The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-17
TIE EVENING STORY
Blind as a Bat.

and caught its breath over the Taun-
ton girl when she swept through it
riding cross-saddle. To be sure the
town had been reading this long time
about the divided skirt. but then the
town was also not exactly sure in its
mind that riding its streets even upon
a proper side-saddle was not rather
bold.
OF course In the country It was diff
ferent-the very best young women
rode there; moreover II had come to
be sort of proverb among the planta-
ton folk that the hardest and most
reckless riders were town girl visitors.
Very few Of them had any mercy upon
the beasts luckless enough to carry
them-this not because they were
hard-hearted, but from sheer ignor-
ance and the pure animal delight of
nnd1ng themselves unfettered for
time They fretted not little, these
town bred riders, when the country
folk checked speed at hills, or insisted
that horse should have a chance to
blow bit after a hard gallop.
Possibly envy, the least touch-gaye
edge to their disapproval of Edith
Taunton. Edith had a fortune. and
three fine saddle horses. AS If that
We're not enough, Billy Drayton fell
into way of sharing her early gal
lops.
Until she came back to the old
homestead, Billy had not seen a sun
rise once q year. 1t was provokingly
signihcant-this change in him. He
had been the dispair of the town
matchmakers. He was a governors
grandson, rich, good looking, good
humored; further, he was a squire of
DANES so nobly impartial nobody ever
yet had been able to establish a claim
to him. The people he regarded most.
and was readiest to serve. were meek
old ladies who had known his mother,
and very little girls.
Edith was, he insisted, only a big
big empty house. What he did not
say was that he thought her coming
back to it something so fine and brave
he was bent on helping her fight down
the loneliness and make her own So
cial place.
This in the beginning-until the
town gossips took to craning the neck,
shaking the head, and drawing aside
the least bit when the girl came among
them. Billy saw the head shaking, the
drawing back a long time before she
did-she was open, and unsuspicious
as daylight, and had no thought of
treading on the corns of town propriety
in anything she did. But, being also
| full of quick intuitoins after a while
she understood.
And then2 Then only she really did
set out to horrify the good gentle
women. She drove tandem through
tHO lHiQuk6 u the EQudICf SittlHS up
very straight, looking neither to right
nor left, but pulling up at the corner
! by the bank to pick up Billy and take
/ him away with her. Next week it was
a card party-wholly masculine in
/ composition. except for Edith herself
and the colorless cousin who served as
! her companion. There were wine and
cigars and a supper Afterwards very
late supper.
The town thrilled with the horror of
/ T3,1f no n = little later when
everybody knew that thereafter. upon
! Sunday evenings, Edith meant to be 1t
home to her friends.
If Billy had known in time that never
would have come to pass. But he had
gone away for a fortnight right after
the night at cards. first making Edith
promise to have no more such assem-
blies until he was there to give her
countenance and protection.
When he came back and found the
mischief done he was in a sad taking.
4 see just one way out of it--you
have got to marry me, else you won
have a rag of reputation left" he said,
pretending to shake her hard.
Edith made q mutinous mouth at him.
Suppose we try some other sacriflcial
lamb Aren't you most too old-and
tough?" she asked, her eyes dancing
wicked1y.
Billy grinned cheerfully. You can
have carloads of 'em for the taking
/ nice White Ddd-ldD1D S-Dul QOn De-
lieve they'd be the least effectuaI,' he
said. you see. what you need, really,
is not a sacrifice, but a scapegoat. I'm
strong enough to have your sins con-
fessed over my head, and thenceforth
imputed to me-
But scapegoats have to be sent away
out into the wilderness. 1 learned that
/ much at Sunday school. And I can't
have you go away" Edith protested.
Besides, I'm not doing anything hor-
rid 1 shall 90 to church mornings,
| Just the Same-as for the evenings, you
know yourself other girls go to church.
then, mainly to have somebody after
ward. making love to them. 1 really
feel like a missionary-the boys can
| come here and rest, or talk, or do any
have no choice at all-they must either
NOPE at home or go out and court some
body-and that must be dreadfully
! wearing
1T is" Billy said. fervently. his eyes
reminiscent. But. my dear girl, you
had better give it up. Get q telegram
calling you away-I1I send 1t If your
conscience is against fbbing-''
MY conscience is not against any
thing necessary you know hbs
are necessary Edith interrupted
But have much more conscience
against backing out of anything just
because I'm afraid of some old tabby
cats-and young Ones"
"Tabby cats have claws" Billy said
oracularly.
Edith looked at him doubtfulIy g
minute. 81 know-they try even tc
scratch you" she said. And then
quickly. her eyes flaming: 'sThey actu.
ally came here, three of them. to tel
me about your past
''They did ~ Billy's voice was dead.
" quiet. And your"
AZ said it did not interest me Il
know about tall I was concernec
swered, her voice trembling a little
although her eyes were brave.
Billy got up and stretched himself
THAT settles it, he said. Name tbs
daylight off-so can go order wed
ding cards.