
giving much serious thought.
Jack, after several narrow escapes
from capture by designing mammas.
had arrived in safety at the age or
thirty. Now at thirty if man is
ever going to get married it is time
he got uusy. So thought Jacks
Secretly the old lady had picked out
for her son Priscilla Higgins, daugh-
ter of Jeremiah Higgins, the banker.
Priscilla was twenty-five and had not
remained single for want of oppor-
tunities to marry. Needless to say,
Priscilla was a beauty. she was tall
and stately, had classic features, light
brown hair, wonderful eyes and a
fresh, fair complexion. Jack and
Priscilla were just suited to each
childhood. That was just it-they
had known each other from child
hood! And therefore, while love for
Jack had grown UP in Priscilla 5
heart Jack had come to take Pris-
| ella as a matter of course, to regard
| her as a very dear sister.
| So, in looking over the rosebud gar
| den of girls for a wife. he never once
thought of culling the fairest flower
in the garden.
| Old lady Ashton became impatient
and one day said to Priscilla: "Pris-
| ella. my son Jack is the biggest fool
in New York. He has been in love
with you for years ana doesn't know
it. There! You needn't blush So
and I really believe you are going tc
cry. Let's change the subject"
A few days later she said to hel
son: Jack, why don't you propose tC
Priscilla? You couldn't do better
Don't you see the girl is in love with
you? AS for you, you BOBBY, yoJ
have been in love with her for year:
and didn't know it,
why. mater! exclaimed Jack
"Of course, like Priscilla immensely
but never thought"
of course you never thought" re
torted the mother. Thinking is on
thing nobody ever accused you of
There, go along with you-Pm out o
all patience with you"
Jack left the house in a daze. Yes
it was as his mother had said, h,
had been in love with Priscilla al
along and had not known it. He fer
vently hoped that the old lady haC
been right in the rest of her state
ment-that part which referred t,
Priscilla being in love with him. Now
Mrs. Ashton had committed one mis-
take. She had repeated herself Il
her talk with Jack she had used tn
same phrase about his being in Low
without knowing it that she had use,
in her talk with Priscilla
And the statement so satisfactory
covered the situation that it stuck il
Jacks head. So when he sought Pris
ella to offer up himself and hi
grandfather's millions upon the alta
of his love he closed very creditabl
speech in the proposal line with, "Oh
PRISCILLA have been in love with yoI
for years without knowing it,
Priscilla, who had listened wit
blushing cheeks and eyes dim witt
tears of joy, went thru an instantan
eous freezing process 1T strikes me,
she said with a forceful laugh, "tha
i I have heard that expression before
And what else, pray, did your mothe
say on this interesting subject. 1 sup
pose she also gave you to understand
that I was not insensible to your fas
cinating personality ?"
The tactless Jack stammered ant
blundered and made things worse.
| There, that will do said Priscilla
''Never mind the rest You have don
your duty like a good son. 1t is quit
refreshing, in these days, when par
entail authority is SO little regarded
to find a son who will implicitly carr.
out his mothers instructions ever
when the task imposed is SO disagree
able as the present one. You can q
back to mamma with a clear consci
ence-and pray calm any fears sh
may entertain of my dying for love o
her charming son. am afraid he
i natural. but rather partial, admira
ton of her offsprings superlativ
qualities has caused her to fall into
slight error with regard to the light il
which he is viewed by other and les
interested persons. Good day.
"Oh, that cruel woman!" sobbeC