The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-10-03
BY CONSENT OF TWO.


her frosh yeuHg beauty in a marvellous
muslin. 50 thin that her arms cleaned
through st Ike alabaster, and had pinned
On her bright head a great hat dropping
with roses. By her side leaned a white
paRasel, edged with lace. Her companion,
3 young man in tennis Aannels, was
stretched at her feet
Has it not been very slow for you here,
Miss Gresham said Tony MARYLAND,
without amy girls for you to see through
and scoFn and be amused by, nor men to
Rnalyze and draw out and get interested
kD9''
yes, " she saia, ''you are right. Ny
solitude has been uninvaded. I have been
resting and enjoying myself thoroughly.
By the way suddenly who told you
that you could ooEaos''
mo enc; but I had to run down from
my place Of business and I thought it
would look uRneighberly not 50 drop in
and find out heEv yoa were getting On -
Very thoughtful, indeed So you have
remembered your old hozne at last. How
long is it since you were here2'
live yaArs' '-Pondering-''dy I've years
this June. =
ssIs it much changed
"a good deal The old willow By the
pond is down. Fell Ia the August storm,
CASTOR tells me
''Oh, I arm 50 sorry. We used to- She
paused, blushing.
ces nc AGe1JD40Gal3 SO VIZ G4a AAlA4
he glanced at her laRghingly.
And the house, - she hurried on. Glow
does It l0ekf''
''AwfuI-eveFything gone to pieces;
dust, cobwebs and mold everywhere; the
family portraits white with mii6ew''
oh, Tony, 30 she cried, how dreadful
You really ought to do something about
them 3"
II shall, 3" he said. 81 was fond Of the
place as 8 lad, and this trip down here has
awakened all the old feeling. I am tired
70 death of society, the exertion Of dane
tng''-smiling- and the bother of being
agreeable TO people that one doesn't care
rap about, SO have half made up my mind
to marry and settle down in the country
/ that is''-slowly=f' I can persuade the
girl I love to consent to bury herself for
my sake. -
Miss Gresham looked down. Her face
had lost little of its bright color. bat the
/ pallor was in no way uRbaceming.
Il thought the best way to do was TO
come and talk the matter over with you, -
he said after a somewhat swkward pause.
You always help a fellow SO with your
advice.
Il imagine % she replied, 'sthas if a wo-
man cared for man she would so with
him anywhere. y
Exactly, but that is the question-does
she care for nle2 You see gazing at her
steadily she il a society girl, used to a
{ 0oO4 QettA OF f41lY9GV ana Afl0NeILlClB ana G1-
element, and 1T does not seem quite fair
to ask her to come down here, does it9 Tt
looks. sonceited and as n one thought q
good deal of oneself
/ She loOked:at him gravely
ssDo- know her?' she asked. s'Is she
some one you have known a long tine2''
s40h, yes, since was quite boy"
*s1s she prettys''
'.Of course, you might be sure Of that. -
':And clever"
VERY
sri suppose -slowly-''she never says
unkind things or sees through people as
as some of your other friends de =
Unkind things2 No. But as to seeing
4 through people breaking into a laugh
fl am obliged to admit that she does. You
Reey she has been out lot, and the rosy
bandage is a bit out Of place Natural
enough, don't you think?"
'IsuPPose So -doubtfully. 60 One can't
go through life with ones eyes shut-that
is, if one has any brains-and yet some
h05v or other, don't quite like the descrip-
ton You are such a good fellow, Tony,
for all your aGectation, that you ought to
marry somebody very much above the aV-
erage. "
- And so shall -
r. you always said. - she went on, chat
I : might choose q wife for you. Don't you
remember that last ride We took just be-
fore you went to collegeg''
Assuredly.
s'How we agreed to ask each others adj
vice about the people we should marry,
and how we promised that neither OF us
would get engaged without the Others
cOnsent?''
OF course reBnem Der, and I am quite
willing to abide by the old contract. I
shall never marry without your permits
SIGN"
"oh, Tony, reallya"
Really -
She gazed at him with parted lips and
shining eyes.
You are very trusting. How do you
know that I shall net take a base advan-
tage Of your confidence and refuse my con
sent altogether? You don't know how
lonely it viii be going out next winter
without you I have got 50 used to having
you about that don't believe shaH en-
JOY myself in the least unless you are
1 there
She pondeEsd a moment.
I Come, p she said, ~ will compromise.
I won't forbid the banns altogether; but
you must not think of marrying until I
an tired Of society and ready to take the
fatal step myself How will that suit you?''
Perfectly, if you won't put It of too
long"
ooh, we'll, that dent know. have
! about decided to be a sPinster a"
Come, now, that isn't fair. Suppose
j We agree 70 be married the same day? That
meets With your approvals Well, to keep
] that promise fresh ia your memory, . reach
ing over and taking her hand, wear this
/ for my sake "
He drew her glove of very. gently and
slipped a hoop Of diamonds on her finger.
The blood flashed to her cheek
Tony" she cried, the full meaning Of
her action breaking over her. Tony,
/ dom understand. r.
ssOh, yes you do, -" he answered draw
ing a reassuring arm about her, but for
fear you might make mistake and 60 of
and marry some other fellow I VIII make