The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-05
LUCAS RIVAL.

roughly handsome fellow, dressed in new |
suit of ready made clothes. She was a |
fresh, neat, modest looking country girl, |
whose jaunty sailor hat came just to the |
lsvel of his shoulder.
81 guess we can feed here, Loosh, - he |
said, looking down at his companion with |
an indulgent smile. s''Tain't very ex-
pensive. We've got to save enough money |
to buy tickets home, you know. :"
Yes she assented trustfully and con-
tentedly. Anything that Seth proposed
was altogether right.
They stepped into the dirty little res
taurant with the pretentious name and
seated themselves at one of the uncovered
tables. A waitress, who had been loung
ing against the wall, came forward and
swept a greasy napkin over the board
Then she stood waiting imperatively for
their order Nothing SO offends a waiter
in a cheap restaurant as lack of prescience
of the bill of fare
The young man had been studying the
list with his sweetheart for some time be-
fore he looked up. When he did raise his
eyes to give their order, an unexpected ex-
preston came into them, an expression
of mingled surprise and admiration. He
saw a lauguidly beautiful face turned to-
ward his own, with half contemptuous,
half interested look in the large brown
eyes. The features were small and ex-
Qu1S1UelY
oval, the complexion such a transparent
olive that underneath the skin you could
see the faintest, most delicate tinge of rose.
Wanton, disordered locks of hair fioated
about the warm temples. The mouth was
red and small and curved like Diana'S
bow. You have seen them, these carelessly
beautiful girls serving tables in cheap eat
ing houses? Seth Petty never had. He
showed it in his eyes.
II no Sc
order and shouted it at an opening into
the kitchen. The voice was loud, pene-
trating, but not unmusical:
"Stood chick an dump!'
Then the young woman sided over to
another waitress, idling against the wall,
and whispered: See that Teller an his
girl? Watch me mash himl Get onto the
way I'll cut her out!''
THAT was an all fired pretty girl that
waited on US, Loosh,' remarked Seth as
he paid his 40 cents, took toothpick and
led the way out.
WAS she?" asked his companion inno-
Gently I'm sure I didn't notice"
Yes, - reiterated Seth, ''she was. And
she had an almighty lot of style about
her.
A sudden little shadow of pain fitted
across the face under the sailor hat. A
timid hand stole beneath Seth IS arm. He
put up his own hand and stroked it, That
was enough. All the world was filed with
sunshine again. The shop windows were
an endless panorama of wonder and beau
ty, and the discordant music of the street
bands had note Of heavenly sweetness in
it,
II dunno what makes Seth g'win ter
town SO often these days. 1t kinder wor-
rits me- I'm feared he's lookin for job
an don't seem Y if 1 could spare him off II
the farm
Farmer Petty was out in the wood shed
removing his boots. He spoke through
the open kitchen door to his wife, not
| knowing that Lucia Gray was in the room
with her. The girl had dropped in on her
way from the store. She dropped in fire.
quently of late. A strange uneasiness pos
sessed her. She wondered why Seth did
not come to see her oftener. He called
hardly twice a week now, and he used to
come nearly every evening. 1t was very
strange.
She started when she heard Mr.. Petty's
words, and sudden, sharp pain pierced
through her heart. She knew that Seth
was not looking for a job in the city. He
had told her that he could never live there
it would craze him. He loved the quiet
| and homelikeness of the country. Yet he
certainly was going into town oftener and
oftener What could draw himf In an
instant the girls thought flashed back to
that memorable visit to the metropolis.
Lucia made some hasty excuse and es-
capped into the gathering dusk. She re-
mem bered now that she had heard some of
the young men at the store talking about
| the price of wool in town, and one of them
| had jokingly remarked that he wouldn't
give much for a certain young man s wool
if his girl found out the party he was
dealing with.
Oh, Godl What if it had been Seth
they were talking about?
That evening when the II O'Clock train
from the city stopped for moment at
Barnet Station the muf1led figure Of a girl
met the solitary passenger who alighted.
Il kind of thought you might like COM
pany home, Seth - she said tilnidly. Ma
| isn't feeling very we'll tonight, and I've
| been down to Dr.. Small's for some medi-
| cine
| The young man turned to her with a
! strange blending of vexaUion and tender
| ness in his manner. "What fool you be,
Loosh!" he said. ''But SO longs you're
here, come on
The wind was tossing the trees over the
dark, deserted country road as they
plunged into the night What moaning
sound the branches madeI
''SethI" The voice was trembling and
faint.
what do you want, Loosh?" He had
to stoop little to catch her words, the
| wind was blowing so hard
''Do you love me as much as you used
to, Seth?"
A long minute passed before there was
any reply. Then the young man faltered:
Yes, Loosh, l do-more. But 1 don t
deserve to, and you hadn't ought to let
me-"
"Oh, Seth WhyF" She threw up her
arms and drew his face down to hers.
'Becuz-becuz I've ben thinkin of Civ
in you up for stylisher girl. God! What
fool I wasl 1 don t ask you to forgive
me, Loosh-I don't see how you could. But
God knows don't want nothin more to
do with-with that other thing. She ain t
| worthy to tech what you've throwed
away" He Strengthened himself up and
shook off her clinging arms Il amt 1t!'
] he cried ..Dn1a, ever think of mo acr,ir