The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-06-23
lie met his insinuations with deris-

him.
It's for your own interest" Pete said,
lnsinuatingly; you may be out of a
of Dave
And then Pete told her of the gamb-
ling debts and of how he was in Dawes
power, and how he might lose his job
and they have nothing to live on if
Dave We're offended.
I don't care" asserted Daisy, stamp
ing her little foot; 4 won't marry Dave
Wendemere. I'll go out to work first
And then Daisy broke down and cried,
and Pete took his hat and left her to
think it over
But Pete didn't take into account
Dalsy's firm chin nor the practice she
mad had in having her own way if he
thought she was conquered because she
cried. When she had had her cry out
Daisy arose and went at her work of
washing dishes with a superf1uous ener-
gy which plainly showed that her will
was anything but subdued.
During the forenoon Daisy confided
her trouble to Mrs. Marlxum over the
back fence and at noon, when Tom
came home to his dinner Mrs. Markum
told him of Pete SilvernaiIs designs on
his daughters happiness
odd Silvernail deserves to be shot"
was Toms disrespectful observation;
he'd better not cross my path or I'll
WhaIe MIN. I'll thrash him within an
inch of his life" And Tom looked so
ferocious that Mrs. Markum forebore
to say more.
After dinner Tom went out into the
back yard and hung around until time
to go to work, hoping for a chance to
speak to Daisy, but the little housekeep-
er dld not appear. AT night he hurried
nome from work. and seeing that Pete
SllVernai had arrived before him, he
ate little supper and spent the rest of
the evening looking and watching for
an opportunity to just speak to Daisy
one moment, but she was busy in the
mouse and he could not catch a glimpse
OF her- He saw Dave Wendemere call
next door and stay some time. He saw
Pete accompany him to the gate when
ne started away and talk with him in
low tone for long while.
Tom grew pale with apprehension
The very stiffness of the neighboring
cottage frightened him. He was ac-
cuStomed to hear Daisy singing about
the house as she worked szIe often
watched her fit about, closing the blinds
when 1t grew dark enough to light the
lamps. But tonight the blinds were
closed before the lamps were lighted,
and not once did he hear her girIish
voice ring out in snatches of song.
What had happened in that closed
cottageE Had Daisy yielded to her
Iathers demands and promised to mar
~ Dave? Poor Tom, his hair stood. on
end and the cold chills ran down his
back at the mere thought of such a
tnlng. He walked the floor half the
night, and then lay down to toss on a
sieepIess pillow the rest of the time
Rising earlier than usual flor he could
not stay in bed) he had finished milking
his COW when Daisy came down the
path on the other side of the fence on
the way to feed her chickens
Good morning, Tom" she said,
Good morning." answered Tom rath-
er gruff1y. Did you have a good time
with your company last night that
makes you so clipper this morning?"
Tom made believe that he was very
pusy with the COW just then. 1t made
ann 1eel strangely cross to see her look
ing so bright after he had spent such a
| restless night.
Il had some fun Daisy answered, look.
lnng archly up at Tom; then coming up t
me renee she went one with confidential
ar: Just the minute my dishes were
/ ~ Teesn 5 Went on to my room and shut
near the front room at ALL
"a caIled me two or three times, but
tboIIelt+ answer, and I suppose they
sat by the window till Dave went away
! all ready, if they tried to force the door
| to jump out and run over to your house
, Tom drew long breath. Oh what grea-
Things he would have done if Daisy ONLY
he came a step nearer the fence and list
ened as she finished her story.
Pa didn't say much this morning, bu
l know he and Dave are Matching mis-
ehlef between them. Do you know VIVA
m going to do?"
No, do tell me-" and Tom sat dow
ms milk pail and leaned over the fenc,
rather near to the bright face on tn,
| other side 1t was such a relief to know
th ,aL she was free from any entanglemen
| with that Dave Wendemere he coulC
hardly keep from catching her in his arm
right then and there, but then, you see
| the fence tnterfered.
tom" and DAISY 1ooI,od vow, col ~, ;,
Il m going to run away. 1 thought it al
| out yesterday and last night I'm goin.
me money 70 go with, and l intend t
start on the o'clock train this afternoon
Just won marry that old Dave Wende
Daisy going away? Toms heart stoo,
still and his face grew suddenly pale
Daisy went on detailing her plan, an,
Tom listened until he could bear it n,
longer; then he burst out:
Don't go, Daisy, please don't. Mari
me right off today. and I'll protect you"
A half-hour later when Mrs. Markun
stepped to the door to see why Tom didn'
how Tom was on the other side of tn
fence. He stood near where she had las
seen him, with a heavenly look on his fac
and Da1sys head on his shoulder, Will
the COW was quietly eating up his favorit
cabbages and the cat was helping hersel
to her morning portion of milk. Mrs
Markum went out and quietly turned tn
COW into the pasture and rescued the mil
from the cat, but she did not disturb tn
lovers.
Tom did not go to work that day, an
in the afternoon, dressed in his Sunda
suit he called for Daisy, and togethe
they went to the minister's and were maj
ried. When Pete Silvernai1 came HON
from work that night there was no war;
supper awaiting him and no Daisy to Civ
him welcome. When Dick informed hil
what had happened he swore a good dea
but when he found that Tom and Dais
were really married he concluded to max
the best of it, and after few days
: ''baching. it,, he sent Dick to invite thel
: to come home.
And now the neighbors have all Gale,
P and they think there really is no one
the world any nicer or more worthy
their esteem and regard than Mrs Dais
l Markum.
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