The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-06-16
THE SEVENTH NAN.

rock, naturally carved into very talr
semblance of a throne. Sylvia, her
head set proudly on her white, full
neck, makes a fitting queen
Sylvia's black-fringed, purple eyes
were quiet, her little mouth had PEN
sive curves; even her dimpled chin
was not piquant as at some times, nor
defiant as at others. Sylvia is essen
tally a creature of moods. and her old
guardian would not have her other
wise A man, only yesterday, was
telling me the beatitudes of his wife
to-be.
She is always the same" he bah
oled- zone always knows how he viii
ind her. A woman like that is a
treasure hard to get"
thought of Sylvia and smiled. It's
because / never know how I am to
ma her that she charms me Some
umes she is a gay little butterfly, fit
ting from one flower of speech to an
other; sometimes she is grave as
nun. I have learned, though. not to
DeHeNe too much in Sylvia when she
IS grave. Sometimes the widest of
crimson moods originates in a drab
What do you see, Sylvia ," asked,
looking up at the dreamy face.
The Sacra mento river, forty miles
away" she answered. 1T looks like a
white thread with a knot tied in it.
suppose the knot is a steamboat"
I suppose it is" I said, absently.
DO you realize that there are only
nve days more ?"
ONLY I'VE days" she assented.
bringing her gaze back to me. l
thought. But no.
"Oh! The manzanita is in bloom.
Please bring me a piece"
obeyed, as one harks to his queen.
out 4 demonstrated as one reproVes a
child.
1t is matter of half a million dol
lars, Sylvia
She sighed. Money isn't everything
fn1
blossom in her lap, and added: But
money is very handy after all isn't it
euardie? Tell me about it again.
30 as one repeats a nursery rhyme
70 the child who knows it. but who de-
nights in its recital, told lit" again to
Sylvia.
Your mother died at your birth. your
father a month later, leaving Won no
relative in the world but me. An eccen-
lric old man adopted you because he
nsiu once loved your mother, and he
uled when you We're 10 years old"
ana you were 35,'' interposed SyI-
That doesn't come into the story" 1
lroWned- This man appointed me
your guardian, and left a will by which
MS fortune becomes yours if you are
1904" e-i
My twentieth birthday murmured
If you are not married the money
To the dogs laughed Sylvia.
smiled To found a hospital for
the cure and maintenance of infrm
days"
You left out something" she said.
taxing up the flower again. You must
approve the marriage, and you are
very, very distant relative"
SO distant that the relationship
wouldn't count if mean that even
TINS remote tie of blood makes me take
q great interest in your getting your
fortune, Haven't you chosen yet?''
We had six Offers she said frank
y and refused three. There's now left
rom and George and joe" she counted
George and joel I can't marry Tom
guardle. He tells such unreasona bic
stories Why he told me last night
mat out in Iowa, or somewhere, there
was cyclone which blew straws from
trees" -
7 grinned.
But George and Joe don't exag-
George is too-well-womanish He
came to call on Kate the other day /
When was there She was busy with |
her piece work that she delights in so. /
ana was showing me a crazy-work quilt /
mat she had ready to put togetner /
George sat down on the floor and laid |
the blocks as he thought they ought to /
60 I don't want to marry GEORGE He |
would be showing me how to make the |
quits his mother used to piece"
Joe is truthful and manly" I said !
albeit grudgingly.
Joe is a dear, but I am not good
enough to be minister's wife"
Nonsense! You're too good for
any man on earthl" I said sharpIv
sylvia smiled down upon me. When |
Sylvia smiles with her purple ewes as
well as her red mouth it makes one
wish he were not getting gray over /
the temples.
-. DO you wish me to marry any of
tn en-, guardie ?"
Something frightened in my throat
but I spoke calmly. very calmly.
OI course, your old guardian /
doesn want to lose you. but he is
anxious for you to get your fortune
and the time is very soon''
Isn't there some other way? Don't |
something's"
They sometimes do" I answered |
But they can't in this case. It's the
dogs or husband Sylvia. in five more /
DAYS"
Her eyes were looking forty miles
away again and my eyes were looking I
at Sylvia. The fafntest line of color /
showed in her rounded cheek, it |
touehed her dimDled curl above her /
little ear Sylvia turned to me with /
the shyest of lights in her pansy
There's another" she faltered.
An! l heard a rustling under the (
nan1anlta bush. I went down and +
threw a stone at it When I went (
back. 1 stood facing her.
He is the seventh man. The an
clients thought there was luck in the
number seven but you know the
stimulation must approve"
He is good. and he has honest hazel /
eyes, she began. slowly. land a |
splendid chin. He isn't poor, but To /
rather take mama nita blossoms from |
him, If he could give me nothing else
than to accept orchids from a prince. I
should rather live in that little two
roomed house with him than with a
Irfr, I'm his no Ia re $500 g