The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-11-08

ssGeoffrey. I won't listen to YOU"
ssWell. my dear, cant force You
to. can I? I believe. if you would
only let me tell you the whole affair
from beginning to end. you wouldn't
be so much annoyed about it. 1t
really isn't so bad as you think.
Alicia Is q most delightful girl. and it
has been a recreation for me, you
know; and have been slogging away
SO of late. and
The door slammed. Mrs Water
house went upstairs to her room and
hurriedly. very burriedly, packed q
portmanteau. There was time to
catch the mail at Charing Cross. and
she meant to catch it. The great
thing was to get away to Biarritz,
away from the sitting. atmosphere of
this house, away from London She
rang for her maid
Parker"
yes, ma'am."
1.-THE mail goes at from Charing
Cross, I think?"
1T used to go at 8. ma'am," said
Parker. cautiously. stWhen we went
away, if you remember"
Eyes, yes, of course. 1 want you
to pack bag for yourself and we will
catch the mail to- night"
Catch the mail. m a'am, to-night?"
Eyes. yes Lose no time please,
and send out for a cab
well. I neverl" murmured Parker.
Mrs. WaterhOuse had some inten-
ton of having one fine. big, square
scene with her hus band before she
left, but there was little time to
spare Moreover, it occurred to her
that she could be quite as bitter in a
well-composed letter, to be dispatched
81
Come along, Parker" she called.
'Its all very well to say come
along" muttered Parker. discon-
tentedly, but this is a rum sort of a
game, a nd / don't 'alf cotton to it."
We've got twenty minutes. Tell
the man to drive carefully, but to
drive very fast"
The most CALLING thing about the
whole deplora BILE affair was the GER
tai nty that her mother would meet
her at the station with an 81 told
you so. my poor lamb" expression.
Still there was no one else to whom
she could go. and, at any rate, she
could always control mamma She
had always done so.
CharinQ Cross.
1.-The mail. lidy2" said the porter
civilly- 1.-The mail goes at tie fifteen
It's later'n it use to be-.
Park er, will you get some papers?
Get one or two for yourself, you
know"
Parker. still rather inclined to be
cross, went to the bookstall. It half
restored the exce1len { maid to COM
placent submission to what she
termed all this ramplng about to find
the new number. of the Lady's Own
Chatterbox on sale It was her own
= 1o, Il f.r to
sWe'n get in now, Parker" said
Mrs. Waterhouse stThere's tive nty
minutes to wait, ut we may as well
take our seats Seconds, please,
porter
They found comfortable corner
seats For while they watched the
stout, perspiring ladies and the slim
daughters and the pet dogs. The
usually demure Parker sniggered so
much when she saw two Frenchmen
kiss each other that she dropped the
Lady's Own Chatte rbox- Mrs. Water
house took it up and held it in her
hand
81 must read" she whispered to
herself. Il must do something to
keep myself from thinking. 1 shall
faint if / don't divert my though is. .
The Lady's Own Chatterbox lay on
her lap. She put one small foot
against the seat opposite. and leaned
forward to get the steady glare Of the
electric light on the page
'Any more going on2" cried the in
spector on the platform, age ressive1y.
''We commence this week story
by a new writer. Walter House. en-
titled "Alicia's Only Love" 1t will
I be replete with romantic interest. and
in short, wonderful picture of high
class life of the present day, with all
it's faults and foibles-''
/ Now then" or led the inspector on
the platform. in an aggrieved tone to a
belated passenger. ARE you going on
there, or are you not going on2''
Mrs. WaterhOuse began to read.
Chapter was headed 1.-THE Coun tess. -
'sAlicia was half-leaning. half-re-
clining on an ottoman reading deli
catel y-scented letter from Sir Harold
de Beer. It opened thus: I want
you, my dearest, to believe that I am
quite true to you. I am bound by
certain ties to others. but to you. my
sweetheart, my own darling Alicia -
''Parker!'' screamed Mrs Water
house, with a gasp of delight, ''COme
out quickly
Right away shouted the inspec
tor. STAND away there. please"
Here, stopr' cried Mrs Water
house.
She caught up her skirts and
! jumped nimbly out An active porter
seized the bags, and. as the train wa.
moving, caught the descending Parker
neatly and swung her around upon
her feet.
lows that, umpire9" asked the
!