The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-30
TIE EVENING STORY


A thrill whistle echoed along the sun
ny avenue. Mary Dexter jumped from
her seat on the porch. scattering en-
broidery silks in all directions. She
waved her handkerchief in response.
Tim she ran into the house Gazing
Aunt Linda! Where are you. Here's
Dave Green to see your
Without waiting for a reply she re-
turned to the porch just in time 20 greet
the young man who came up the steps
Glad to see me, Mary2'' he asked, as
with a hasty glance around, she put UP
her face for kiss. Then the two sat
down on the top step in earnest, sub
dued conversation Mary Dexter was a
blow complexion. Today. wearing q
simple white frock, she looked her best
and knew it.
In a few minutes an elderly woman
came out the front door. Her hair, worn
as a coronet, was silvery white, though
she was only forty. Age had touched
her face lightly. pressing in the wrinkles
with loving fingers that left only sweet
ness in the expression. Rumor told
romantic tale of Linda Pennington's life
and, for once. Rumor was right. girl
ish engagement with a young army Off
Ger who fell in his first battle, a few
years as a nurse in the war interrupt
ed by a marriage with Lyah Penntng-
ton, early widowhood and a subsequent
life devoted to good work-these were
among the incidents in her story For
many years all her plans had been for
Mary. whom she had adopted long
ago.
Mrs. Pennington had taken 3 great
interest in Mary because she came from
her own town, and the case Of the child
was particularly pitiful, for there were
no near relatives to whom she could be
sent.
Fresh from the sadness caused by the
death of her husband, Linda found the
child's companionship a great comfort
Mary mad passed serenely through the
stages of childhood and youth and now
at nineteen, under the training of pTi-
vate tutors. was prepared to enter Mer-
ton college in the fall. After graduation
endless possibilities opened before her
This was the situation that July morn
ing when Mrs. Pennington came out on
the porch and greeted young David
Green, one of Mary's admirers.
He was a manly fellow of twenty
one, son of a prosperous farmer Of the
rural district. He had lately been
given a good sized tract OF land by his
father with the instruction to "see
what he could do with it, and he was
doing well.
You've just come back from New
York. haven't you, David?" asked Mrs
Pennington.
yes" said Mary. ''He's been away
two whole days"
The sigh with which this was said
brought a laugh from the other two
Mrs. Pennington seated herself in the
rocker.
''Why. Mary" she said. sis this your
embroidery on the floor? Pick it up
before it gets dirty
The girl leaned back comfortably
against the railing. You pick # up,
Dave" she said indiferently. and the
young man did so. But Linda bit her
lip in vexation. It was a little thing
but characteristic Of the way Mary
made all her friends wait on her
Did you go away on business.
David ?" she asked hastily
Moves I don't know as
you'd call it exactly business"
ST should" said Mary decidedly;
just now. Dave" The lad laughed, en-
barrassed.
"Dear me. this sounds very rnys-
terious.'' said Mrs. Pennington smiling.
What is It all about?"
Il went to get something for Mary"
said David.
And here It is" said the girl. hold
ing out her left hand. isn't it a
beauty Aunt Linda p A handsome
solitaire flashed into view.
The significance of the stone did not
enter Linda Pennington's mind, for il
was many years since she had thought
of such things. MARY. you know you
may not receive presents Of JeWelry
from young men, she was beginning,
but the words died on her lips Mary
and David, looking for some sign of
approval, read in her face grief, disap-
pointment and refusal.
Aren't you pleased ?" went on the
girl. We've been engaged since
Christmas. Before I visited Florrie
Tucker. Dave asked me and said I'D
see Then while I was away he kept
writing to me-and I always did like
him best of any of the boys-so just
had to say Yes He's so obstinate,
Dave is, he wouldn't take No.
"Of course I am very much sur
prised," Linda said when she could
trust herself to speak. II think you
are both too young to talk Of such
things. Besides, you are going to coll
lege soon, Mary, and I do not approve
of indefinite engagements.
But there's nothing indefinite about
our engagement, replied the girl air
ily twisting the ring on her finger.
I'VE are to be married in September"
"oh. yes. its all settled" nodding
her head. II wrote this morning to
Merton cancelling my application. I'm
tired Of study-what is the use of It?
I know more now than any other girl
or boy almost-in Dorsettown. Just
think. after September I'll never have
to study any more!"
Mrs. Pennington rose in wrath from
her chair. Mary" she cried sharply,
you don't know what you're saying.
You are giving up careIessly what
would give years of my life to have had
when I was a girl-what you will al
ways regret giving up. I don't often
exercise my authority as your guar
dian, but when you act like silly
child I must. I ask yeu-no, 1 order
you=to break this engagement"
Mary sprang up and stamped her
foot angrily. well, WON'T" she
cried. And you can't make me; I'm
nineteen years old"
Linda sank back in the chair with
trembling lips. The mother who had
eloped was speaking through her
daughter. MARY, If you love me-" she
pleaded. but she knew it would be no
use The girls heredity was showing,
and she must bow to the inevitable.
Mary never would understand what
a blow this was to her guardians am