The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-03
THE EVENING STOR r


BE my wife, Norma Do not let as
wait on and on forever, with no nope /
of your aunt's consent. She has no le-
gal right over you anyway, as you are
z. Let US run away over to BFldge-
port and get married quietly. 1 nave 2 |
special license. My uncle has sent Tor
alone in the world I cannot refuse 10
remain with him for the last lew
lnonths-it may even be Iess-that ne
still has to live. But I am afraid Of |
going away, Norma, and leave you 70
the tender mercies of Mrs. Claxton. She
is your dead fathers only sister, but
she treats you as she would never dare
treat a servant. Marry me, Norma, ana
no matter what happens, at least your
bondage will be ended"
Richard Travers stopped and kissed
the pale cheek Of the fair, blue-eyed
girl at his side.
She tried to smile, but the sweet eyes
would not be forced into such an ezhi-
bition and, instead, she broke down and
sobbed upon his breast.
/ "Oh, Dick, Dicki How can let you
sunshine of my life Aunt Emma is
! real tryant over me, and Lena is worse.
/ And, Dick, I am afraid suspect that
/ Lena likes you a little"
It was not a difficult task to convince
/ Norma, and at last she promised nm
/ to come along. The next day he OBJ
I tanned permission from Mrs. Claxton 70
! take Norma out for a. drive, and to-
] ,
/ a clergyman Dick knew was awaiting
/ them to perform the marriage
And SO, when Dick Travers drove
back to the old Claxton mansion, Il
was his wife who sat next to him-his
own little wife.
He kissed her sweet, red lips as he
lifted her from the buggy.
God bless my wife" he whispered
Nobody suspected what had taken
/ place. Dick left the following day for
New York to remain with his dying
/ relative, a rich old bachelor.
Hardly a week had elapsed when
/ Mrs. Claxton triumphantly announced
| that old Travers had expressed de-
1 sire to see Lena once more before he
/ died. The Claxtons and the Travers
! were remotely connected by marriage.
/ ''I shall send her to New York at
once" said Lena's mother.
So Lena went, and the days dr1fted
/ by and grew into weeks, but still she
/ did not return, and Norma was be-
ginning to get very much worried De
cause no more letters came from
Dick, and although she wrote regu-
/ larly he never answered. AS they had
agreed, she never mentioned their
| secret relations in her letters.
Norma would have had trouble 10
prove the fact had she wanted to do
so. for Dick had their certificate Of
marriage, and the clergyman had left
for parts unknown.
Time passed, and at last the blow
| fell upon poor Norma. One morning
her aunt received a letter from her
/ daughter which seemed to cause her
! great satisfaction and delight
| well. Lena has done well, she
! cried eagerly; 'sI1e has married
/ Richard Travers, and, OF course, all
the Travers fortune will be hers now.
1t is true that I do not fancy her mar
rying away from home, but under the
circumstances can forgive her any
thing. Lena is a dear girl and
al mt a
conplacently. land she deserves to do
well. I shall go to visit her in a snort
| time She invites me cordially ana
SAYS I must forgive her for her nasty
marriage. I am only too pleased 70
hear Of her good fortune.
To Mrs. Claxton's disgust and sur
prise. Norma rose and left the room
without a word. Mrs. ClaxtOn tossed
her head.
THE spiteful thing! She is jeai-
Gus! But Norma Andrews was never
like other girls. am glad dear Lena
is not like her in any way. .,..,
Mrs. Claxton was somewhat startled
when her niece made her appearance
1.-THE next day and demanded money
with which to take short journey
Mrs. Claxton lifted her hands in
horror.
where are you going? And what
earthly business can you have running
about the country all alone? Private
I
have any at all?"
Emma returned the clear cold voice
land YOU shall defray my travelling
eTnenses NV father left money in
your hands for me, and know it
Mrs. CIaxton fell back, pale to her
very lips her eyes full OF wild terror
which convinced Norma that her ran
: dom shot had told, and that it was as
she had long suspected. She had moi
been left in Mrs. Claxton's care desti-
q merely ask money enough of my
own to pay my ticket to New York,
the girl went on firmly
'"To New York What in the name
Of goodness do YOU want to go to New
THAT is my affair." she answered
So Norma set out on her sad jour
ney to New York-to her false nus
band.
He could not marry Lena Claxton
while I am his wife" the poor girl
murmured as the train sped along.
She reached the great city at last
and went straight to the Fifth avenue
/ home of Dick Travers' uncle. Ringing
the bell. she was shown into the re-
ception room, into the presence OF
Lena and old Mr.. Travers. who lay on
a couch. and Dick Travers himself
He started to his feet with cry OF
: joy.
) kissing her in front of the others
what has been the matter? I have
not had word from you for weeks
/ and | was half crazy with anxiety, and
6 was on the point Of going back to you
! but my uncle had another attack
= and
s'Dick. tell me what it all means,
she whispered. Aunt Emma says thai
Lena is married to-
Uncle Dick. Yes, my darling" ht
added in a whisper "She did that sc
that she might claim the Travers for
> tune and prevent you and me from in
: lheriting it. and she did not know unit
now. when Uncle Dick was telling her
5 that he had already made me his heir
land theofortune is mine and yours, ny
[ f..