The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-11-13
THE EVENING STORY
MiIIie,s Strategy.

Thompson purred rather than SPOKE
the words, but her keen. black eyes
were fixed intently upon her niece as
If expecting the news would provoke
storm. She was not mistaken.
what do you mean, Aunt Hetty?"
demanded Millie, her blue eyes flashing
and her voice Quivering with anger.
why should you tell Jack not to call
upon me again? am not child and
can see no reason why you should OBJ
ject to his visits IL I don't"
you forget yourself. Millie." re-
turned Mrs. Thompson in the same
soft, purring tone. Il am your aunt,
your fathers sister. and he requested
in his will that you should make your
home with me until you were either
married or had reached the age OF
twenty-five. That makes me vouT
I deem it my duty to break up your
intimacy with Mr.. Mitchell"
why did you not object to Jack
when I first met him? Why did you
permit him to call here time and again
after we met? Why did you wait until
we are engaged to be married before
you offer any objections to his visiting
me?
Millie had risen and faced Mrs.
Thompson. Her voice was calm but
incisive and each question was empha-
sized by sharp rap on the ebony table
beside her.
"I am not compelled to answer such
questions, Mile Gray, especially when
asked so disrespectfully," purred Mrs.
Thompson, but will do SO. thought
young man when you first met him.
This impression remained with me I'M
til lately, when L have had reason to
believe him otherwise"
the girl sharply. eff anyone has ma
ligned Jack, I have the right to know
50 1 may give him the opportunity to
defend himself. What have you heard
about him ? 1 wish to know"
81 decline to tell you" replied Mrs
Thompson. Her voice was still soft
and low and her thin fingers twitched
nervously as If she was imbued with
a strong desire to scratch the girl SO
boldly confronting her. "Mr. Mitchell
shall not come here again. That is all
have to say. OF course. as you are OF
age, can not prevent you from meet
ing him clandestinely, but, SO far as
my own home is concerned. shall en-
deavor to do my duty"
The suggestiveness of her aunt's
words puzzled Mile, but their purport
became clearer to her as she reflected.
II think 1 understand IT. all now, Aunt
Hetty," she said slowly and scornfully.
You have deliberately planned this
thing, knowing that my father, who
hated the very mention of runaway
provided that I must be
married at your home if I am married
before am twenty-five. If I
am married anywhere else, one-haf of
my fortune will go to you. My father
made this strange provision, believing
it would prevent me from clipping with
any one before had reached years of
discretion. You introduced me to Jack
and encouraged him to come to
see me. Now, whea we are almost ready
to be married, you trump up some OBJ
lection to him in the hope that I will
run away and get married, thus allow
ing you to become possessed of half
my fortune. Aunt Hetty, 1 have never
loved you, but did not think you were
capable of such scheme"
believe what you please" retorted |
Mrs. Thompson, purring no longer, but |
speaking harshly and discordantlyt
Mr.. Mitchell shall not come here again. |
You may do as you please"
'I am going to marry Jack Mitchell"
replied Millie, quietly, land I shall be |
married in your home. That is all I |
have to say" and. turning, the girl |
walked to her own room, leaving her |
aunt to reflect over the last words.
Boiling her door to guard against any
intrusion. MiIlie reflected over the sit |
Iation. She was now twenty, and, by |
five years until she came into |
of her fortune, 1t would be |
possible to prevent Mrs. Thompson from
gfrI's mind revolted at the idea of wait
ng so long. She had known Jack
for two years and been en-
gagged to him six months. Five years
seemed a n1eIl11le, ana Sn6 QlSnllSSSQ eli
thought of such a plan.
Aunt Hetty should not profit by her
marriage to Dick-upon that, at least,
Mile was resolved, but how could she
possibly be married in her aunt's home?
Aunt Hetty, having been discovered In
Ter scheme to secure part of the for
une, would spare no effort to prevent
Ter niece's marriage in her home, and
Aunt Hetty, small of stature and not
'verly strong, usually accomplished
-I,o <z4o -f<@l ~ To dn
''What jolly row there would be If
Tack and the minister would come
1ere and try to go ahead with the
ceremony" laughed Mile, as the /
udicrous side of such possibility APP
,ealed to her sense of humor. ct can
imagine Aunt Hetty taking Jack by
he coat collar and putting him out,
lespite his six feet of length and two
hundred pounds weight. Aunt Hetty
would do it somehow. so I must be
married here without her knowledge,
tut how is that to be done?"
There seemed no way to solve the
problem, and Mile arose to take a
walk, thinking the fresh air might
mind. AS she stood before the mirror,
ranging her hat. she noticed the re-
lection Of men moving about the adj
dining house, and she turned to in
estigate. Men were taking up the I
arpet and moving the furniture out t
+ the room opposite hers. while 9TH
RS were on the floor below, similarly g
ngaged. Could 1T be possible that the S
acksons were going to move? If they
yere, the adjoining house would prob I
bly, be for rent. and-Millie raised {
er window quickly and reached out
er hand. 1t almost touched the win s
ow of the adjoining house. The :
ouses were Joined together in front ,
ut in the rear a small space, less than
hree feet wide, separated them to ad- 4
nit light and air A solution of the
rob1em flashed across the girls mind I
s she lowered and fastened the win Z
ow. 1t might be possible to Illustrate