The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-07
THE EVENING STORY
Hy1nen in an Auto.
by Edith N. Doane.1

Pearson?"
But. Father
Il tell you there's nothing more to be
said!" stormed the colonel.
Charlotte's slender figure stiffened
The brown eyes famed with a defiance
very like the coloners own.
He has right tc demand Justice
she insisted There are nothing but
the best accounts of him on every side.
Yet just because of that old grudge>
against his father you forbid him the
house."
And 7 shall see to it that he stays
cut. PresUmptuous young jackanapes."
interrupted the colonel, explosively.
But I love himI"
Love hin!" The colonel looked as
If he would burst
Charlotte's cheeks were flushed. her
eyes were very bright. And I intend
to marry him." she finished. as the
| heavy portiere fell behind her.
! The colonel glared impotently at the
unoffending yellow curtain. then. plung-
ing his hands into his pockets, sta1ked
up and down the room, boiling with
wrath.
| AS the deep tones of the town clock
/ struck twelve motor car tore along
the road at high speed. It was red
car, and in the brilliant moonlight that
made the night as clear as day It's &C
/ cupants were plainly Yisiele-a glrL N
a long, loose automobile coat ana a
man who drove the machine with des-
! perate haste, his eyes stead1astIy on
the road, except when ne turned to re-
gard his companion with rapturous de-
1 light.
Charlotte had been in earnest She
/ loved her bluff, choleric father, but ne
| should have known it was Impossible
to forbid daughter OF two-and-IWen-
| ty to marry a man Of irreproachaDle
/ character who was able ana ANXIOUS
to marry her.
TT is so daring!" she had objected.
Eyes. but there is no other way
and I love you sol' Osborne pleaded,
and the look in his eyes had melted
! Charlotte's last lingering scruple-
The machine whirled along at
reckless pace, spinning along the
smooth. hard road. taking the hills
with dizzy intrepidity.
What If something should hap
pen ?" suggested Charlotte, nervously,
as they breasted a long slope. and
turning abruptly, dipped suddenly
down g dangerous descent.
! Robert Osborne seized the lever Of
the hand brake and damned it on.
/ Something is going to happen" he re-
/ turned, blissfully. His eyes, watchful
and alert, were on the road before
him, but his voice left nothing to be
desired.
/ II didn't meant that" said Charlotte,
with radiant smile, ST meant
AS they swung around a curve at
| a desperate pace and struck a bit Of
/ level road. Osborne let out the ma
chine another notch and Charlotte
voice trailed into silence as the car
gave a quick jump and tore along the
firm, level surface.
Whatever you meant won't make
] any difference dear''-the motor beat
] n
4 voice. you are mine and I won't give
/ you up. Mine. DO you hear, dear?''
The fresh air rushing past cooled her
! face-and fears. She looked, with
| sense of security at the tense. watch
! f1l figure beside her. Yes; she was glad
/ she had come, but
1T is daring!" she said softly again.
The car dashed on. speeding past
/ wooded slopes, scudding through the
/ bright patches of moonlight As they
/ Whirled around q short curve the scat
tered houses on the outskirts of town
I came into view They drove quietly
/ through the deserted streets. low
set yellow light twinkled from the
| vicarage window-an the other houses
were darkened. Osborne drove cautious
/ ly up to the little lighted house.
! The door was opened by a rudy,
/ kindly featured old man who, greeting
them cheerily, ushered them into
pleasant homelike room.
! This is very irregular" he said, haI
smiling. half disappearing. Tt is only
because I have known you, Robert. ever
since you were born, and baptized you
/ and confirmed you, that / am wiling.
Break king off abruptly, he took Char
lotte's hand in his and regarded her
ARE You quite sure you will have
nothing to regret in this hasty mar
81 am sure" Charlotte blushed
crimson, but met his eyes unfiinch-
Then the minister opened his pray
er book and Robert took her hand In
his and drew her gently forward.
J 81. Robert take thee, Charlotte.
lust then there broke on the still
ness of the night a sound that froze
the words on his lips.
1 It was the continuous, rapid beat OF
motor car, and they knew 1t at once
| for what it was-the roar of the col
! oneps automobile.
! Charlotte's face went white with ter
/ ror and Osborne's mouth settled IN one
grim straight line as he dashed to the
The distant trees doomed spector-
I like in the white glare Of the head
lights as the car dashed toward the
With one quick swing Of his power
ful shoulders Osborne grasped Char
| lotte and lifted her into his car
"Come with us. Get into the carl!
he commanded the minister des-
For an instant Osborne thought he
would not do it-and then, unexpect-
edlv the old man climbed into the
waiting automobile
/ osborne bounded on the step seized
the steering wheel and started the car
The throb Of the motor deepened and
the car was off with bound
Now go on Finish it," demanded
/ Osborne.
sThis is most irregular" demurred
the minister He stopped-hesitated-
then glanced back at the approaching
headlights and the ministerial shoulders
squared in q decidedly unministerial
fashion. the ministerial Jaw set itself
stubbornly; the ministerial eyes regard
ed the young couple before him sympa-
thetically.
II am ready" he said.
at Robert, take thee, Charlotte" in
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