The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-10-17
THE EVENING STOR \
YOUNG Atherlev's Luck.

Inc morning sun lay warm esAAN - Z
after the rain of the night oeIofet sii4
young A1herIey, as his horse Aok5eQ
easily along the wide range. sang aAouQ
for very joy OF IightheartedTess III
here. away from cities and eroRVas,
The train was in, and Ather1ey hur-
/ ried around the corner, then 4aAtS4
suddenly, dazzled by the vision Wnlcn
confronted him. On the ieWsL 4 $500,
OF a car near the middle OF the tram
stood girl, her fair hair bloWi11s ~
/ the wind, her hands full Of PINK ioSsss
/ her eyes gazing straight into ms. Hot
a second neither moved Ihen, a. :.
voice from within called IA arlolt
/ the girl, with a quick flush, turned. ~
the steps. and Atherley, stricken VIII. !.
/ the consciousness of his dusty cl1a5s,
huge spurs and s0mbrerDs snpRsa
j back. He had quite forgotten ms 4et-
tier.
The engine gave preliminary snort,
/ the conductor yelled All aboard! Due
Atherley still stood n1otiOnless, his eyes
i fixed on the car wherein she had as
| appeared. AS the slow length OF the
/ train began to move the glfl sllppeu
/ back to the platform for a moment,
ana on the ground, almost at amer
Iey's feet, fell q pink rose.
/ To spring forward, seize the noWers
/ then swing aboard the last car as y
passed, was to Atherley but the work
of another moment. Before he had
fairly realized it he was on the train
and speeding eastward as fast as steam
could carry him.
Practical thoughts forced d way and
his first act was to take account OF
stock.
@Jin win take the horse back he
reasoned. ITS all right. Luckily I have
just about enough for my ticket TO
New York Somehow he had decld-
ed that she lived in New York And
as for meals. well who knows what
! may turn up?" with cheerful optimism
At the next stop he sneaked forward
/ to the smoking car and sat down TO
] think things over She was certainly a
1 mighty pretty girl! AtheFley, feeling
for the rose hidden in his breast pocket.
concluded that he would probably not
regret his action.
"But I've got to get busy on the
food question:
There were three or four other men
in the car, the younger ones chatting
together, and another, rather old, read
ing in q, corner. All eyed him curiousIy,
and Atherley had an inspiration If
he worked them right, amused Ihenls
told them queer experiences, they might
supply him with food and drink, and as
for cigars well, he must husband those
he had carefully. In pursuance of this
idea he moved nearer, and soon held
the group enthraIled with his breezy
frankness.
4 $50 you really just jumped on the
i train and came asked an older man at
I length, when Billy. had grown weary
|
no other reason than that you wanted
to see the World2" Atherley laughed
rather shamefacdly.
That's what I told those fellows. But
I don't mind telling you the truth 1t
WIS on account Of a girl he said,
haltingIy. The older mans lips
twitehed.
"a girl How SEP
''I saw her on the car STEP confess
ed Atherley. "And-and I liked her,
] L. FL , --r-f4
did he care to mention the rose. Il
wonder if you have seen herr" he adj
ded, eagerly. HShe had on some kind
of a blue skirt, with white waist,
and carried some roses. They called
her Marion ;"
The older man started.
"Marion!'' he exclaimed, why, that's
my daughter unthinhngly. Then he
stopped, rather annoyed. A young
! ranchman, no matter how charming
and gentiemanly, was hardly a person
to be presented to the carefully guard
ed Marion. But AtherIey was too abb
sorbed to notice the hesitation.
Your daughteri'' he cried. Really
your daughter, oh, what luck; that
/ will save me an awful lot of time and
! trouble expected the deuce Of q. job
I should Go it in the end he added,
confidently. do you mind telling me
your manner"
! INV flame9"s divided between indig-
lbuthnot', he declared, rather POM
pously. But Atherley was clearly I'M
aBetter and better he cried; II al
ways was a lucky chap joyouslyi
The elder man leaned back and stared
at him.
my dear young man. began he, in
his most formal manner, II think we
must understand each other GER
btainly fail to see where the luck comes
. in Atherley, staring in his turn be.
came suddenly enlightened.
"Of course. You mean that you
don't know me- he cried. ooh. that's
all right" easily. 1--WE heard dad
speak of you hundreds of times. I'm
Billy Ather1ey, and I've just been out
: looking up some properties in the
4 The older mans brow cleared some
Not william H. Atherley's son p
Atherley nodded.
1.-THE same. So now won't you in
troduce me to your daughter7'' visit
fully ut would save a lot Of time
Arbuthnot his gray eyes twinkIing
looked at the young fellow duizzically,
IF you are much like your father,
and think you are, you would hardly
be apt to wait long for my services, -
| he remarked loosely Come along
then. All I ask of you is please not
to get married before we reach New
York" The tone strove to be stern,
but young Atherley laughed happily
81 make no promises, he declared
with gay defiance. "Oh. here, hold on
a moment as a sudden recollection
of his unmailed letter required to
him Pulling out the envelope he tore
T it into fragments, letting the pieces
float out of the open window.
1T was to say that wasn't coming
] home he explained. ri will tele-
graph from Chicago. Now, if you are
ready''-A. M. D. Ogden, in San
Francisco Call.