The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-09-28
TIE EVENING STORY
A Little Ingenue.
(By Belle Maniates.O


meadows and meadows into forest. In
this ideal old country place dwelt EIlhu
Wilkes. stern, Puritanical old man,
his tinlid. docile wife and their orphaned
granddaughter. Helene Lawrence, who,
despite the fact that her upcoming had
been strictly and narrowly supervised
by her grandfather, and that she had
been allowed no playmates, was bloom
ing into winsome, afectionate maiden
hood.
The last month had been one of de-
light to her. One day an automobile
had broken down near the house, and
! It's occupant, a beautiful young woman
from the city, had stayed there whils
her chauffeur had returned for re-
pairs.
How it was accomplished was a mys-
tery, but Miss Marshall had won the
old mans consent to her becoming a
ooarder at The Oaks for a few weeks,
as she was in search Of just such a
place for rest and quiet after a gay
season.
The night before her return to her
home she took q beautiful stroll through
the woods with Helene, whose eyes rest
ed in wistful meditation upon her COM
panion.
Louise" she said in soft-voiced tones,
I am lonely and sad at the thought OF
your leaving u.s.
My dear little Ingenue. wish could
persuade your grandfather to let you
accompany me. It is preposterous to
think you have been shut up in one
place, no matter how lovely it may be,
for the whole OF your life. Never to
have been to the city. even. or to have
seen any young men, save the farmers
about heref'
''Oh. Louise" said the young girl with
a bright blush, 7 went to the little sta
ton today, and I saw the grocer. He
has recently come there. Such a. fine
color and such beautiful eyesi Have
you seen him?'
Yes replied Louise, the muscles of
her face rigid in her effort to maintain
composure. It went to the station the
other day and I saw him.
He is going to come to the places
about here every day now to take or
ders. he says. Don't you think him
fine man p
Little Ingenue. I can see how you
think him handsome, but in my world,
in the city, there are far handsOmer
The young girl shook her head in.
credulously.
The next day Louise Marshall left
The Oaks for her home. and took
Helene with her to the station, g dis
lance of three miles through a stretch
of cool, dark trees. The Little In
genue gazed sadly after the train that
was bearing away one who had made
lie SO Inherent ana 50 Interesting ~
her. She had to leave the horse at
the blacksmith's to be shod, so she
returned on foot through the woods
AS she walked slowly beneath the can
opy Of olive tinted leaves she heard
footsteps coming quickly behind her.
1t was the grocerl
81 just drove in from the next town.
and saw you as you were leaving the
depot. and I overlook you to see II
might not walk with you
T.fff1e TnQanII1 tired.
and was willing, at his bidding, TO walk
more slowly. When they came to a
fallen tree he urged her to sit down
and rest. Knowing well that this was
to her again. she yielded to the tempta-
ton to sit down beside him.
The grocer was a quiet man. but she
prattled ingenuously Of her life. her
/ friend and her home. Once, when she
turned TO look at him, his face was
slightly turned from her She con-
tempIated with fascination his we'll
shaped head with It's dark brown hair.
Suddenly he turned, his eyes looking
fun into hers. She paIed, and then the
warm color suffused her face and
brought a shining look into her eyes.
Il must co. she murmured con-
fusedly, rising.
seWaitl" he urged. 'sWill you not
tell me your nare-your first name ?"
Helene, tell me If this hour we have
spent here in the woods alone has been
q pleasant one to you?'
"The pleasantest hour, she SAID,
frankly. THAT I ever have spent.
Helene. would you like a lifetime OF
'ohi'' She gasped. no ones life could
yours shall be, Helene. VIII you
leave home for me-to be my wife?
Helene was very grave now. You
should not talk like that to me, enc
TTr,44 81
that. We do not know each otheri"
Helene he protested Il knew you
the moment I looked into your eyes.
Come to me without knowing me- Take
NJ T n must not-they would never let
''- leave that to me. Tell me you viii
marry me, and I will win their con-
SSH She sighed incredulously and looked
at him wistfully.
When Louise had been home q few
days she received letter wnlcn fe3o
NV Dear LOUISE promised you that
If my grandfather should ever relent
and consent. would pay you visit.
1 can now fulfill that promise. I am
going to marry the grocer very soon
and I write to see If may come TO
you while I make my simple prepara-
tons My grandfather thought you
might ADVISE me WHdL ~ purchase
once more, I sign myself the name you
gave me.
THE LITTLE INGENUE-''
Dismay at the thought of the beaUti-
full young girl wedding the grocer made
Louise oblfvious to the entrance of her
fsvorite cousin, Roger Crofton, until
he spoke. She handed him the letter.
Il recall that grocer perfectly she
said with a sigh Good looking I ad-
nit and rather well educated, but DO
more her equal! It shall not bei'
How can you prevent 1t, Louise -
s'I'u introduce her to the world when
she comes, and then by contrast she
will see her mistake"
She began ordering some simple bat
elegant evening gowns for the debut
of the young girl. When she arrived
Louise saw IN the transcendant beauty