The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-09-06
convent.

another well known and highly thought
of family, are today man and wife.
It is a story of counting under
parental objections, the placing of a girl
in a convent to hide her from her lover,
her dramatically romantic escape, and
marriage to the man of her choice. The
guarding of the secret by both families
for nearly a month is also a feature.
Abilene, Kan, was the scene of the
little romance. There St joseph s
Academy, Catholic convent is located.
In the shadow of its walls the last chap
ter in the story was written.
A little over year ago, Frances RoSer
and Jay Jordan first became acquainted.
She was then a Sophomore in the To-
peka high school, only Is and as sweet
and pretty a girl as there was in school.
He was just finishing his apprenticeship
as pressman at the Kansas State
Printing plant in Topeka.
He called on her at her home on To-
pe6a avenue and was a welcome visi-
tor. Her parents did not dream of their
contemplating marriage until at the be-
ginning of this summer, when some of
the members of the family feared that
they might be considering taking
hymeneal vows.
The girls father al once informed the
young man that he must cease his at
tentions to the girl. Jordan went to
Mrs. Roser and asked her what the OBJ
jectiOns were.
She replied: mo, it is not because
you are not wealthy. But Frances is
still too young"
Meetings between the two were for
bidden. They were refused permission
to correspond by letter. In fact only by
chance meetings did they see each other.
Then the ROser family decided that
Frances had better be sent away. Ac-
cordingly they gained admission for her
into st. Joseph's Academy at Abilene,
and she was entered there as a student
about the middle of July.
= Young Jordan knew nothing of her
whereabouts. He asked her relatives
for information about her, but it was
refused But he kept on in his search
and finally heard that she had been
sent to the Abilene convent.
Disguised as Tramp.
On August he went to the little Kan
sas town. He took with him the greasy
jumpers and blouse which he wore
while at work about the presses at the
State Printing plant. He dressed him
self in these clothes, put on an old
slouch hat, plentifully besprinkled him
self with dust, and started out for the
convent, looking for all the world like
a tramp.
When he arrived at the institution a
number of young ladies' were sitting on
the front porch of one of the dormitOries
pairing apples. He stopped at the well
TO get drink few feet from the porch
and looking up, found himself looking
straight into the eyes of the girl he
loved.
Though she blushed in confusion and
wonderment for a moment, she regain
ed her quick wits and readily under
stood. She did not betray in any way
that she recognized him, nor did he
show that he knew her.
Jordan walked up to the porch and
said: I have brother living around
here. I understand that I must take E
road some place west of this school
Can you tell me if there is one?"
Yes was the reply from several ot
the girls, there is a road going wesi
from here Just go east of the build
ings until you strike the fence, anc
there you will find the road
Frances Roser understood from that
p that her lover wanted to meet her some.
where near the school on the road lead.
ing westward from it. She did not pas:
a single word of conversation with hin
of any kind while on the porch.
Jordan went away. A little Will,
afterwards, after the pairing of tn,
apples was completed, Frances sug
gested to several of the smaller girl
that they play hide and SEEK The
readily assented and before very muci
time had passed, a bevy of them wer,
wildly romping around in the. famou
child's play.
This gave Frances RoseF chance t,