The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-30
THE EVENING STORY
On the Edge.

LOU are very much In love with him,
dear, aren't your" Mrs. Brevort inquir-
ed, not without a certain doubtful note
in her tone, which seemed to hint that
such possibly might not be the case.
The girl who stood by the window,
looking out at the uneven pavements of
the Roman street, turned slowly and
smiled In that smile were WEAKNESS
and subtle understanding and patient
resignation.
Yes, am very much in love with
him, Aunt Elinor," she said in a color
less voice, as If she were saying the
words more because they were expected
of her than for any other reason.
Mrs. Brevort smiled her open APP
prevail The little frown of doubt
which, for the past few moments, had
wrinkled her brow suddenly disappear
ed. She crossed the room to the girls
side and threw an arm about her.
"Of course, dearie," she cooed, your
happiness is my first, 1 might almost
better than I the portent of this step
thta all your future, all your life
long happiness depends upon 1t. No
one, I think you'll admit, too, is more
averse to the majority of these mar
riages than 1 am; but the duke is so
utterly different from all the other
eligible men we have met. He is not
seeking your money, dear, for he Is
immensely wealthy in his own right.
He is an upright, honest, splendid type
of man-more like our own men IN
America. think, than any one we have
seen Isn't that your impression OF
him 2"
YES" said the girl in the same color
less voice.
Mrs. Brevort's pale face grew rather
eager. Somehow I have felt from the
first that your destinies We're linked
YOURS and his" said she, but when he
talked with me this afternoon I gave
him no definite answer. 1 let MN
understand that the matter rested pr1-
marily with you-that it was your hap
piness that was at stake.
HE didn't seem quite to understand
NV attitude at first, but he was per-
fectly charming about it, as he Is In
everything. He said I was to speak to
you. and that he would call for me TINS
afternoon at four in the road-car, and
while we went out to the acqueduct, L
could give him my final decision, or
rather yours"
window. She was looking distracted
" at the passing in the street below
Her brow was furrowed by a little dis
figured frown; her lips were set tlghtly
together; her eyes were troubled.
$50 suppose 1 am to give him
favorable answer, am l not MIS-.
Rrevort suggested tentatively.
The girl was silent. The troubled
look in her eyes grew more pronounc-
ed. Her aunt watched her Narrowly
and with growing Impotence.
Peggy, dear, 1 asked you a ques-
tiou." She reminded her niece. SIS it a
favorable answer I am to give?"
The girl shrugged her dainty
yes, yes, oh, yes!" she said hur-
riedly. at doesn't matter" Her
voice suddenly choked. Nothing mat
tersI''
Greatly, Peggy" she began chidingly;
but the girl turned swiftly and left
the room, waving back the older wo-
man, who started to follow her. Some
thing like a smothered sob SOUNDED as
the door closed behind her.
Mrs. Brevort looked rather angry
for a moment; then she recovered her
usual composure and smiled. But
there was something distinctly I'M
pleasant in that smile.
she glanced at the bronze clock,
ticking unobtrusively on the manteI.
1t pointed to half after three. she
went to a desk near the front WINDOW
and from a drawer drew out bundle
of letters. They were all directed In
the same hand-Peggy's nand. ana
thew were all addressed to Mr.. William
Hale. at some outlandish Spanish
sounding town In ECUADOR south
Mrs Brevort smiled again. 1t had
cost her q pretty penny to circumvent
the mailing of those letters, but there
are many itching palms in Rome, ana
what good money will not accomplish,
An open fire burned DULY in the
crate beneath the mantel. Mrs Bre-
Vor-t stepped briskly over to 1t and fed
tha bundle Of letters to the flames. She
watched grimly until there was notn-
ing left of them save a few gray-white
ashes.
out another bundle of letters. They
were thick letters, all of them. The
sprawling superscriptions were all for
Peggy, and they were postmarked with
the name of the Spanish town in
Other itching Roman palms had
been soothed in the conventional way
to bling those epistles into Mrs. Bre-
vort's possession.
watched them burn, and then arrayed
herself for her appointment with the
duke.
greeted him effusively. and together
they whirled off toward the aqueduct.
Scarcely had Mrs. Brevort taken her
departure, when there came to the
hotel a brisk. broad shouldered young
man. Enthusiastically he was Ameri-
can and Enthusiastically he had been
enduring recently all the discomforts
Of continental travel, when such travel
necessitates haste.
He glanced at the register, saw
thereon a certain name and heaved
mighty sigh of relief; but even as he
searched his pockets for his card
case the owner of the name that had
caused his recent sigh came tripping
down the stairs, arrayed for a walk
through the autumn streets, and turn
ing around, the young man stood star
ing open mouthed at Peggy in all her
glory.
The girls eyes. too, lighted sudden
Iy. She gave little gasp OF surprise.
In an instant the young man was be-
sire her and both her hands were in
his own.
peggy! Peggy!" he was saying
brcathlessly.
"BiIlv," she was saying in a low