The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-06-05
TIE. EVENING STORY

(By J. Ludlum Lee.)

(By J. Ludlum Lee.)
Harriet Lake was indolent by ma
ture. She knew it and admitted it.
On warm MORNINGS she preferred a.:
rocking chair on the piazza to any out
door sport. But Harriet at twenty
four was taking on flesh, and the spec
ialist whom she consulted said: "Play
golf, take long walks and eat no rich
food. So Harriet went in for golf.
She had just driven her ball from
the second tea very short and
crooked drive-when a cry from the
bushes reached her ears. She glanc-
ed at her caddy, and, as il having re-
ceived a silent command, he started
in the direction of the ball. Harriet's
face wore somewhat bored express
sion. Waits between drives were SO
long. The caddy returned GREATNESS.
you certainly did swat that gentle
man one. Miss Lake." he announced.
Your ball hit him right on the back
OF the hand as he was pulling some
bushes aside. looking for his own
ball"
Lucky fellow" replied Harriet. 'I
wish something would hit me on the
| back of the hand SO I wouldn't have
to trail around this green every day In
| the week."
They had reached the fourth green
when the skies suddenly clouded over.
Glad or an excuse to stop, Harriet
| directed the caddy to take her sticks
back to her locker, while she would
| cut across lots home for luncheon.
She walked slowly through the old
| orchard that adjoined the links, and
| was startled by the rumbling of thun-
der. Realizing that there was no pro-
lection in sight. she hurried on until
| she reached broad lane that must
| lead to q house.
! Large drops OF rain had begun to
| descend. Another clap of terrific
thunder and Harriet began to run.
When the lightning flashed her am
bition and energy seemed blighted by
it.. AT the end of the lane stood an
| old barn. With renewed efforts she
started for its sheltering roof, and.
breathless. reached the door and DASH
ed in.
| Her hat had blown off. Her black
hair was falling in tiny ringlets about
her forehead Her petticoats were
held at ankle length to lend fieetness
to her strides. She certainly made a
stunning picture as she stood in the
barn door.
might be a horried rat: but before she
had time to decide she was confront
ed tall chap clad in white flannels.
HIM beg pardon" he began.
Perhaps we ara poaching?"
two OF you?"
well, almost" said her companion.
"That is, I am here intact. but nay
| friend over there is a bit damaged by
/ a blow he got on the links. Otherwise
he's a very decent sort of chap. We
ran in out of the rain, you know" he
4 added.
| Harriet glanced guiltily in the d.
rection of the "friend." who seemed
busy opening a basket.
81 ran in out of the wet, too" she
announced finally. you don't mind IL
stay until the lightning stops, do
your"
Mind? Well, guess mott" assured
the man. promptly turning host.
Come over and meet my friend, Mr..
Burch. won't you? Billy, here's a lady
Billy rose and bearued on the uilex-
pecfed guest. He was taking = most
delicious looking lunch from q large
! automobile hamper.
81 wish I could shake hands with
you. Miss-Miss-' he stammered.
| my name is Lake." supplied Har-
riet
Considering the day" said the chap
in white fiannels, tits very appro-
| priate.''
"Shut up, Arthur. will you. and let
me finish my speech" Billy interpos-
| ed. what was saying when my mar
ried friend, Mr.. Ralson, interrupted
| considerable emphasis On the word
married)-was that I can not shake
you by the hand owing to the fact that
some clumsy gawk selected me as a
target this morning. Really there
should be a law preventing such per-
| sons running at large.
Harriet was getting up courage to
confess when Ralston came to her
rescue.
"Why talk about personalities, Bill
| ly?" he began. Suppose you ask
| Miss Lake to share our repast?"
| The three of them sat down, tailor
fashion, on the floor Of the old barn
and made inroads on the luncheon.
Nothing was wanting. Cold drink in
patent bottles. sandwiches, salads.
Strawberries and jar of cream. Such
a feast! And when they had finished
they were old friends.
| "I say, Billy, Violet certainly does
put up fine luncheon" said Ralston.
| ''She's the greatest girl man ever
found" agreed Billy.
Violet! Who; was Oh, sh Ell Ha a9,,eS
! Billy" too. was a married man.
1T guess I'll be running along" said
she after thanking the men for their
hospitality. 'Oh, no, you need not
fact is just live in that big shingled
house beyond this fence" With wave
| of her hand she was gone, and the men
| watched her slip under the fence and
disappear behind the tall hedge on the
other side.
| The storm did not clear away en-
tirely and Harriet realized that the
| lawn dance which the WilHamses were
| holding in honor of their first anniver-
sary must be given indoors instead OF
on the lawn. So she donned her pref
| test frock Harriet was never on time
| for anything, and when she arrived the
dance was in full swing. Mrs. W1lliams
greeted her at the door.
you do look peachy. Harriet" said
her hostess What have you been do
| ing to yourself? You are more lovely
| than ever. Oh, the poor. poor men,
added Mrs. Williams mockingly.
They stood together for q moment
and the beaming face of Billy Burch
| confronted them. -,
| "Mr Rurch this is Miss Lake." said