The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-20

seemed to him as he stood at the edge
OF the MaDleton woods this dark au-
tumn afternoon.
1t had been misting at intervals all
day, and the thickly strewn leaves
that in the morning had drifted on
aromatic blasts, first this way, then
that, were quiet now, and sodden- The
wind was rising again, the mist be-
coming keenly palpable. john HouS-
ton knew it was setting in for night
of long menaced downpour. The
rheumatic chills were creeping, with
icy clutches, up and down his back.
He felt he must be moving, for a
siege of govt in a place like Mapleton
would be unbearable. As he started
forward, something gray, feathery
thing-started up from a little pond
Just below in the meadow. He put up
his eyeglass-it was a goose
But a goose is better than moth
| ing" thought he. 81 can't go back to
that landlord with nothing in my
| bag However, while he was collect
ling his scattered senses the goose few
away, making good time, as geese ny,
over the meadow. John Houston
started in pursuit. "A1l my life have
been on a wild goose chase he
thought; Il won't give up now over
| hillock, over bog, now down IN the
oozy slush, now confronted by baroed
wire fences, he kept up his chase
after the gray goose NO one, seeing
/ tf7is man now would have wondered
at the concentration of purpose which
/ had accumulated his immense fortune.
/ Not one of them would have guessed
/ that his purpose had failed in the one
thing he deemed Of moment IN tne
Suddenly he found himself up
| against high board fence with a
| swinging picket gate in 1.-THE goose
had disappeared. 1t was raining tor
rents now. He opened the gate ana
| stepped inside. There was a woman
/ there-a tall, slender woman dressed
in black with a big Tapping hat. she
/ he
ton looked at her he thought she
might be thirty, or even forty. Tor the
hair was a dead gray under the olack
hat But she carried the grace and
sprightliness of her prime in heI
1.-the movements and vibrant voice as
she called the geese about her.
Il beg your pardon; ma'am'" said
"Oh!" She said, turning sharply
ARE you the man who frightened my
Il geese SOP"
But you are wet" she said quickly
noting the disheveled condition of the
man. ut is perfect downpour
Won't you come in and dry YOU
John Houston did not hesitate
without realizing it he was thinking
of rheumatism and of the desolats
room at the inn. He passed through
And such rooml He had never
thought to see its like in Mapieton
Long, low, with a blazing fire at on'
end, it was filled with surprises o
easy lounging places. divans. anC
cushions.
Make yourself at home said tn
woman, motioning toward the blazing
: fire, land I will have Sarah brew yol
a warm drink. You are chilled to tn
r When she came back with a steam
: ing cup on little tray he was stand
} ing before the fire. He had throw
aside his cap and heavy hunting jack
: ct and was holding in his hand pic
ture he had picketd I'D from the table
The darkness of night had set in, an
l with it the storm was increasing IN
blaze leaped UP from the open WOO
fire and shone on her as she entered
A woman never shows to better al
vantage than in the freight. IN
gray hair was an illumination as it fe
IN efrlish locks on each side of tn
! face The face was flushed with
delicate pink; her hospitality had bee
: good for her-she looked almos
, For a moment John Houston di
! not sneak There was a look in hi
= face the men on Wall street Woul
have been surprised to see HIS III
! were a little drawn and white. Of
e when she advanced to set the tray o
= the able before him he managed
+ bring a kind of smile. He took a ste
= forward "Agnes!" he cried impe1
n tuousIy. agnes, don't you know me
: The tray IunDleU anu liz
. LIQUID poured over the white han'
n but she did not mind
. .Johni'' She was breathless. JOIN
= where did you come from 2?
Prom chasing your old gray goose
q | he said '.An my life since you LETT me
= have been on a wild-goose chase. ne
. seated themselves. Explanations We're
q order. The hot drink was forgotten.
y why did you run away from m
r Agnes?" John Houston asked.
z why? You must have known, JOIN