The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-09

except Clayton Trigg, who was far-
off cousin, and had come to buy year
| lings and fat lambs. In virtue equally
| of his kfnship, and a sudden shower,
| he had stayed to dinner, and after IL
| had shaken hands cordially with both
the ladies of the house. All he had
said to Josefa was that if she happen
ed to be at the county fair next fan,
he hoped she would. look at his sad
die horses, Muggins and Mill Boy, as
he was sure they would win the blue
ribbon.
At fsir time, with Josefa still obdu-
| rate, Mrs. Clayton had doubts as to
going, but Mrs. Dalton overruled the
doubts. Thus the three went together
in the Dalton barouche, and for the
best part of the day Josefa was hand
aged it she herself never knew, but
toward O'Clock she slipped away
from him and lost herself in the
crowd. 1t was a delicious sensation.
ing herself she would run
away if she had half a
chance. but how could she when she
had not so much a dollar of her
own? She almost ran, until she came
to the farther side of the amphitheater.
At the foot of the stairway she found
herself stopped, her hand strongly
gripped and a frank, sunburned face,
with honest blue eyes, smiling down at
her, but flushing in spite of its sun
burn.
Mrs. Dalton was off with a knot of
the daughters. Mrs. Clayton stood rapt
In contemplation of prize patch work.
Each believed Josefa safe with the 9TH
er, also that Melvin was a further
guard. Therefore, they smiled amiably
when the ring-master shouted that there
was new feature-a wedding in the
exhibit of Scrollsaw, Varnish & Co., the
enterprising furnishing men. A popular
young couple had agreed to be married
in h IL ~ ~ GrV,7
who meant to show their appreciation
by making the newly wed present of
the suite. Mrs. Dalton said to her next
neighbor: ''Oh, 1 reckon it's somebody
from the back country-it must be
only pumpkins and their sweethearts
still tolerate parlor suites"
The neighbor nodded, but added:
Lets go and see. come to fairs most
ly to see that sort of people. They are
sociological exhibits, you know-better
worth while than anything in the ring"
DO you think so? Then let's hurry.
Mrs. Dalton agreed-but somehow, in
spite of hurrying, their progress was
slow. They came close enough at last
to hear without seeing-after the bene-
diction. The crowd drew it's breath,
and women in it whispered: why! Did
you everl The girl looks radiant-and
quite the lady, And the fellow didn't
kiss her although the squire babe him
do it,
apart to make way. Mrs. Clayton had
somehow met them-Melvin was across
the way, with Amelia Ware, her eyes
downcast, clinging to his arm Between
them bright-eyed, head up, walked MT
and Mrs. Clayton Trigg.
Josefa went straight to her mother;
saying demurely, but with the least
hard-drawn breath: We're going on a
little trip, mother-but it won't be ex-
travagance-the money for the parlor
a. l1nf
will more than pay expenses You stay
with Aunt Ria, please, till we get
back
And then we're going to take care
of YOU always" Clayton Trigg inter-
rupted.
Mrs. Dalton was too stunned to
speak, but Mrs. Clayton said, compos-
edly: well, Joe. 1 suppose you had to
follow your nose-the. Morrises always
did have their own way '-(CQpyr1ghter
nv Parc6llS)