The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-10-09

under no circumstances was she to be
disturbed that night. she said she was
suffering from a severe headache, and
would ring if she needed assistance.
"WflI the judge be home this even
dnR Miss Leona ?" asked the maid
mo, father will stay in the city to-
night, He has trying case to work
on. You may have the evening out If
you like"
The maid went out. thanking her.
but not till the door had closed, and
the girls step sounded on the back
stairs. did LeOna move. She lay still
and apparently languid-then she
8prang up, crossed the room swiftly.
and locked the door. She listened a
moment to be sure that no one was
fla the hall, then she slid out Of the
wrapper and began to dress rapidly,
her mind working feverishly as her
fingers hooked and buttOned with ner-
vous haste
She hated Opponents, and had al
ways sneered at them, but what could
she do? Her father stubbOrnly OPP
posed her marriage to John Burton
1or no other reason in the world than
that he was not yet firmly established
In the law, and was not rich. Well
what did he expect2 Did he want a
Judge at 252 Was he himself rich at
the start2 John was making a decent
living for two and statistics showed
that few newly-admitted lawyers were
doing that and no one. even her faith
aE- QEllAEQ LIldA JONI 4ldQ a future De
fore him Her father was unreaSOn-
able, but she felt sure ne would for
give the elopement. for she was his
only child, and strangely like her
mother. with whom he had himself
gun away.
So, In spite of her regard for public
opinion, and some slight misgivings
she has listened to Johns plea to mar
~ first and ask permission afterward
He had it all planned. She was to
meet him at the big oak at s. and be
married al RalstOn.
She donned q shirtwaist and a short
walking skirt took from her closet
some stout boots. and looked about
her. Then suddenly she removed her
cloth belt and took from a drawer a
quantity carved one Of Spanish leather
with massive silver buckle. that had
been her mothers. She put it on
&c was the only trinket she cared to
wear. Then she turned out the gas
chair to wait till she was sure all the
servants should be at supper in the
kitchen.
1t was September. and rapidly grow
ing dark. A storm was brewing; the
hush that preceded it. and the black
clouds made it seem later than it really
was. Her watch had stopped, but, af-
ter waiting what seemed hours. she
was sure 1t was time. She took her
shoes in her hand. and, opening and
call and down to the library. whence
Aae dropped from the lOw-edged win
doW, then pushed 1t Up again, to make
sure that she could enter that way
agar, If anything should happen. She
3ar Cd not go by the front door for fear
her dog would follow her. Leona put
on her 81 es ard started quickly across
the lawn and TITO tbs shadows. Once
IN the wood she breathed more freely.
feeling herself safe from detection But
"a lNr n WI hal
ia Rness, and fearing that the storm
would break before they could get
started to Ralston.
The sky grew darker and darker,
and when she entered the thick of the
grove she found her way to the big
oak more by instinct than by sight. In
tts friendly shelter she felt safe. She
was a little disaayed that John was
not already there. but a little thought
Rold her that the storm had made If
seem late whereas she was really
aarly.
As abe waited she grew nervous and
frightened. fearing many things
AFRAID that the storm would hinder
aim starting at the zig-zags Of light
ming against the black sky, she still
waited. The crash of the trees swayed
oy the strong wind wrought on her
eHeF-taEea nerves till she could hardly
Geep from screaming
4nen she heard a voice-a gust of
Fine Drought te 60 heE. Net stopping
% 'hiBa hak John weuid nes Be talk
tns y hanRolA she staFasa eagerly 70
1eeS hlaa. taeoBh ths -afn Wa~5 bsFin-
ninR 'e 40 hoa~ltR, Fae Rssqaf vare
2nt 49, taP' ~ uRewP 6he 4resss-d
hsr heaTa eep q. & wildly She shrank
20 ok behios4 ervR-- o ~ ps it was not
: I'm, after all. She could hear every
Election now. and knew that both
vices were strange.
Then thew fEr-rrrrrE,
q hgures family outlined against the
Brom of the woods 3 fash of light
~ showed her the faces OF two men
= ey were excited and were talking
- slonately in high-pitched voices. the
? -fds plainly 20 be heard above the
ashing OF the treatops Wild with
teer. the girl crOuched behind the
great tree ana listened
tell you. Donaldson, the fellow
IS not guilt. We can prove him not
guilty! We can prove an aIibi. if Won
help us-Nnd, ny God. YOU shall tool"
The tone was blusterin0 threafening
AG you've got to do is to TESTIFY
strG ight-yO-- re a nan everyone viii
believe II tell you JUST what to saw
It's ee-S, and I'll double the money!"
Damn and your bribery" roar
cd the OF rev the small. dark one. He's
prlbed yc'. md you've bribed the jury
but you can't brlbe me III civa
tlls IN my testimony tomorrow will
STOP this l-ind Of work. Judge Nor
To~'--I-eona jumped at the sound Of
her fsther's nama- Judge Morton
anQ Will show you and your pack Of
A@indling. bribing cOWards-'' Then
he game voice cried. Keep off. Won
Cos Dent YOU try TO murder me,''
hhefs was sound Of Struggling
ssle hich WtTe notwithstanding about
hreugt the under5rlIq11 hf+tir.~
aESin9t trees. one attacking. the Other
eetendins himself desperately. The
Ei I leaned forward from her shelter
-alcn n, strsin!ng her eyes to see
The &C. ful flashes Of lightning showed
ll-e MAT Clear1.-
One "as small and very dark; his
o9po seEt great. massive fellow. with
sc11ewA>-e e, bat did not Know. Tba
G1'ck renEth of the smaller man
see2sed n-r.elous. Leona drew her
or'@ta sharply between her teeth and
Cie2eaed her hands tiehtIv. Twice
they weit down-three tinaes-tbe
Ar "a mHn still on top! They STRUGGLED