The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-09-12
TIE EVENING STOR r
The Regeneration Of ChiIton FORESTER.

The Rejuvenaf10n OF Chiffon FORESTER.
by Constance d Arcy Mackay.
Olivia Forester descended from her
auto and looked about her helplessly.
As far as she could see the road
stretched away dusty and desoIate. It
was the haying season. Farmers were
busy with their crops and passers-b y
were few. Olivia's car stood half IN
and half out OF the wayside ditch and
It was beyond her power to move 1t.
There was nothing to be done but walt.
If deliverance in any guise approached
she could readily signal 1t, for she
stood on the crest of a hill.
Below her the countryside lay like a
green map. The clear air Knocked dis
lance ana brought things wonderfully
near-the cluster of houses that
formed Oakdale village. beyond these
the gray gables of her own home and
stiH farther away the shining roof u
Willoughby Manor.
It was at the latter that she looked
with the most interest, for the Fores-
ter-Wilioughby feud, beginning about a
land line, had continued for two gen
erations. The elder Winoughby had
died, but Broughton Willoughby had
returned from college and the man
or was reopened.
The villagers, who took a lively in
terest in the two families, declared him
to be a fine, sensible young man, nor
was Olivia whit less popular. People
liked to wait for her smile and nod
as she gallowed past Recently her
motor had taken the place OF her
horse, a course of which her 1ather
heartily disapproyed for he hated
modern innovations.
His role of hostile neighbor was only
one of many idiosyncrasies. Trains
filed him with a horror unspeakable-
1t was his boast that he had never
ridden in a sleeper. He loathed the
hustle of a city life, and chung tena-
ciOusly to his New England homestead,
whose inaccessibility rendered It dou-
bly, dear to him. Olivia often leased
him by saying she was sure ne would
like to keep her at home beside
spinning wheel.
ter than what you have chosen! With
such a hideous, snorting thing as that
how can you expect to come to any
thing but grief? And though Murray,
you call it-cha uffeur ?-you insist IN
going about the country alone. You
are a modern. Olivia. and wash my
hands of you!'
Yet now, as Olivia was experiencing
her first breakdown. she recalled her
fathers words with a twinge OF ap-
prehension, and it was relief to hear
another machine approaching re-
lief which turned to CONSERVATION
when she saw its occupant. Young
Willoughby coolly ignored the embar-
rassment of the situation.
4 beg your pardon he said, pleas
antly, but can 1 be of some assist
ance -
ssThank YOU" answered Olivia, con-
fusedly. ct wont move either way
and can't ind out what's the matter
with it." Nor could Willoughby when,
after twenty minutes work, he man
aged to get 1t from the ditch.
There doesn't seem to be any help
in sight" he observed, cheerfully, after
looking up and down the road. Will
YOU let me take your motor in tow 2"
Olivia hesitated. But what had a
family feud to do with a breakdown
eff YOU will be SO good she muir
INJURED. and gathering her dress about
her she stepped into her own car
She leaned back with d. sigh OF re-
lief. At least she would not have to
talk to him Then the absurdity Of the
affair struck her. She realized how
she would look whirling through the
village streets as If taken captive by
Willoughby- Instantly her pride was
VI, If. arms At the edge of the village
she called to him and he slowed down
Immediately.
err YOU left me here. I'm sure some
farmers team will be passing and take
me the rest of the way; and 1 am
most grateful to you for the assistance
you have given me.
was the greatest pACdSuA % ~
Willoughby, and, raising his cap, was
gone.
But olivia was sure that the farm
er.s team which came to her aid few
moments afterward was of his send
ing, and though she told herself 1t was
the uneventfulness of her life that
made the afternoons occurrence seem
of so much importance, yet she took
pleasure in mentally recalling each in
cident. Indeed, so much did Wlllougn-
by occupy her thoughts that she was
arcelv surprised when a few days
later. scudding home against a wind
that presaged storm. q turn OF the
road brought Willoughby into view:
He was on his knees in the middle OF
the road. apparently investigating his
.sThe snarker doesn't connect" he
said. in answer to her question, and
quickly accepted her offer or assist
ance They started homeward IN COM
pIete reversal of the parts they had
nIaxed before. Now 1t was Olivia's mo-
tor that went CALAMITY ahead. while
Wi1Ioughbv and his car trailed In the
rear. They were still some twenty
miles from Oakdale, the wind was
steadily rising and few great drops
of rain began to fall.
Now thought Olivia as they sped
forward, 81 have Cancelled the debt.
We are square. There need be no fur
Their exchange of courtesies-" Yet even
as THIS CEOSScQ A4Si 4A4A+A1 AA~A
came to a sudden Earring stop Both
she and Willoughby alighted.
TITS the aspiration pipe, he said.
irving to keep a note of mirth from
his voice. sI'n have to have another
try at ny. machine. Perhaps by this
time it's changed its mind There
you seel'' and his car began putting
with an alacrity which might have
awakened Olivia's suspicious, but she
had no chance to anaiyze her emo
TITS a good thing my machine is
covered. . he went on. for we are go
ing to have a bit of a storm" He
snatched up his dust-colored coat and
held It out for her. I'm sorry It's
so cumbersome" he said. smiling,
Though at least it's a protection
Olivia was lost in the folds Of it,
and the wind whipped her veil out
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