The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-09-24

help her-and Brother Gillian can nzeel
US at the A1athewses-their yard Is sueh
good place to see the parade
There must have beeh fate IN it-eiss
Amelia would have refused But SONS
power beyond herselz compelled her e
obedience. In a wink almost she vas
whirling forward beside the man shs
hated. Billy glared after them ard ser
his teeth He made no pretense Of CIVIL
talk to the woman beside him. His heart
was so sore, his mind so angry i was
almost a miracle that he did not drive
into or over somebody. But by good hap
he got safe to his journeys END ana
found himself a little later with Mrs.
Hicks at his elbow, wedged into the
throng which lined the street on eafneS
side.
Amelia and the minister were just
across the way. Neither couple had nad
time to reach the Mathews haven the
parade was already moving when they
came to town, so they had made Wnat
shift and haste they might
It was a piteous parade, something
tawdry throughout, and In spots dusty
and threadbare.- But the lady riders naa1
superb horses and sat them wonderfully
Especially Sandra. Queen of Amazons,
who in green and gold lace blew kisses
right and left from her finger tips. the
while making her miilk-White Arab keep
time with the band blaring ahead.
Sandras was slight ana round with
everywhere about her the suggestion OF
supple strength She carried crop 10
flourish what time she was not throwing
kisses. Every man along the line ur-
covered to her. and here or there she
got hand-clapping and cheers
AS she drew near Annelia.s stand
Brother Gillian said uneasily: You
won't mind If I leave you2-the others
are SO near And it has just occurred 70
me that I ought not to be here. NOT
that there is any harm in it-but we
must avoid the very appearance OF
evil
go. if you can" Amelia said duly
She was too angry to feel relief IN his
absence.
Billy's face had told her things-all
she had been fearing. Since he was LOST
to her beyond question she had mao
wish that the world might end Giilan
made a pace away, found the human
wall impenetrable. then turned 1rreso-
lutely again toward her.
Thus he drew to himself Sandra'
keen gaze. Those watching saw ner
Jaw set. her eyes sparkle, her cheeks
whiten underneath their rougeZzaVE
her ride straight at the tall black-clad
figure and lash it furiously, crying
high and shrill:
you thief! You robber-vlllaini
You murderer! You are a murderer-
the money you stole from me hight
have saved-our little child
"Of all the brazen thlngs- TO Qu1t q
circus and turn preacher Mrs Hicks
said a week later. But no wonder he
took rs in-the deacons-and me and
every body-such beautiful letters as
he had Forged Of course-and that
poor creature he left behind, -playin' on
with the baby just buried-by
charity, too. Amelia, it makes me
creep to think how near you came to
marrying such scamp. He might
a-done il If I hadn't put my foot down
that he must wait till Christmas
when you'd get your grandpa s
legacy
ssThat was what he wanted" Amelia
said laughing.
Amelia was too happy to resent her
mothers inconsistency. BILLY is an
other Sort she added after a pause
HE wants that $1,000 put in trust 50
he can't even touch it-along with an
other thousand from him"
II always said Billy was a mighty
good chance" Mrs. Hicks said. piously
casting up her. eyes.-t Copyright.
1906, by Ruby Dougias.)