The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-11
THE EVENING STORY


quoted spitefully to her partial name
sake. Margaret Emmeline.
The Emmeline had been a standing
grievance ever since the girl was chris
tened. Aunt Mag, otherwise Miss
Bronson, had an instinct of jealous
supremacy toward whatever was ner
own. Being a just person she called
her only niece by the awkward Iuli
name, Notwithstanding in all other
mouths she was simply Emmy. Inal
was the worst of it. Miss Bronson IN
her own mind, accused Emmy's meek
mother of having plotted 1t from the
first. Naturally she had not shed many
tears when the offender slipped apoio-
getically out of life. leaving Emmy 70
the untender mercies of her master1ui
sister-in-law. Handsome, luckless,
Jack Bronson, the father, had dleu
soon after Emmy was bOrn-d1ed on
the ocean. and been buried at sea. a.
least that was what his sister nad
given out The widow had said notn-
ing. Neither had she worn black-to
the anger of Miss Bronson ana the
great scandal of the village. For once
the slfm-faced woman, who was com
monty as wax in stronger hands, had
Withstood her world, saying only Win
a dreamy, wistful look: Jack unoeF-
stands"
Emmy was her father over again
dark-eyed olive skinned, with red lips
delicately curved, and cheeks IKE
damask roses. She had his gay tenn
per also, his high head, his habit OF
getting her own way, in spite OF every
thing The village unanimously pro
nounced her a handful-even Tor MISS
Bronson, whose hand was not ight.
Emmy was fourteen when her mothel
died. 1t was standing marVel ~
everybody that she had gone quietly
away to boarding school at Miss Broh-
sons orders, albeit heretofore she nad
hated and houted schools OF every sort.
It was even a greater surprise 10 A s 70
her come back four years Iater, JUS
the same Emmy for all ner "ohueAA1A
accomplishments.
It was plain she did not love Aunt
Mag, but the two kept truce Win eao "a
other. Those who wondered a. -
might have understood had they hearo
poor Lena Bronson's dying adInoni-
ton: "Obey your Aunt Margaret. he
member what we owe her Unt!l- IN
less the debt is paid-it rests with you u
TO make her the only possible return.
TIL ere had been no need to be more
understotR 1nrOuSn
a passion of tears she had sopDeu III
answer: 81 WILL
Obedience had been hard and wearing
often. but she had finched until II
came to the question of marriage MISS
BronsOn's precepts were all against nSl
example. Il want you to marry ~ -
and marry WE'LL" she had sald 70
Emmy as soon as the girl came nome
For a year she had said nothing more,
save in a general way, put Emmy nau
come to understand what ner eLuei
meant by marrying we'll Cllfre Cor
ton was the only one among her nan
dozen beaux Miss Bronson ap'foNeu-
She had to approve him, 1ndeeu' seems
that she had at least halt ralseo mn IN
Judge Cotton, his father. had been heF
man of business ever since ner own
father died. His wife, fabby ana an
invalid had been pretty Well unuer
Miss Bronson's thumb-so naa ner soli,
who was after a sort, her image mace
vigorous and vital. From his craole
Cliffe had Leen prize pretty poy-ds
fair and Dlue-eyed as Emmy Wds
neach-tinted. Although he was three
wears older she = had fhrasheds hl11l
roundly in the era of short frocks- Pos
sibly it was some reflex memory OF tns
thrashing which made, him as ioVeE'
appear to her ridiculously impossible
IF my wishes were horses ia surely
ride away from Granby-and every
thing" she said, signing family as she
glanced at Miss Bronson
Miss Bronson froWned heaVlly-
dare say you'd take the road to owen
ton" she said pointedly. Let's nave
this thing out, Margaret Emmeilne-
see no use in beating about the Dusn.
Yo,, were well enough content here I'M
til Cliffe Gorton proposed to you, ana
that scatteredbrained young Hyl ls-L!4
came to town. Even you must adInil
that there is no comparison possible
between the two men. Cliffe has every
thing in his favor, Hyland nothing. In
spite of that, since you seem to fancy
him
"Oh! But I don't You are wrong-all
wrong Emmy interrupted-with, how
ever a furious blush
Miss Bronson went on as though she
had not spoken: should let you
Whoever marries you must be told
the truth. Cliffs knows it already
besides he understands. l have done
and borne much out of love for my
fathers name. Your father disgraced
you must not say so. Nobody was
ever quite sure" Emmy painted. her
cheeks very white. Miss Bronson
glanced at her dry-eyed, then looked
away Her own lips were ashen, but
they laughed bitterly as she said:
'You mean everybody was sure-ex-
cept your poor. foolish mother. She
believed her husband-ag ainst right
and reason-against the whole world.
Do you know exactly what happened?
[ thought not" as Emmy shook her
mead.
1T was this: NY brother. in desper-
ate straits for money, went into Judge
Cliffe's office to beg him for loan.
1t vas late afternoon"he knew the
Judge had just been paid several thou
sand dollars which he could not bank.
The money, indeed, was in letter tray
or his desk, ready to 90 into the safe.
There was a great hurry burly in the
coming and going,
clerks getting ready to shut up every
thing The Judge WAS in and out of
the main office a dozen times while
your father sat beside the desk and
tray of money. Two men, clerks there,
saw him pick it uD and finger the bills
In it, Two others heard him entreat-
ing the Judge a little later to lend him
even one thousand dollars The judge
'Of course He would refuse money
to the dying" Emmy broke in, her
eyes flashing.
Miss Bronson frowned. He is a just
nsn-and kind. else where would we
be p she said. but to go on. My
brother kept the judge so late every
body else had gone, and the safe was
still to be shut. The money tray and
several other trays were upon the
1esk. Your father helped the judge
,,stla them inside 1t. then rushed