The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-05-14
THE EVENING STORY
When He Hustled.
(By Abbie F. Ransom. }

Icy ADD1e +. RanSOm.)
She stood by the window watching
the retreating figure of the young man,
too much absorbed to notice the en-
trance of her father until he was by
her side. Without speaking she lean
ed her arm upon his shoulder and thus
they watched until the young man was
no longer in sight. Then her father
spoke:
1T won't do. Elsie; you've got to tell
him l said so. He isn't the one
The hand which had been caressing
his hair was thrown out with indig-
nant protest, and the girl faced him,
panied surprise in every curve of the
what's wrong, father?r she de-
manded; why haven't you said that
The gray eyes gazing into her own
held far more kindness than his
words. They were full of stern deci-
sion.
Because haven't been sure. Now
1 am. Fred Denton can never sup
port wife. He isn't able to now. and
he never will be; you've got to call
it off,
but, father" she began.
Its no use. Elsie.'' he interrupted
cit isn't in him. A young man to sue
tlefi and that's something Fred Dem
ton will never do. He spends his time
in his Office rea ding. reading, reading,
and that never brought patient 70
why, the other night there was an
accident at Cedar Glens; Kensett was
mixed up in it. Had a drunken chauf-
feur, and the whole car came precious
gone If 1t hadn't been for a young
med. who understood sprintfng and
who saved it in the nick of time.
LAS it was, Kensett got off with a
broken collarbOne, a friend of his
came home with a smashed hand, and
well, you read it in the papers. That
sawbones is fixed for life just because
he happened to be on the spot and
knew what to do and how to do it.
But 1t wasn't Denton; he was in his
office reading up the microbes OF
Ieprosy or some other outlandish dis
ease"
Fred was just telling me- began
Elsie, when her father cut her short.
"Then, too. he had a little money in
one of the banks. Where's that? He
wasn't content to let it stay where 1T
was. He asked me what I thought
about Aurora stock. and 1 told him
burn 'em, but he invested in them.
Where are they now? Whew! Now
you see 'em and now you don't"
Father, if you would only listen''--
Listen to what? The same old story
of love in a fiat and your five hundred
a year? I've got a deal on hand and
won't be home before tomorrow night.
In the meantime you just give me that
ring on your finger and I'll return II to
Fred Denton, NJ. d.
Slowly his daughter drew off the ring.
a curious expression growing in heI
eyes, one which her father was quick ia
observe.
"See here, Elsie" he said as he took
It from her. IT want you to promise |
that, if he calls, you won't see him I'M |
Ill 1 give you permission; that is, if I |
ever do
You are very unjust, father; if you
would only listen"
1--WE waited too long already" he re-
'ponded. starting off. Mind your prom
Sc, Elsie, there isn't to be any more |
If this nonsense" s&sE5 1
Perhaps there'll be more instead of
ess," she murmured, as the door closed
behind him. Then she went up the
tairs to her room with tread as full
# decision as his tones had been.
1t didn't take long for her to reappear,
lressed for the street, and fifteen min
ties later she surprised a certain young
nan who was very busily engaged do
ng nothing at all in a pleasantly fur
lished office of a downtown business
block.
He wouldn't give me chance to say
| single word" she concluded indig-
lantly. +
Fred Denton smiled complacent1y into
Ter flushed face There was no trace of
he respondent lover about him.
I'VE won't try to explain" he said.
Suppose you take this trip to New
York with me this morning? You look
cry bride-y," he answered. white
ress, white hat, white shoes and gloves.
Really, Elsie, one would almost believe
hat you had dressed purposely for a
Wedding trip
Fred Denton. you don't believe"
he paused, crimson to the very ears.
hen she added irrelevently:
Father ran away with mother; I've
card him tell about it time and time
gain
Come on" Denton cried
1T doesn't seem right, Fred father has
lways been the kindest, the best father
1 existence. and he is doing this just
ecause he loves me-
That's just the reason we're doing
that we sare,' was his ready response. |
Come dear, we haven't a moment to
use. You go to the Wilson avenue sta
on and take the train from there while
IL trolley it to Woodlawn and get on
GARD at that place. Then no one will
ae us together until after We leave the |
ty and we are all o. K.''
A ten minutes wait for the New
ork express is time altogether in !
1equate for repentance and homego- /
lg. Besides, there was the danger of
scovery, and no one of Elsie king
on's makeup ever f1inched when I
anger was in the air.
Then there was her ticket to buy, her
at to secure, and the ten minutes
ad come and gone before she thought 7
looking for friend or foe in that
DIVIDED railway car.
At Woodlawn station she saw Fred
enton swing himself upon the plat 7
rm of the smoker, but the city streets
ere far behind them and the train
as speeding fast through the country
eadows before he Joined her. When
. did he held in his hand little cir
ct of gold whose center held a very b
miliar diamond. Slipping into the
at beside her, he said:
Better put this upon your finger; it's
zen away from its place too long al
ady." .
''Wby, Fred" she gasped, where did
III get that?" b
your father handed it to me few
ago. a