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

taken her for one of the Lady patron
esses or settlement worker He did
not dream that all her childhood she
had spent as one of these very or
phanS and had been retained on small
pay as a governess.
She had read in books about girls
who had suddenly met twentieth CEN
tury Prince Charmings, and she had
thought how wonderful such an ex-
perience must be, but today it was any,
thing but wonderful. She was sorry
she had not told him the truth She
was sorry-no, she was not sorry about
the lunch. nor the long, searching
glances she had encountered across
the table, nor the sweet, slow trip
home, with the sleeping children piled
into the big seats behind them. But
she must never, never see him againi
The orphans from the Clarendon
nome were enjoying their second and
last big picnic of the season, this time
at the city park. They had had Nav
queen. though 1T was August, duly
browning hSr and showering her with
small attentions. They had much ice
cream and lemonade, and now the
long afternoon was drawing to a
drowsy finish. Annabel had helped to
clean up the lunch tables, had settled
half a dozen childish disputes, and was
beginning to feel a bit flushed and
tired when around the curve Of the
graveled road flashed a big, dull, green
car, containing a single figure clad in a
long gray coat. The car stopped, the
figure leaned forward, then sprans to
the ground.
81 just saw it-about the picnic-in
the afternoon papers. Please come
Tor little run. You look as if you
had been working too hard"
AnnabePs lips set in firm lines She
answered quickly.
Yes, you see I must work for nv
living am one of the helpers at the
Home-and I was an orphan there
once. Maybe you thought"
81 knew-at the beach, but that
isn't what came to tell you. Please
GOMEZ
Mechanically she stepped in the car
and sat down beside him. Then he
knew all the time!
The car moved off slowly. The sup
erintendent rose from the bench where
he had been resting for the first time
since early morning. and, shading his
eyes with his hand, watched it out of
sight. Then he smiled oddly and sat
down again.
The man in the car had something
to say and he drew his breath sharply
before he spoke.
You Observation-Disclosures did the
superintendent, but 1 told him the
truth before 1 asked you to ride with
me again. You thought I was Mr..
Austin-but I'm only his chauffeur
and have charge of his car while he
is in Europe. I take his mother out
occasionally, but most of the time
there is nothing to do. It's no dis
grace to be a chauffeur, but 1 am sorry
did not tell you the first day. I want
to make and sell automobiles some
day, ana that is why I started as Mr.
Austin's chauffeur. When he comes
back I'm going into the factory where
this machine was made-and-" He
stopped abruptly at sight of the girls
radiant face.
ooh, I'm SO glad-you-you are not
Mr.. Austin.
Light came to the young man.
well, I'm glad-that you are glad"
he said simply. MAY 1 bring my
mother to call on you some evening? ''
"At the orphanage?'' she asked fall
teringly.
"At the orphanage," he answered
firmly. why. of course. 1 told her
all about you-after that day at the
beach,"
The hand that was not on the steer
ing wheel closed firmly over hers, and
Annabel saw the woods and the lake
through a wonderful mist that was
half tears, half golden sunshine
Copyrighted, 1907, by Homer
Sprague.)