The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-08-01
THE EVENING STORY
The Ways OF Fate.
(By leila Margaret walters.)

(by Leua margaret w alterS.)
When it became an established fact that
David Forbes would never go wooing on
his own account. his mother undertook to
manage the delicate affair for him. She
! selected Lucy Wilson. a capable girl
Now you go over there tonight" she
directed her son; 'Lucy's willing and the
old folks have given their consent, so
| there's nothing to be afraid of. Lucy's
won't have to do much talking" ' 'o0
Although David turned pale under his
| tan he prepared to obey. He drove past
preaching the third time, just as he was
! about to enter recklessly, he saw Lucy on
the porch, and turning his horse about
Thus abruptly ended David's first ad-
| vance toward matrimony. Indignant,
Lucy quickly accepted another swain, and
David settled down to what seemed hope
less bachelorhood.
One morning in midsummer when the
Forbes asked David to take a half day
from the farm work and go to the noun,
tain for blueberries. David agreed and
| Many berry pickers were at work on the
| lower slopes and near the path, but
David. who had suffered often from their
wit went farther on. circiing around to
| the wilder. sleeper side of the mountain.
He found a place yet unvisited, and set
loaded with fruit. But even in this lone
ly place he was disturbed by some one
approaching through the brush.
He caught a glimpse of woman's
gown. and started to retreat noiselessly.
Then he noticed that it was pink
gown. and paused. The farmers daugh-
thin pink dresses when they went berry,
ing on the mountainside.
friends gave S him credit for Hf SO he waited
| moment to see who this girl was. Quite
unexpectedly she stepped into full view
scarcely five yards from him. There was
no retreating then. David bent over tho
bushes industriously.
The fair stranger Gn the one brief
She had half filled a fanciful little bas-
SO ' far from T the freoue M s paths. "
The girl examined the big, handsome
farmer through downcast lashes, and
why doesn't he speak?'' she thought.
The others all do. / wonder who he is
haven't seen him anywhere; III lust sSs
reflected as she watched him.
David was chained to the spot. His
thing stronger held him almost within
arms length of the girl. In his widest
daring. however. he never thought of
ton. Nothing less than a miracle would
have made him change his attitude.
Fate. which one time in a thousand Is
jarring and a rending of the earth, fol-
y ,uWTu IL IN an AWFUL gulf at their feet.
other slid down. down. blinded and
all David had kept his arm about the
girl whom he had seized when the nature
Of the had burst ssI upon }e him 1,nroar
ceased was that he still held her; He
moved cautiously to assure himself that
his eyss and found fhat n he was not
buried. as he had expected to be. At
distance above his head he saw the
the sky. Then he looked at the lovely
stranger lying in his arms. Her eyes
opened. fixed on his in terror ., s.,sa 10
ingly His tongue was Embossed.
Don't be afraid" he said. THE danger
You saved my life." she said in a
hushed voice.
Not at ALL" he answered briskly. II
only held you when I saw that We were
going down We're mighty lucky that
we came out on top"
into an abandoned pocket Of the coal
mine. The supports had rotted away. and
Of Of the mountainside for safety.
The girl, weeping softly. chung to David
The surest way to win her gratitude
sible He racked his brains for plan
of escape. Crawling up the perpendicular
sides of the pit vas out OF the question ion
heard the noise" he said cheerfuliy. land
your friends will soon be looking for
you"
mo-" she said. they are SO far from
here. Besides. I ran away from them.
and they will think I have gone home"
come to supper" Though he spoke
laughingly to reassure her; he knew the
sty Of a ReTs la nas They
dread Of fresh earth falling at any mo
T3~.k t. rx14 Of o.
tions a sound familiar. though muffled,
came to his ear. He turned to his COM
Help is at hand" he said in a mock
heroics. Prepare for the most romantic
happening OF your life. We are about
HIS cheer was contagious. and she
.'since the mule is so near there must
and a passage of the mine" he went on.
I'm going to dig through. and we'll
Although he had nothing but a rough
broken bough to work with. he attacked
the wall vigorously. The girl stood be-
Soon he could thrust his arm through
the opening he had made. Then he
enough enough for them to creep through The
fear Of more earth falling was upon him
59s Sssd o an into fSs sb % sDs
then fled wildly back into the mine.
Come" said David. taking her hand,
She chung Close to him as they went into |
the darkness. Their progress was toll |
some. for David had to feed his way step
by step and shield his companion |
It seemed that hours of this madden |
ing cropping went by. and vet David was
exultant. For though panic fear dogged
the footsteps of the girl, he was able to |
keep it at bay by his touch and voice:
She cried out when point of light |
showed far ahead of them A moment
exclaimed: Here comes that bloody |
runaway mule outsn the old pocket