The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-22
THE EVENING STOR
By SpeciaI License.
Rv "a M Davies ogden.l

horse shuffied his slow way. Squire
Godfrey, justice of the peace for the
county, and now out riding circuit, lei
fall the reins while he gratefully m
hailed long braeths of the clear Oc-
tober air. The nuts must surely pc
ripening.
From the woods on his left rang out
the merry voices of children and in
voluntarily the squire smiled. In those
very woods forty years ago he ana
Hetty had gone a nutting. Hetty, with
her dancing roguish brown eyes her
plain little calico frock ana tne deep
string. How distinctly he could see
the little figure.
Then the shaggy gray eyebrows met
in heavy frown over the keen Dipe
eyes. What was Hetty to him but the
girl who had f1outed and Knocked MIN,
driving him away from nome lot
those wretched ten years. Well ne
had come back and made success OF
ed itself as he reflected on the pros
perity which was his. And Hetty had
married johnson Wetherby, who mad
died not long after leaving her with
one boy to educate and care Tor. She
had done it well, admitted the squire
grudingly. But that young John
should have presumed to court his
Susiei The sQuires frown became
scowl as he whipped up the old white
horse. He would have none OF that
nonsense.
Luckily Susie was good girl. She
submitted quietly enough to the
laundering pronunciamento launched
at her head by the irate squire. She
was not to see that Wetherby, not to
write him, except the one letter con-
veying her fathers decision.
"And you can not marry him with
out my consent for three years yet
chuckled the Squire. For I won't
sign the license. OF course. IL you
choose to run off to some other coun-
w,
But Susie shook her head. No, she
would not do that.
1t was well that he had been SO
firm, pursued the squire. He had been
proved in the right, for it was a year
now since Susie had even mentioned
Johns name. She was cured, just as
he predicted she would be. Otherwise
he would scarcely have felt safe leav-
ing her in charge of the office accord
ing to former custom. But he could
trust Susie; she was his own child.
Perhaps the squire overlooked the
fact that he himself had not yet for
gotten.
AS he drew up at the little inn
which was to be his first hating place,
the man was surprised TO see a IA
miliar looking buggy already fastened
in the trim woodshed. The tavern
was a quaint. homely building, white
and square. with tall pillars and green
shutters AT the rear ran a wide sum
ny verandah. Tho squire, going
the dark, chilly hallway
stopped short. Facing him rose a slim,
white faced little woman, clad in dusty
black bombazine. The worn hands,
tightly clasped together. shook a bit,
but the brown eyes met his own with |
the old dauntless look
"'Lemuel," she murmured.
'Hetty," responded the squire be- !
breaking the silence of
thirty years
A sudden appeal flashed up into
the thin face. Her fingers strained
themselves desperately in their cotton |
gloves.
"Lemuel." she began again. Tt
want to speak to you've wanted to
for a long time. but you wouldn't let |
me. Then John told me that you |
would probably stop here today"
"Ah, yes, JOHN said Squire in an |
altered tone. For the moment 1 had |
forgotten John. It is to him then that |
am indebted for this pleasure" his |
stubborn mouth wrinkling into a sud-
den sarcasm.
Mrs. Wetherby regarded him with
level glance.
yes, it is John" she said steadily. |
For my own sake, I should never
have pleaded. That you chose to take |
as serious a bit of gfrlish folly, child |
you would have melted. for all that
let 1t go. The past is past. But John, |
my boy. Must his life too be spoilt
He loves your daughter. She loves
flush. Must they lose their youth
and let lifes sweetest years be sacri-
feed, merely to satisfy a dislike of me,
Lemuel?" A passionate energy in
Dislike" repeated the Squire,
tn oughtfully. Dislike. was it really
that? Whatever his faults, the Squire
was truthful. But Hetty." a sudden
warmth breaking into his own voice.
'Hetty, you said-you said 'spoi1t too
Do you mean that you cared? Did
you, Hetty?" with compelling eyes on
hers:
II cared. And you went away, you
never wrote. And so-at last mar
ried johnson Wetherby. He was a
good husband" A sudden impulse OF
loyalty towards the dead surging with
IN her.
"And I married Susan Martin"
nused the Squire aloud. But he was
conscious of what he was saying. A
great wonder held him fast. Was this
he quiet self-possessed woman who
ali these years had sat across the aisle
rom him every Sunday morning in
this slender, vibrant creature,
in the might OF her demand
or happiness of this her son? Was
his the woman whom he had believed
feeling? In a sudden flash
If insight he caught himself, a man
.heriShing the n1QOon resentment
which year by year hardened charac-
er and face. While she A tender
everence slowly crept into the stern
I'D eyes.
lave some dinner And then we can
ak about john
When a week later, the squire's
'uggy pulled up before the honey !
uckle laden porch of home. the own
RS brows were drawn together into
of it's former frown, the ,
mouth held its accustomed lines. Only
n the deep-set blue eyes a new light :
ii