The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-29
THE EVENING STORY

7-7-17lN- = II -NN7l ~ 2 -
BY Anna Steese Richardson.)

It was pretty generally understood
that the Billy Daltons we're drifting
apart. There was no particular reason
for this state of affairs, save the lack
Of something better to do.
You see, they had just enough
money so that Billy did not have to
work, nor Janet to worry about max
ing both ends met. They had danced
their way through several seasons into
a lazy, good humored and comrade-
like engagement, thence into matri-
mony. After that Billy had continued
to lead cotillons and Janet to dance
them-but generally with other part
ners.
Matters between them had reached
the point where the rumor-laden so
ciety papers had suggested covertly
that when Billy went to England ana
Scotland, where he had nothing IN
particular to do Janet would prob
ably take up her home in Nevada or
South Dakota, there to remain until
Norman Stanley returned from Africa
where nc was fighting ennui BY hunt-
ing big game. It was even Whispered
that Billy Dalton had insinuated to
Stanley that it was rather better taste
to stalk big game than another man s
wife especially when the other man
was perfectly willing to make 1t clear
sailing for his wife II it would make
her any happier.
OF course, this sounds a bit strong
on paper, particularly to the old-fash-
toned folk who still believe that mar
rage is a contract for life and not
mere episode. In the set to which the
Billy Daltons belonged the SITUATION
was accepted as a matter of course,
and when Janet asked a lot of people
down to their Long Island place Tor
the automobile races and the Week
end, no one thought of refusing Just
because the Daltons might separate
within a fortnight after the gather
ing.
Such was the situation when the
Dalton car broke down on the jericho
turnpike, and its occupants, Janet,
Mrs. GreenwaIt. Joe Jeffreys and
Marsh" Huntoon, decided to cut
through the woods to the Dalton place
and leave the car for farmer 10
guard until the mechanic who handled
the Dalton garage could be dispatched
to the scene of the accident.
Perhaps it was not entirely impatlence
which led them to take the short cut
through the woods. but the call Of
hundred autumn voices, in rustnng
leaves, rich warm cOlOFings and the
chatter Of squirrels laying up winter
stores. And thus it was that they sud
denly stopped in their tracks and list
ened to sound that was not OF the
woods, but Of the nursery, the plalntlve
wall of child. Janet it was who found
it-a bit of white-faced, staring-eyed
humanity rolled up snu sly in great
shawl of Iceland WOOL
While she held the baby in her arms
and tried to sflenc9 its walls with un-
certain and awkward little pettings, the
quartette held conference. The child
was too young to have walked there
Mrs GreenWalt said it was not day
over two months old. It was too far
from the road to be heard by passing
travellers. All there was the answer
wisp of paper, tied to the end Of the
ssr91assa +al~e care of little Elsie It
was not her fault that she came into
the woodland I can do no more"
I've always said that the government
ought to regulate the question Of mar
rage among the poor" remarked Mrs.
Greenwalt severely. Here is case IN
You are jumping at conclusions. ?
said Huntoon dryly. Lets take 1t to
the town marshal
And what then p asked Janet, with
out lifting her gaze from the child's
face. The baby had clutched her finger
with it's tiny fist and settled down as If
it had found anchorage
"Oh, there are asylums and homes for
youngsters like this. You'd better hur-
ry along home with it before It begins
TO howl. One of your men can take it
to town before dark Shall carry the
little beggar for your
"Oh, no-she's not q bit heavy and
she is quiet now. She might cry il we
changed her position
InFX lIuURCV Oh lnIOukA
leaves and soft Indian summer haze,
three of the party chatting gaiiy; two,
the young wife and the baby, looking
into each others eyes as if searching
for a new key to the problem of life.
Sometimes Janet wished that the child
would close it's eyes. She did not like
to meet that trustful, cfear-eyed gaze
Have you disposed of the young
ster?'' asked Marsh Huntoon. as they
sat down to dinner that night.
Janet started and looked across the
table at her husband. Re lifted his eye
brows 1uQuiringly.
HuntOOn's good humOred laugh
broke the awkward silence.
What? Don't you know that our
party was increased by one during our
ride this afternoon? Rather a small
one but my, what lungs 1t has"
Janet drew in her breath sharply.
II wish you would not talk any more
about 1t at present. good people" she
said trying to speak lightly. i've
started inquiries in a quiet way. I
don't want the thing to get into the
papers-because If no one claims little
Elsie. I think II shall keep her.
Keep her!" gssped Mrs. GreenwaIt.
''Why, my dear girl, the place for a
child without a name is a founding
Janet spoke very softly. yet every
word was heard, so complete was the
silence.
Il shall give her a name because
once=just once-I saw a line OF chill
dren walking, rows and rows, by twos,
from an asylum. can't send her
there
Mentally, she saw again those clear,
trusting blue eyes.
land 1 know YOU will all be kind
enough to keep this very quiet until
there was just a slight, tense hesita-
ton, until we decide what shall be
done
Naturally, it was talked about, how
ever In boudoirs and at clubs the
question was raised as to what name
little Elsie would acquire. Was It not
bad enough to be facing a divorce resi-
dence in thA far west without acouir-
ing an unnecessary encumbrance at the
crucial moment?
Within the Dalton bungalow on Long