The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-04-11
THE EVENING STORY
Journey's End.

-
stone parapet, and, calming her FESTIVE
steed, whose every nerve seemed a.
culver with the excitement of the wild
dash, sat quietly on the saddle staring
below.
Dean ranged his own horse beside
the girls, smiling as he watched the
glowing color in her cheeks. All about
them the trees Haunted the gorgeous
.ints OF late autumn-scarlet: ochre
into a splendid. farreaching vista. The
crisp. clear air stirred the blood like
wine.
The girl laughed, trifie uneasi1y.
We shouldn't be doing such things"
"Of course not" said Dean with
chuckle. I'VE should have maintained
q staid pace. We should have con-
tented ourselves at the most with q
wicked the way we smash all the con-
ventions of this park. Wen have a
mounted officer on our trail yet. Pleas
ant prospect. that. A glorious gallop.
all the same, wasn't it? And well worth
the risk Of mourning the displeasure Of
the law
Yes. it was glorious" the girl adj
mitted. ''still. we shouldn't do it,
That's where half the fun comes
In" said he. "Hang their old park,
and it's rules! Do they think we'll limit
day as this and with such pair Of
steppers?"
1--WE really ought to-" said she.
Dean laughed. It was a pleasant. al
most boyish laugh. His big shoulders
were squared def1antly.
THE things one ought to do are gen.
orally unpleasant" he observed. Come
on. Well let them out once more"
The girl shook her head.
mo; oh, no." she demurred.
hn
She nodded.
'tOf the rules they are pleased to
hamper us with in this two-by-four
plot of grass?"
mo, not of that" she replied.
Afraid Of you, think"
"Of me? Oh, pshaw!"
Again his laugh rang out, but the girl
turned to him with sudden serious
ness.
'sYou make me rather afraid of you
to do reckless things. I don't know
why it should be so. but it is. I would
never in the world have thought of
riding here with any one else as I
have with you Just now; and the
strange part Of 1t all is that enjoy
it SO immensely"
Enjoy what?"
Doing the reckless things you in
spire."
Dean leaned toward her quickly.
IT wish 1t were So" he declared. Il
wish I really might inspire you to
reckless deeds. Il wish I might"
Now, please" the girl begged with
heightening color.
"Oh, all right" said he good natured-
ly. IT know the subject Is tabooed. I'll
observe the conventions you've I'M
posed upon me and keep my tongue
to the funeral pace"
He sat for a time staring silently
into the water. At last he straighten-
ed himself in the saddle.
'Td like another gallop," he remark
like to get out of this little old park,
and go somewhere where there's a
level stretch of road and no hamper
ing rules Of pace"
A light came into the girls eyes
She threw back her head and gathered
up the reins.s
$50 would T." she declared tribe
Dean swung about to face her. There
was a quiet smile on his lips.
Come, them" he said simply.
I'VE really shouldn't" she objected.
Come" he repeated.
I'm afraid when you speak In tnat
fashion"
Come"
He turned the hose from the bridge
and headed for the gate at>the farther
side of the park. The girl followed
silently.
where are you going?" she asked
as he turned through the gate ana
made for the road that led into the
country.
out to our hearts content" said he
Up the road through the afternoon
hut once the city was fairly behind
them Dean quickened the pace Fas-
ter they went and faster, until they
were teaming along at a mad gait.
Across level stretches and over the
low hills they sped; Tne Two I've n ge1sen
and tore along at their best pace. The
girls cheeks were glowing: Dean
ewes sparkled with the excitement OF
They paused finally on the crest OF
a hill. Far behind them lay the city,
by a smudge Of blue smoke. Ahead OF
them Law a ragged line OF hills, behind
which Elowed a sky red with the en-
bers of the sunset.
well, that was q rloe, SAID Oean'
turning to the girl.
wasn't lit" she cried. But we
must be starting back. See. the sun
has set. It will be quite dark II we
don't hurry"
tborou1h recklessness," he said.
you have" she said breathlessly. :.
.vrhen let's go just one more mile"
he urged.
She hesitated-
Come" she cried at last
Down the hill they thundered, across
q bridge that spanned little brook and
nm the rise on the other side. Again
thew drew rein. The gorgeous twilight
cnlors were fading. Below them lay
a little village. It's lights already De-
ginning to twinkle In the gloom,
Enough recklessness?" said he.
.srJeyer! This is just the beginning"
"Now I'm afraid of you again" said
she.
sOh. no. you're not afraid of me-"
he said, with a strange gentleness.
you're afraid Of few old. time-worn
conventions You're afraid Of all those
nlana that have been made for your