The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-07-02


beaver if it rained, and valise con-
tanning the prover5ial change OF linen.
fremont was reached just before
nightfall. and at the depot he found
his Uncle Jack and a young lady
awaiting him.
Shades Of venusI. That young lady
was the fairest feminine creature he
had ever seen Her waterfall ana
round-top hat were magnificent And
her face was such a concentration of
roses and lilies and violets, and all
set il the gilt frame Of golden hair
why, Augustus head whfrled and he
felt weak in the knees, like one who
has taken dose of tartar emetic-
He rode to his Aunt Mercy's beside
Helen, feeling very much like one in a
blissful dream Like the boy we have
all heard of-he didn't care whether
school kept or not.
Helen had such a voice-and such
hand-and wore such charming bali
moral boots. laced with scarlet.
Aunt Mercy was a real princes
fairy god mother fully equal to Gin
derella's, he thought, and he gave tho
old lady such a hug round the neck
that her collar bone felt twisted for
two hours afrerward.
For three whole days matte rs went
on swimmingly. Helen and Aupustus
walked, and rode, and played chess.
and wound stocking yarn for Aunt
Mercy, and pulled the cats ears.
after the manner Of young people
from time innm emorial.
OF course Augustus fell in love, and
Of course Helen thought him a little
the incest young man she had seems
and Uncle Jack and Aunt Mercy
looked on approvingly.
On the fourth day of his stay there
was picnic in Maple Elm. a lovely
grove by the side of Swift river.
Augustus drove Helen over He
looked at her pink cheeks and at the
pink ribbons in her hat, and
at her braided skirt over
which her buff chambray dress
was 1ooped-and his resolution
was taken. Before they returned
home, he meant to know his fate. In
consequence of making thissd ecision
he was nervous all the morning. He
tied his horse by the handle of "a dim
ner basket, put the blanket over q
stump instead of over Dobbin, and
said yes, sir, to Helen whenever she
addressed him.
But a man who is conscious Of
standing upon the brink of fate may
be excused for mixing mistakes in
gender.
Augustus and Helen sat down a lit-
tie apart from the others on a messy
hillock-close by the bank of the
river. The young man touched her
hand, which lay on her lap.
my dear Helen" he began, sit IFS
needless to disguise the TRUTH Com
cealments are he had proceeded
thus far when a gust of wind lifted
Helen's hat, with the pink ribbons
and sent it dancing off ia the direction
of the river
Augustus sprang up suddenly and
gave chase. He thought he heard "a
strange sound. but he was too intent
in saving the hat to stop for mere
sounds. He stopped and caught 80
just as it was going over the bank,
and began to retrace his steps.
"Oh. Mr.. Bunkeri'' cried Miss Ner-
ril1-the most delicately modest 81 ain
old maids, and little near-sight
'sYou are losing your pocket handler
chief Goodness graciOusi" cried She.
taking a better look; sit is not q
pocket handkerchief Oh, my soul
and bodyv
Augustus looked at himself and fslt
inclined to say oh, my soul and body
he came to the knowl-
edge with one glance, that those
pantaloons which were such ga SPLEEN
did fit, had burst up like the boiler
of Mississippi steam boat, and his red
flannel drawers were stripping him Off
like the red paint on BARRIERS pole.
1.-The d-diclSensr' cried he, talk
ing a step backward, with some sort
of vague idea Of escaping some
where. That step was fatal--he was
so near the brink of the river that
nothing could save him, so he went
in. Fortunately he could swim and
not stopping to deliberate he made
for the opposite bank, which he
reached in safety. He looked back
and oh. horriblei There on The oppo-
site shore stood Helen, and three or
four other girls-and they were ala
This was a drop too much Return
he could not, and at the top Of his
speed he made for the woods Toward
night he came uDon an old farmhouse.
and to the mistress he related his
melancholy adventures, and received
from her loan Of her ssold mans"
barlx-cclOred unwhisperab1es in which
TO return to the city.
Augustus received a letter Of com
1olence from mis- Aunt Mercy. and
Helen sent her love, and hoped he
would come to fremont in season for
The blue berries-but Augustus gave
rent to hard word that looks bad on
paper. and burnt the letter.
year afterwards he married %
widow with FIVE children
md it is our opinion that the present
Mrs. Bunker owes her position en-