The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-10-30
The EVENING STORY
His .Future Wife,
by Nellie Cravey GiIlmore.]


himself by blushing. Yet the contents
of the missive were simple, very COM
monplace. and ran as follows:
Pecan Grove, Oct. 20.
My Dear Judge-Billy is very anxi-
Gus to have you run down for the week
end, and has asked me to write and
urge you to come.
There is to be quite a jolly crowd
about dozen of us-and we are going
to wind up with a big halloween ball,
Saturday evening, the S1st-
Come and learn who is to be your
future wife. With. best wishes.
DIANA lands"
Judge Underwood was. abruptly con-
| scious of vain and frivolous desire to
be young again. He even took out his
| pocket mirror and studied his reflection
! critically, noting the little burrows be-
| tween his straight black brows with an
| apprehensive heart.
! Would Miss Lands have written so
| cordially had she dreamed of the reck-
| less tide of emotions surging within
him at the bare sight of her well-re-
membered little scrawl? Would she
have written at all? He thought not.
| For Diana was but 10, and he was how
ering very close on 40.
Ten years ago he had taught her the
| three RS in the village school at Pecan
| Grove, and five years ago she had been
| the first to discover the half dozen sill
4 yer hairs that had since grown into the
| little tuft of gray above his left tenn
| pie.
Still, he could no more control the
| feelings that obsessed him than he
could clip off the years that stood be-
| tween him and his hearts desire, so
| with an impulsive hand he seized a pen
| from the rack and dashed down his
answer: -,
Dear Miss Landis-Your kind invi-
| tation reaches me at a most opportune
| time, and you may be sure I shall en-
| low taking a week off down at the
| Grove
1.-THE prospect of finding a life part
| ner appeals to me almost as much as
the anticipation of the visit, as 1 am
beginning to need ballast very badly.
| Sincerely yours,
''R. H. UNDERWOOD"
/ AS soon as he had dispatched his let
ter the Judge thrust aside the clamor-
ing pile of briefs on his desk, picked up
his hat and hurried down to his
tailor'S. E.
When informed by his sartorial ex-
cellency that the pearl gray, just COM
pleted, made him look like boy, the
| Judge was again so foolish as to allow
his face. to grow red. But he merely
scowled in reply and ordered the suit
sent to his rooms at once
The next morning at 9 he left on his
tourney. reaching Pecan Grove at 8 in
the afternoon Billy Lands was at the
:, station with a smart little trap, and
they had an exhilaratfng two-mile spin
, through the hectic autumn woods.
The Judge longed to ask some QUes-
lions about DIANA but kept, craftily
, silent, hopping that Billy would pres
: entity volunteer a little Information.
And after threshing out every other
: subject under the sun-so- it seemed to
his guest-Billy finally remarked: I'VE
have six girls-angels, all of them-and
! Esix Of the opposite variety of brute, in
: tcluding you and myself. Di has planned
tno end of thrilling stunts for every day
! In the week, she and Teddy Carstairs.
a, The Judge felt his heart drop like a
! leaden pluranet. But he forced himse!f
: to say, matter-of-factly: 81 don't think
III ever heard of the name down here.
lis he" NEF
"Of course you didn't" interposed
!. Billy quickly; they're a nice English
, family who have leased the adjoining
? plantation. Teddy is the Oldest boy
) he's brick too"
, l. Judge Underwood was keenly con-
l scious of a desire to kick himself-clear
| back to New York. Why ever had he
!, lsuccumbed, idiotically, to the tempta--
) ton of the moment in allowing himself
1 to be inveigled down here? He had
, permitted himself to be made a fool of
D by a girls offer of friendly hospitality.
1 by tailor's stupid drivel-by his own
arrant imbecility.-
5 But he managed adroitly to box up
S his feelings and observe with sur
f prising degree of enthusiasm: 1T was
awfully good of you all to have me
down. was just on the verge of stag
nation. and this little breath Of fresh
air will set me UP considerably"
Then with the deadiest sensations he
! had ever experienced, the judge pulled
a smile to his lips and. a light to his
: eyes as they drove up with flourish
, under the port cochere.
The first person his gaze rested or
, | was Diana herself. She ran out with
! both slim brown hands extended in wei.
: come, and beautiful flush showing
!, wildly through the apricot tan of hel
cheeks. I'm so glad to see you, judge,
she said. ut seems like century Stree
you went away, yet it's only been two
years, hasn't ft?'' fs4.
. by facts and figures,' he replied
! crushing her fingers warmly, "other-
: wise-eternities."
They both laughed, and stood on the
porch, chatting, till Billy returned and
dragged Judge Underwood off to his
room. After they had gone Diana stood
still in the same spot for several min
: utes. Presently she drew a deep breath
i and shook her head.
; mo" she unused softly, Its made 6
. difference. What. with legal hohors and
r money, and New York people
At this juncture Teddy Carstairs
came up and interrupted her reflections
a claiming her for the next tennis match
n and gulping her irritation, Diana
V smiled and accompanied him down t.
g the court.
From his upstairs window the Judge
d with the little green god' at his ell
Y bow, watched them cross the lawn ant
= disappear. Half an hour later, having
n exchanged his dark travelling suit fol
d the 'delectable gray. he went downstairi
d and Joined the crowd on the veranda.
= 1--WE are going to bob for apples
n first" announced Diana. who was ador
= able in pink lingerie frock ''and af
d terward un-around the square one at
J, time. Then there's the looking glas
e stunt, and the face in the WE'LL"
S Let me suggest" remarked Tedd.
d l.Carstairs from a sprawHng' position oil
I.the sofa, that as we have only to L
O O'clock to dance, that we divide up OF
l. | these honors. / choose 'bobbirg'
Your idea is in order, Ted" approx
ed Diana with a charming dimple which
Ii