The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-08-05
THE EVENING STORY
PauIton,s Prisoner.
(By w. F. Bryan.l


Absurd as it may seem. Edith Nor
timer had run away from happiness.
Realizing that Guy PauIton was de-
termined to marry her. she had look
ed into the commanding ewes, had sur
veyed the determined chin and had
ned in panic to the mountains, after
artfully announcing that she was
bound for the shore.
This was not because she did not
want to marry Paulton- To the con-
trary, the prospect thrilled her with
tender delight, but what she did want
was another social season without ties
OF any sort. She did not want to retire
to the ranks of engaged girls and wall
flowers, after only one years triumph
as the belle of the season.
Guy. on the contrary. seemed deter
mined to be married at once. and as
last resort she had fed to escape his
proposal. From babyhood Guy had
had masterful way and Edith knew
that II she stopped to argue she was
lost.
Her old chum, Belle Manton, who
was going to Beach Haven, forwarded
Edith's mail, and otherwise helped to
maintain the polite but obvious fiction.
Loyalty she strove to protect her
friends secret, and though Paulton
alternately begged and threatened, he
could gain no hint of Edith's where
letters he wrote. but she carefully
saved them in her little rosewood
travelling desk. and could Paulton
have seen the tender light in her eyes
as she re-read them in the quiet of
the summer nights he would have
been content. The trouble was that
Paulton could not see, and he was
putting in a most uncomfortable sum-
mer.
Oddly enough, Edith was really en-
1oying her runaway vacation. She
had tumbled on a quaint village far
from the haunts of fashion. In simple
gowns and with her hair in braids she
rejoiced at the freedom from dress
and social routine that had been her
portion all winter. In her Bingham
sunbonnet she might have passed for
the daughter of a farmer. and for the
moment Guy Paulton took her to be
such when he came upon her in the
little woodland where Edith spent
most of her time. Her back was turn
ed to him as he parted the bushes and
trampled down the ferns.
Edith started at the sound of his
voice, but promptly drew the all-con-
cealing bonnet down in front and
managed to stammer an answer to his
question. Had she seen any soldiers
about?
For the first time she noticed that
he was in uniform and she imme-
=
dress was most becoming. Paulton
was built in heroic mould. and though
he looked we'll in the conventional
dress of a man of fashion, the heavy
blue shirt, open to display his fine
throat, and tight-fitting riding trous-
ers, emphasized the good lines of his
powerfully muscled figure.
Edith shook her head.
You are certain that there have
been no soldiers about?" he asked
again. mo chaps in brown uni
FORM"
Haven't seen any," denied Edith in
nasal tones. you're the first soldier
I've seen since the county fair. Is it a
parade?"
"It's a game of war;" explained
Paulton. ''They divided the militia
into two armies. The browns must
we blues are anxious to see that they
don't. i am supposed to be scouting"
Like real soldiers?" she asked in
"Of course" was impatient reply.
THAT is the whole idea; to train us
like the regulars"
Edith giggled in very good imita-
ton of Dolly Spence. the village f1irt.
ct didn't know that real soldiers
stopped to talk to girls when there
was a war on she suggested. as she
raised her hand to the bonnet the
The movement was fatal to conceal
ment. Paulton noticed that her hand
was unusually white for a girl who
worked about the farm. and the next
instant ne recognized the slight filigree
band that circled one of the slender
fingers. 1t had been his mothers. and
often he had suggested to Edith to
wear it!
1--WE are like regular soldiers also,
because we are not above a pleasant
little f1irtation,'' declared Paulton
smilingly. 81 believe that a regular
soldier would kiss such pretty face
as yours!"
How do you know that it is
pretty?" demanded Edith from the Sc
curity of the sunbonnet's shade. 1t
hurt her to think that Guy would f1irt
with any girl he met. but she was de-
termined to carry the game as far as
she dared.
"I'll take the face on trust" an
swered Paulton calmly. "All's fair in
love and war, they say, so your face
must be fair. since this is mimic war"
Maybe it's only make-believe fair,
since this is make-believe war;" sug-
yuested Edith coquettishly.
ITO the contrary, this is very real
war;" declared Paulton. land I am
obliged to place you under arrest
What for?" demanded Edith. not
without some alarm you cannot
lraw country folks into your games"
you are wrong" retirted Pauton.
1T is the soldiers duty to take into |
custody those enemies of his country |
whose sentiments threaten the sue |
less of campaign"
but / am not your enemy" pro-
ested Edith. 81 won't be taken pris- |
,ner."
Perhaps" assented Paulton, but a |
tern duty confronts me. I must take |
you a prisoner and hale you before |
unless
He paused tantalizingly.
"Unless?" She told herself that If |
he demanded a kiss as the price of her
reedom she would never believe in
men again.
There is but one way out of it,"
continued Paulton. prove your 10y
lily to your country by marrying one
Il its protectors. There is a parson
ust beyond here. I passed a church