The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-14
THE EVENING STORY
Mr. Rnghee,s intention.

In the smoking room of an incoming
ocean liner two young men formed an
acquaintance, the one S. Augustus
Bugbee, as his card read, the other
Eugene Kenton. Bugbee was an Eng
lishman who evidently expected to see |
wild animals running in the streets of
the principal cities of America. He
informed Kenton that one of his faith
er's brothers had emigrated to the |
United States, had got rich and was /
expecting q visit from his nephew.
Kenton gathered from Mr.. Bugbee's
remarks that he was going to America |
to unite the two branches of the fam |
lily by marrying his cousin, Miss An |
nette Medbury. A further inference
was that the Englishman regarded his |
part in the matter a sacrifice which |
was only to be atoned for by the fact |
that the young lady was the sole heir |
of wealthy man. Bugbee's plan was |
to visit some interesting points in the |
new world, then join his uncle'S fam
lily in the mountains, naming ]. as the |
place of meeting, whereupon kenton
remarked that his mother usually went |
to the same place, that he would be 1
there with her and might have the
pleasure of meeting the young lady.
A week later Miss Medbury and Mr..
Kenton were introduced in the parlor
of the hotel in the mountains. Kenton
refrained from mentioning having met
her cousin.
Miss Medbury proved very agree
able companion. Kenton looked upon
her as an engaged young lady who
was permitting him to be companion
able to fill the time before the arrival
of Mr.. Bugbee. He put off mention
ing his having met the gentleman till
at last it occurred to him that he
would appear as having played a
somewhat undesirable role in keeping
his knowledge secret. Meanwhile
Miss Medbury showed unmistakable
signs of an especial preference for
Kenton's society. One evening while
fhou sitting in q corner of
the hotel they began the skirmishing
which usually comes between an init
macy and outspoken love.
"You go next week." said Miss Med
bury, looking down at a flower with
which she was toying. t'You will be
much missed here.
"Perhaps," replied Kenton, "some
one will come along to supply the
place 1 have taken, so far as you are
concerned"
'T expect no one who can fill the
place you have filed"
Possibly some day we shall meet
again. 1t may be in the mountains, at
the seashore, or perhaps you may be
married and living abroad
She looked at him out of the corner
of her eye. "Why do you say that ~
"It has occurred to me that you
would grace some old English home
where your position would be better
defined than here. With us the prom
/ inence given to blood has died out.
InGre 1t Is sui a feature.
when it is united with money"
Yes"
you think, then, that it would be
nice for me to marry some impover-
ished gentleman in England and take
his rank. I might marry into my own
family there. You know my father
came from England
Indeed"
yes, and what you propose has
been suggested. A cousin of mine is
I
pect him to join us here next week. ="
| Kenton did not like the situation.
In the first place, to think of the girl
taking his advice, marrying her cousin
and going where he would never see
her again was horrible to him; in the
secord place, when the lady should
| learn that he had met Mr.. Bugbee and
had said nothing to her about the
meeting she would give him the cold
"Have you ever seen him?" he
asked
"No."
Miss Medbury,' said Kenton, 'I
have a confession to make. And he
told her that he had met her cousin
II can understand your position
perfectly she said. Now tell me all
about him.
| Kenton was greatly relieved and re-
solved not to place himself in similar
position again. He gave description
of Mr.. Bugbee that had he heard it
| must have delighted that gentleman.
Miss Medbury listened till he had fin
lished.
It wish,'' she said ito ask you ques-
| ton to which 1 expect a reply on your
sacred honor. Do you think my cousin
| a man of whom I would be proud?"
THAT is not a question for me to de-
eide"
Il consider you friend,'' she contin-
ued after brief silence. Now, tell me
would you like to see me married to
4 the gentleman you met on the steam
er?''
IT would not
"Why?"
II should not like to see you married
to any one"
what, Would you have me remain
an old maid?"
mo"
ut seems to me you have placed me
on the horns of a dilemma-I am not
to marry or remain an old maid"
st did not finish my answer to one
of your questions. would have you
marry no one except myself
Miss Medbury burst out laughing.
Kenton looked rueful.
''Mr. Kenton," she said, laying hand
on his arm soothing, my cousin wrote
of his meeting with you and said you
would be here this summer. He spoke
of YOU very unkindly, at the same time
prejudicing me against him in other
respects
When the cousin appeared he found
the lady engaged. HAROLD OTIS.
--D