The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-11-13
THE EVENING STORY
Finding Is Keeping.

and sent Meg down the road at a
clipping pace. There was certain
likeness betwixt the girl and the mare.
Both showed blood, both were hand
some in unusual fashion. Elisabeth
was a Spanish blonde and her face
was vivid as an autumn flower. Thus
Meg's copper-red coat and flaxen
name and tail brought her beautifully
into the picture.
81 don't see why nanny and the
colonel never will pull together Lisa
beth complained to Meg, when they
were safe in the big road. Meg was
her only confidante, her nearest COM
rade.
IF only they ever did agree, might
give up to Them Elisabeth went on
plaintively. '-Since they won't, I have
to stand up for my own wayEthey,d
thought L was partial
The wide road swept in a long
curve half way round the plantation.
Lizabeth caught glimpses of the white
house with tall red chimneys, nesting
among the trees all along through
out the first mile.
Several times she smiled at the
house, once she shook her fist, say
ing with a frown: "Oh, you look good
but you're just the same as prison
1 can't do anything want to do, be-
cause I'm going some day to be mis-
tress of Willow Wand. But that isn't
the very worst must marry some
body fit to be master there-if ever
they find such a paragon. I won't
do it! 1 won't! 1 won't! I'll run
away with a drummer man or even a
Gipsy-if 1 like him.
Elisabeth was nineteen, vital to her
finger tips, an only child, and, truth
to say, rather badly spoiled.
"They fight so, Meg" Elisabeth ran
on more than ever plaintive: My
nanny and the colonel He gets up
firstly breakfast time he has
thought of a brand-new reason why
1 ought to marry that Kinross thing.
TYPE can never express the curl here
of Lisabeth's ips.) And he fires it
at nanny as she gives him his cof-
fee-and spoilS her appetite always
and makes her cry sometimes. But
she gets even-long before dinners
ready, she's ready with something
good and better in Hump billiard. Oh,
Lord! Fancy living with a body named
Hump! 1 hear myself saying: 'Humpy
DEAR or My Humpy sugar-lump' l
have my opinion of folks who would
go and name a boy-child Humphrey
don't care if the name has been in
the family forty thousand years"
She fell silent a little while-the
road ran on down Leet's Hill, which
was more than half a mass of clay
bedded round powders. One could
drive over it safe enough, if only one
knew how, also If ones horse were
clear-footed and true-pulling.
Evidently a passenger had essayed
coming up it who lacked all those
things. Half way down the hill, upon
a small gravelly bench, there was an
overturned buggy, with a man half
sitting half lying beside it, casting
rueful glances alternately at the We
hicle and the horse, whose head barely
showed above the depths of a road
side gully.
The horse whickered appealingly to
Meg, who answered with the least
faint whinny. Elisabeth stopped OPP
posite the stranger, leaned a little to-
ward him, saying in her fathers most
judicial tone: "Um! Can't you PICK
yourself up after your spill?"
Certainly 1 can. I'm doing this all
for a lark of counsel" the stranger re-
torted, pointing to his forehead bleed
ing from long cash, then on to
smallish brass-bound trunk a little
beyond explained his plight-in the
spill it had somehow fallen upon his
ankle, breaking a bone. 1t was a
sample trunk, Elisabeth decided in
stantIy. Therefore the stranger was
a drummer.
1t served him right for trying to
go cross country without a driver and
with only a single horse-but that
was no more than fleeing thought
thought what the colonel would say
to him.
The colonel hated the whole race
of drummers, albeit he admitted they
had their uses. notwithstanding, he
would not refuse succor to this special
drummer. Elisabeth chuckled inly as
she got out and approached him, say
ing: I'm real sorry you're hurt-at
first thought you were only
mented, as she passed. coloring deep
ly She nodded But I'll spare you
pologies-instead I'm going to take
you home with me-" she said.
"Sure I'll go?" the stranger asked.
Lisabeth gave him a severe glance as
she answered: You needn't-unless
you want to. Just tell me who you
are, who you travel for, and where
you're going-and 1 can send word
down yonder." pointing down the hill. |
''have two telephones"
''Thank you-but I'd rather go with |
you- My name is-Maclise-as for the |
said, trying to rise, and falling back,
white to the lips. Elisabeth caught his |
arm, saying severely:
BE still, you, while I halloo up |
Babe and Billy-the Higley boys, you
make a bee-saddle and tote
Of your plumber"
II see" Maclise said, his eyes
dancing in spite of his pain. Don't
you think you'd better let me go home
On bee-saddle--
but you never tried it with a game
eg-at least, 1 reckon not" Elisabeth
'etorted. Anyway, you can't go to
Ma Higley's. 1 found you in the road
and finding is keeping.
CLEARLY there's no more to be said,
MacIise answered, shutting his teeth
IN a groan.
He had only simple fracture, the
loctor said, but somehow he made a
yerv slow recovery. The colonel had
worn over him for exactly half an
humanity and
hospitality both forbade anything else. (
Then he had fallen victim to the
Larrn of q nersonalitN SinRularlY l