The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-11-19
THE EVENING STORY
Mans Wooing.
lBv Taylor White.l


Il don't see how it can be done, my
dear Nam she said weakly. Both Of
the horses have gone lame, the liV-
cry has no horse in and the express
man cannot come for your trunk until
this afternoon
Cant we beg, borrow or buy
rig?" she demanded brislxly. Sure
ly every horse and cart in Pleasant
vile Is not engaged"
Il guess youth have to stay over
until tomorrow said Bert blandly, Il
can get a horse by then"
I'm going to get one right away,
she said decidedly Il promised Nell
Taylor when we were at school that
would be her bridesmaid and I'm 60
ing to-
Mrs. Montrose stared. MY dear
Man." she said coIdly. II hope you will
do nothing to excite comment"
Nan stared. She had told them
week ago that she must leave on
toward looking after her departure.
Now that she had been forced to take
the matter into her own hands this
placid remark irritated her.
Il am going to get that trunk to the
train IL I have to hire circus pa
rade,' she said spiritedly, as she dart
ed out OF the door.
Mrs. Montrose held up her hands in
placid horror. MY dear Bert she
said, lit is almost fortunate that the
girl will not have you
Nothing of the sort" was the bru-
tai response. II need the money and
you know 1 do. II you hadn't made
that row about her riding Dwight's
horse it would have been all right I
was hoping il I forgot about the bag
gage she might stay on and I could
patch it up"
We'll. let US hope that the girl does
not entirely disgrace u.s. was the
wailing' reJoinder as Mrs. Montrose
TIT fl,< IL.
command view of the street.
Nan Udell had been a thorn in her
flesh ever since she had come from the
west for visit. Her father and the
partners in the early days. Each had
made his strike, and when Nan and
Bert were born it was agreed that they
were to marry when they should be old
the implied understanding that they
were to wed, but Bert had soon dis
guested her, while there had been nu-
merous conflicts between herself and
shocked at her breezy, western man
ner.
She administered the last shock
when she presently drove up to the
house on the seat of an express wagon,
talking spiritedly to the driver She
sprang to the ground before he could
descend and assist her. and ran up the
"AlI right" she cried, as she threw
open the door. please let John help
the man with the trunks"
But how are you going to get into
town?'' objected Mrs. Montrose.
iii ride with the man. laughed
Nan. He said 1 might 1t won't be
the first time. Goodby, Mrs. Montrose.
I'm sorry I was such trouble to you.
I'll wire when 1 get home and write
and tell you all about the wedding.
So +,,,r~e5 and dow down Tho stems
after the man, and with spring was
back on the seat beside him.
IF you're in hurry she said con-
tentedly as he touched the team with
the whip, the only way is to do a thing
yourself"
YOU seem quite capable of looking
after things yourself" he laughed. Il
fancy you shocked Mrs. Montrose. She
is so erninently proper"
I'm sorry" she said penitently, but
1 just had to get home, and they knew
it. I'm glad l found you"
$50 am - he laughed
You ought to be out west she said
with a comprehensive gaze. that was
not inpertfnent because it was so frank.
They don't have lot of men of your
type here.
he said quietly, but I guess they don't
laughed as he thought of the snobbish
social circle of the little suburb where
even the trolley was barred. Nan read
his thoughts and laughed in sympathy.
Her visit had not been pleasant.
She chatted on as they sped along. |
The man was singularly intelligent for
a workman and she enjoyed his chat as
much as she did the presence of a real |
man after six weeks with the pale (
youths who constituted the male ele- /
meut of Pleasantville society. She was
almost sorry when they reached the /
town and drove up to the station.
The driver ushered her into the wait |
ing room, purchased her ticket and
sleeper, checked her trunks and finally |
came toward her. Here is what 1 had
to pay out" he said, offering a neat
This is the change"
She glanced at the coins and smiled. |
That's the last of my greenbacks,'' she
laughed. Now I'll get gold again. I
I'VE don't take to it on here" he
smiled.
but I've got to give you one" she
said. II have no more bills"
She held out a five-dollar gold piece |
and after a pause his hand closed over |
it, Thank you" he said. But you !
would have been welcome to my Servs /
ices. hope you have a pleasant trip"
That's a real goOd-by," she said i'm |
pulsively, remembering the frigid fare
well at the house. ''Will you shake
hands? ?"
His hand closed over hers with |
pressure that almost crushed 1t, then, /
with a bow he turned and left the room 1
while she settled herself Tor the hour 1
wait.
Nan was in time to be a bridesmaid, |
and when she had written a long ac- |
count to Mrs Montrose she sought to /
put thoughts of Pleasantvflle out of her /
mind. 1t was easy enough to forget !
Mrs. Montrose and the colorless Bert. !
but somehow the expressman would /
crop up in her memory.
She assured herself over and over
again that she did not care for any !
man who was content to drive an ex-
press wagon, and yet all the time she
knew that she did care. and when, a |
few weeks later, she entered the Crom- 1
wells ball room an6 at the far end saw
a face she thought familiar. her heart |