The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-06
AFTER FIVE YEARS.

She was about fourteen years u p
when Anthony Deane accepted Tue
Squires invitation for months snoot-
ing at Brooks Grove-a tall, SaWhy
schoolgirl. with a sunburnt' 1rech iirs
face, and a tousled name OF reuuisii'
brown hair.
This is my niece, 10. or rather Jose
phine-we call her 10 Cor snort, salo
the old gentleman at their hrst l Inae,
duction She's a regular madcap,
there's no breaking her in You nnus .-l.
let her worry you, Deane, during your
stay here .+.,+
himself. although his efforts were OF
small avail Miss 10, as she was appro-
priately called, hung on to him to sucn
an extent that there was no gettlng rlo
OF her She followed him everywhere,
fishing. riding, walking, shooting, and
waited upon him like little slave, YET
was familiar enough to call him by ms
Christian name 1t was Tony heFe,
Tony there. and Tony all over the
place.
At first the young man was amused
The young puss had such me col-
tempt for everything that was FEMININE
She could climb trees like monkey,
shoot and ride better than ne couiu
himself and was as precocious as oH iy
q child brought up among elderly ION ION
could be- AS to her personal appear
ance she was as untidy little oundle
as any child from the village scnool.
She ran her boots off her rect, heI shll'S
were invariably torn and muddy, anu
she always wore faded ram 0-SnaIi5
ter. and a loose cape. which she USED
To fling back over her shoulders wnen-
ever an opportunity for activity &C
ant after a time. Anthony began to
make friends with the gentry around
and the childs companionship became
irksome to him. 49,. ono
dav. after he had dressed himself win
YOU with me this afternoon can
why not?" said 10, quite undis-
turbed. IT,. cot
special appointment with friend OF
ITS that horrid Miss Freeman said
10, suspiciously. Silly. stuck up GU
thing. She's much older than she says
she is, uncle says so, uncle says she -
thirty-five if she's a day"
Hush. 10. you mustn't talk like that
of a lady" broke in Anthony hastily.
81 shall" said 10. And it's true
Uncle says she'd give her ears to be
But by this time Anthony had got !
some distance down the drive. and was
we'll on his way to the red orickea |
house in the lane. where the charming |
young lady, so much maligned by Miss
10, dwelt.
Miss Freeman was not in the house,
said the maid. She was in the garden,
would Mr.. Deane see if he could ma |
her there. and Mr.. Deane needed no |
second invitation. He found her in the |
summer house, attired in a simple, |
white frock, artlessly entwining her nat
with some pink tinted blossoms she had !
been plucking from the Towering beds. |
Miss Freeman was so naturally sur
prised, and took such pains 10 tell MIN
So that some time elapsed BEFORE they |
settled down. Then they got on splen- |
dfdIv together Miss Freeman told him |
all about her brief. unhappy past, ana |
Anthony confded in her all his aspira- |
tons for the future, at least not quite |
all for he was Just in the middle of an |
elaborate proposal when a shower OF !
gravel came whizzing through the door !
way. accompanied by a burst of merry |
,aughter which completely drowned his
\ THAT'S 10. know" he burst out an
grily. lust as that very young lady,
flushed and breathless. burst trium-
p All Ali What did tell your" she
cried. dancing about Il knew 1 should
find you here"
How dare you come here?" shouted
Anthony. go home at once"
"Sha'n't," said 10 defiantly, taking G
seat and glaring fiercely at the other
LADY. /
How can you take any notice OF
such vulgar little creature sald MISS
Freeman, aggravated by the intrusion |
IF l were the Squire l would send her /
off home at once She's a regular dis.
grace to the village"
Am u" returned 10. showing her !
white teeth And what about you:
My uncle says"
But Anthony, in some alarm, placed (
his hand quickly over her mouth, and I
bidding a hasty farewell to his indig- /
nant lady-loVe, dragged her struggling /
of
what do you mean by this disgrace,
mul behavior. Jo?" said he sternly, as
soon as they were out of ear-shot.
Il hate her. I hate herr was all 10 /
would say as she clenched her fists.
"Ill tell your uncle about you as soon |
as we get home" went on the monitor /
angrily.
At this Miss 10 appeared to remember |
something.
Tony" she said. penitentIy. Il quite /
forgot. I came to tell you that a tele- /
gram came for you
For me2"
''Yes. and Tony. it said you were to go
home tonight. and perhaps I shall /
never, never see you any more. Oh: /
Tony. you do love me, don't you "
Love you? You're an aggravatins |
little toad"
At this Miss 10 stopped short in the
tears. IT was such an unusual circum-
stance that even Anthony was sur /
prised out Of himself.
There. there. Jor' he said, putting
an arm around her Kindly. "Of course /
/ love you. There. be a good little
ri"
FfYou do-honest." said 10, looking up
-lrough her tears. Better than that
'horrid Miss Freeman. say you do"
They were now up to the Hall and
Anthony was afraid the squire would
come out and enquire into the cause of
the disturbance
"Yesl Yesl heaps better" he said des
perately