The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-21
STEWART BROTHERS. Distributors. ST. JOSEPH, MO.


window flooded the hall with mellow
radiance, enabling US to distinguish each
/ object clearly. A full hour passed when
( we heard the swish, swish, of silken
I skirts. Someone was surely coming
/ down the stairs. could hear Garston'S
/ swift breathing, like engine beats, close
/ at my side. Pattering down the polish
/ ed steps came the tread of light feet
and around the turn a slight g1rllSh ng-
/ ure clad in white. And then-the un-
/ expected happened. The rotten railing
gave beneath her weight and she fell
with a very material crash almost at
our feet. Garston lifted her and We laid
her on my funereal couch. He turned up
the light. Before us lay the Lucy Cars
ton of the picture, as if she had step
| ped from its furnished frame. In blank
amazement we stared at the still white
face, when with a low moan she open
/ ed her eyes-and Garston awoke to ac-
| ton.
Old Jed was the first to respond to his
/ summons. AS he ambled in and caught
/ sight OF the girl on the bed he covered
back abjectly. "Dah now! dab noWi
1 done tOle dat Dinah dab gwine be trub-
bic, en- heah tits. Fob GaWd's sake,
Mas'r John, L hain't had no hand in dis
heah dOin's." And nothing more could
be extracted from him; though Garston
grasped him by the collar and threaten
ed divers things in the effort to bring
/ him to reason.
Don't, please, he is not to blame"
Garston let go and swung round at
sound of her voice. She stood erect
facing him bravely, but the big gray
eyes were wide with trouble and the
childish mouth quivered.
Cousin Garston, l have no real ex-
cuse to offer for my presence in your
home, except that I came under a false
impression, and once here I had no
where else to so. 1 am Lucy Gartson's
daughter. When mamma died all our
money was gone and I had no one but
Nanny Dinah. I tried to find work,
but was so inexperienced and young
that l failed. and at last Nanny Dinah
persuaded me to come here. She felt
that grandfather would not refuse me
a home. I was so much like my moth
er, whom he once idOliZed We sold the
furniture for anything we could get
and came, to find grandfather dead and
the place deserted, except for Uncle
Jed. We were told that you'-here she
glanced shyly at Garston-"couId not
endure a woman, but that you were so
seldom here that Nanny Dinah felt
safe in remaining. Indeed, we never
meant to trouble you. Then L found
this old gown in mammals room and
put 1t on to see If l could look like the
picture, and 1 thought it would be fun
to wear it when 1 came down at night
TO walk in the grounds. 1t was so easy
to enact the ghost 1 ran so little risk -
Did Jed and the others know of this
! masquerade" asked GarstOn.
, only Uncle Jed. Nanny Dinah is
his sister. At first he was afraid to
promise
: keep me hidden. If you will only par
: don him. I give you my word that 1 will
7 go Immediately"
, Her voice broke into a sob. It was a
/ curious scene. The lovely pleading
face Of the girl, her pretty head droop-
; ing with shame and embarrassment The
two men were equally i'll at ease.
q had long known John Garston, poll
= tician of mutable creedS and practical
7 methods. I had yet to know John
Garston, gentleman. 1t was a revela-
1 ton when he extended both hands to
q the shrinking girl and said, gently,
, Little cousin, you should have come
q to me first of alias your nearest kins-
: man | surely had some claim to your
a consideration"
. The girl lifted her troubled eyes and
= gazed earnestly into the smiling eyes
of Garston.
t Someone has been very unjust" he
= went on, but now that I have fairly
! caught you I shall not easily let you go.
Shall enter into possession?" She laid
& her hands in his, unquestioningly, and
Garston touched her forehead lightly
with his lips. Welcome home, little
4 one, we must let the present atone for
q the past. In future 1 am your guar
dian, tyrant-anything that you choose
+ to make me-"
Under his laughing earnestness she
frightened as if the world of trouble
& had slipped from her young shoulders.
Just now L will begin by ordering
4 you off to bed" Turning to Jed: Find
Nanny Dinah and send her to me-" II
Il answer to an apologize murmur from
a Jed he laughed: Yes, of course you
q old rascal, no need to remind me You
81 did just the right thing in protecting
B your young mistress. I won't forget
q And a look passed from master tC
s. man that caused old Jed to chuclzle
s audibly as he shuff1ed down the hall
a Garston motiOned to me. Mr.. Oswald
a my cousin, Miss -" Here he paused
blankly.
Lucy Alden" she supplied with
ripping laugh that somehow forever
put an end to the painful atmosphere
3 When Aunt Dinah hustled in painting
B and conscious, we were chatting away
= like old friends.
Garston went about reorganizing his
household with characteristic energy
Scarcely week had elapsed before the
house began to take on something o
its Old-time comfort. Then he called
a clan gathering Of his kin and among
them was found a motherly dame, who
having no chick of her own, con
scented to matronize his establishme Mt
' That June time fled swiftly. Mis-
Alden dropped into her place as natur
ally as if she had known no other life
Garston and myself became her abjec
4 slaves. There was a pretty uncon
e seriousness in all she said or did tina
was irresistible. 1t was another maj
that journeyed back to his old haunt
on Pennsylvania avenue. Those sum
p mer days in the lotus land had left
Il glamour on heart and brain that haIoe,
the sunny head of the little Chatelain
& OF Oalzlea-
She is Garston's wife now, and I cal
close my eyes and see always the re-
Z glow of a June sunset upon a pictures