The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-15
TIE EVENING STORY
subsdtution-and Weddings.

blotches it ran straight to the wicket
gate IN the hedge. The path to the
gate led around. almost under the
library windows. Therefore she had
avoided 1t. She did not want to be
spled upon, and though the library
commonly was empty until long after
sunrise, she had come to believe there
was no counting on where Miss
Prudence Weir would be at any special
hour
The wicket gave upon a lane, shady
4 and secluded, yet a public passway,
Notwithstanding both sides OF it be-
! lOnged to Elizabeth's Uncle Dan. He
had been trying TO close 1t ever since
i he bought the old Mears place, but his
rustic neighbors had held stout1y to
their right Of way. So the young man
walking slowly along the lane was no
tresspasser, albeit he walked warily,
keeping close to the hedge. Elizabeth
smiled shamelessly to see him. Now
( that she had really brought herself to
a clandestine meeting, she was all IN a
happy futter and amazed at her own
lhesitancy.
Yet she said, smiling up at her tall
sweetheart. You must go right back.
Billy Must-do you hear? Miss
I Prudence Weir sleeps with both ears
and one eye open Besides, she gets
up early more than half the time And
you know she can make Dandy believe
anything in the world=except that he
ought to marry her.
'H-ml That's a pity! Skepticism
on any other point would be less in
convenient" Billy Nedwin painted,
hurrying Elizabeth along the lane to-
ward the woods beyond the main trav-
eled road. It was not at all the way
he should go to go home, but some
how Elizabeth. made no protest.
/ soon they were walking through
deW-sweet shade. with birds singing
thin and sweet above their heads.
And presently Billy had his arms about
Elizabeth and was saying, with his
lips IN her hair eHoney-girl, I've been
Think" hard. Miss Weir is the lion
in our path-and there's just one way
to get round her
''What?" Elizabeth interrupted, lift
/ ing her head a little. Billy looked up
among the leaves and cOlOred family
as he answered. "Oh, we must show
Dandy how deceitfu1 she ts-shes made
him believe it would be sin to let me
/ have you-don't you think it would
shake his faith in her. if he knew she
was willing to take me herself2"
I Billy Elizabeth exploded, shaking
with laughter, you wouldn't dare pro-
pose to her. Can you live through a
breach of promise suit2 If only YOU
could do IT. But you never in the world
can
sure you won't be jealous2" Bills
asked. pinching her ear.
She made a face at him as she an
swered; Just you try It. Why, ever
If the worst hapDened-ff you got tan
gled past getting out should have al
least the heavenly satisfaction of know
ing she had showed herself to DANDY
the cat she is.
Trust me not TO get tangled" Billy
protested. What else he said is not
strictly material to this narrative. al
though it sent Elizabeth home at last
with happy eyes and the color of a wilt
rose.
Oftimes fortune favors the daring. Bill
ly's plan almost executed Itself. Iht
execution began with his rescue or tns
pudgy Miss Weir from a runaway thai
was not in the least dangerous, bui
which gave her mortal scare "
course he went back with her to the
gate, stopping there TO explain elaoor-
/ ately that he had somehow incurred tnf
displeasure of Mr.. Daniel Goodwood
and been forbidden the premises. That
Of course, gave him excuse to ask i
he might inquire by letter after MISS
Weir's health. One letter quickly ane
easily bred another, and from writing
it was but a step to meeting-either IL
the lane or in the wood beyond AM
! talking of many things.
Miss Weir was rising thirty-just I'VE
: years Billy's elder, but so hght-coiofeo
/ and plump she hattered herself It look
ed the other way. She loved ease, and
co0seouence-W that fer five years
past she had been trying deieately tc
marry Uncle Dandy. She had only
succeeded in becoming after sort his
sociaI Watchdog
> He had a great opinion of Elizabeth
, his heiress. and wanted to match hel
| well If she was to be matched at az
Miss Weir had about lost hope Of Uncle
Dandy when Billy CO me on the scene
Billy knew pretty well all there was e
: know of love-making. This time ~
: chose to make It in hypothetical fash
? ion. He began impersonally by descrlo-
{ ing a young fellow who had set nls
ewes and heart upon one so far a'povf
In +. hone
' less of winning her, and had descended
: to trihing with mere ordinary girls
: by way Of filing an achine
, void Then he pictured tn'
2 ladv - her eyes were heaven
: blue her skin all lily ard rose, her hail
like spun sunshine, her voice flute
I But that was as nothing beside hel
t loftier charns-her soul, her spirit, ne
[ angelic nature-which made mere or
binary sinner groVel in dust whenever
he LET himself feel what temerity 1t Waz
to love her. Thus far Billy got by TIT
e end of the second week Naturally i
s was but little later than the lady was
forced to discover herself in the faH
unknown.
: Then Billy played fLer than ever. H
would not speak the worsEipper's mann
T she must guess 1t. But ne Woula
with her permission, send her letter
0 unsigned-from the worsEipper-one
e some faint way setting forth all tina
I was in his heart And she bound her
self to reply to it-reply as her hear
I directed. Billy had hard work to keel
Z from shouting when he heard that Blu
by holding himself hard in hand he KEEP
a proper face, and hurried on TO con
: suit his best chunl--also very anclen
e complete Letter Writer"
Miss Weir did reply from full heart
! Indeed the heart stopped over bit
She called narne=Billy's name wit
, endearing variations More, she whis
fTs5 5ouTu the wind his pleas Of IN
4 v-orthircss-he was a deTni-god at leas
among men-she rejoiced to hail an
own him. king Of her affections. Mari.
hfra2 She would be happier as his VIII
: than any crowned queen His modes
e eog.t5,ra'' did not count at all He
r TOT lull5 1iu 10 ,s,.s ~,assst ana :