The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-09-01
TIE EVENING STOR r

rBv lola FORESTER.


Sue varian pulled up the bay mare
short in the middle of the road and
stared at the objects in the shade of the
NAPLES. There were two-that is, two
as main points Of interest One was
large red automobile The other was
young man lying comfortably on the
front seat of the red automobile, fast
asleep. incidentally, even in the lay eye
of tnexperience, there was Enthusiastically
something the matter with the red au-
tomobile. It was lopsided, and the front
part-sue didn't know the technical
term-but the main front part appeared
to be dislocated. It looked like a toy tin
auto that had been stepped on.
But there was nothing the matter
with the young man. He was sleeping
peacefully. calmly, his knees elevated
tentwise. his arms folded like slum-
bering brave in effigy on his breast, and
Sue laughed softly to herself and look
ed up and down the road.
It was deserted. Between six and
seven hardly any one ever passed along
the shore road It was the dinner hour
up at the Inn. And people who knew
what they were about never took the
shore road, anyway, not with red auto
mobiles. 1t was short cut. OF course
to the Inn, but primarily, and legally
1t was a private road leading TO the "a
rian estate, and TO Hartley Varians
mind the only blot on the fair face of
nature in the summer time were sum-
naer boarders and red automobiles
Suddenly the young man moved rest
lessly. Mosquitoes were plentiful in the
shade OF the naples. He sighed, open
ed his eyes, caught sight of the bay
mare and neat black road cart, and sat
up
Has he got back?'
The question was one of dazed con-
Germ. Sue returned his stare with grave
interest.
Il don't know what you mean. You
have had some accident?"
Some accidentlp The young man be-
came troubled and explosive We
came mighty near killing ourselves, and
smashing the machine to splinters over
that-that-rope. Didn't you see the
roper"
"A roper" Miss Varian's tone was
mild and sympathetic.
Stretched across the road on pur-
pose, and we rode bang into it. Wilson,
that's the chauffeur. has gone some
where to get help. We missed the road
few miles back
Were you hurt ?"
Just a little jolted. 1 presume the
owner of the rope hoped for u
nerals-'
There was a funeral here a few days
ago. interposed Miss varian gently.
THAT is why the rope was put up,
believe. to turn back any stray autos
and prevent any more funerals. A red
one ran over q. calf
..CaIf?"
1T was a pet calf resumed Miss
Varian, firmly. And it was with its
mother. It had a perfect right to ram
bic along this road, and AUTOMOBILES
haven't. It's a private road. Dion [
you read the sign on the stone gate
posts when you turned in?"
The sign said simply. No trespass-
ing. Tramps and dogs keep out I'm
neither a tramp nor a dog, SO I came
in.
well. the rope wasn't stretched for a
tramp or a dog
The trespasser was silent for the first
time Climbing out Of his machine he
STROBE over to the cart and looked up
at the girl in it. She was young, about
IT, he thought Her waist was a White
linen boyish affair that a very young
person might be expected to wear, with
plain turn down collar and short sleeves.
The white linen skirt was short, too,
ankle length, he could see the low
braided and wound around her head
like a misplaced aureo1e that had slip
ped down. Worse than all, she was
laughing at him; he knew it when he
saw her eyes.
When he spoke again It was with a
less obvious reference to his own
wrongs.
Can you tell me where I amp
seven ana a AdlL lilies HUH $TlcA-
more. You missed the main road about
two miles back. This leads to the Va
rian House
But that's where want to GO" ex-
claimed the young man: 7 thought
Wilson was making for the Inn. am
bound for Varian's place
stThen why did you come in an auto
mobile? Don't you know Mr.. Varian
personality"
must be a jolly old beggar to judge
from the rope, real sweet, neighborly
disposition, hasn't he 2''
Il think he was perfectly right and
justified said Miss Varian, with sud
den naughty defiance. 1T was the
dearest little calf, and it belonged to
me-"
The young man began to smile.
smile in a gradual dominance of the
situation. 1t was a smile to resent be-
cause 1t showed prenraditated triumph
and knowledge. But 1t improved
him. Even with the dust of the road
OVERLAPPING the tan of his face, and the
general disheveled condition of his
makeup, the smile was frank, and
friendly, and altogether desirable.
fsI'n bet forty-seven dollars and two
cents that you're SUSIE he said hap
ply
Miss varian tucked in her side locks
deity, loftily. They were darling side
locks, curly tantalizing wisps of loose
sunshine that knew their business and
GSC6Q G0 4IolI TIE sue CCA4AO Whenever
there was propitious moment
MY first name is Suzanne she said.
mo, sir, it isn't. it's Susie. and your
hair used to be red. Remember the
day you climbed our wall and tried to
get up IN the big apple tree after a
black birds nest told you was there
And your foot caught, and you tum-
bled down, and I had to climb up ana
take your shoe off before you could get
your foot out of the cleft in the trunk.
Do you remem Der, Miss Susie
Freshie %
He was laughing now. laughing
wickediy, joyously. Miss Varian blush
ed, hesitated, caught the merry gaze
of the brown eyes Of the trespasser.
and laughed too.
Il remember. You did use to call
me that. didn't you ?"