The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-08-06
THE EVENING STORY

(By Temple Bailey.)


summer boarding place that .nlol
stopped short and eyed doubtfully th4
wide lawn, the me- Ssive stone house
and the garden flaming with June
roses.
He even looked at the great mastifr
who sauntered toward him with sus-
picious eye.
Look here. old fellow" he said,
an every day fact?"
Duke. come here" called a clear
voice. and the dog bounded back to
the porch
Are you the princess ?" he asked of
the owner of the clear voice.
The girl flushed and stared
II don't understand@." she stam-
mered.
Denton laughed. 1T beg pardon"
ne apologized. for boring. you with
my fancies. But this place is so beau
tiful that thought 1 had stepped out
Of real life into fairyland. and that the
dog was the monster that guarded the
gate. and that you were the enchanted
princess
The girls eyes twinkled. I'm not a
princess" she told him, I'm your
landlady."
Something of disappointment crept
into Denton's expression.
Then you are Mrs. Carter 2" he
hazarded.
looked relieved. ''In the letter that
wrote you 1 signed myself Mehitable
Carter, and l suppose you thought /
had gray hairs and wrinkles
THE name did suggest them" he
unused, watching her sparkling face.
Every one around here calls me
Belle" she explained, but of course
when one writes letters to prospective
boarders one realizes that a dignified
name Is an asset
Certainly" he agreed. and settled
back in his chair. content to listen and
look.
But his hostess was more energetic.
"Ill show you your ROOM" she said,
and led the way through the spacious
hall and up the stairs to the second
story.
When Denton came down a little
later. and found his landlady walking
in the rose garden, he said to her:
You needn't tell me. This is an en-
chanted castle. Who ever heard of
white bathtubs and nickel trimmings
and pond lily friezes and Circassian
walnut furniture for ten dollars a
week."
A little anxious frown furrowed
Miss Carter's forehead. "I was afraid
I was charging too much" she said.
you see you are my first boarder."
1t appeared on further conversation
that there were to be six other board
ers. and they were to arrive at 1880.
Five of them are maiden ladies'
Miss Carter explained, land 1 told
them they might bring their cats and
"And the other one?". Denton de-
Haanded.
us a man." said Miss Carter; land
he wants to bring his automobile
Denton gazed pensively across the
garden toward the purple hills. Alas"
he sighed, land brought only type
writer. The automobile is the dragon
that must slay.'
She stiffened little at that.
II don't think I quite understand"
she said.
"Of course not" Denton agreed
quite cheerfully, ''as writer of stories
be expected that you would under
stand. But you will-some day"
He switched to other topics, and
learned that the beautiful house. with
its beautiful furniture, had been the
giris summer home. That the failure
sence to fill a position in another city,
made her decide that the house must
support itself or be sold. So she had
for boarders, and, with two
old and trusted servants, she was go
ing to make it pay.
I'VE raise all of our vegetables" she
confided, land we have our cows and
make butter-and there are plenty of
chickens and eggs"
Don't say any more" Denton beg
ged, II am hungry enough as it is with
out hearing Of real milk and butter
and eggs"
She laughed. 1.-The train is due now"
she said; "as soon as the other board
ers get here we will have supper"
Contrary to Denton's expectations,
the six old maids proved to be delight
full company. Three of them were
teachers, one of them wrote for the
one. having a private for
tune, was something of globe trot-
ter, and the sixth. being domestically
inclined, had brought the cat and par
rot
The one man was the object of Dem
toms special observation. His name
was Nesselrode.
HE makes me think of a pudding"
remarked to Miss Carter.
IT don't think he looks that way at
ALL" Miss Carter said. Indignantly. II
think she is very handsome, If he is
stout
"Oh, L didn't mean his looks" Den
ton remarked resignedly. but his
name"
Nesselrode. however. proved to be
quite a matter Of course that the two |
men should spin through the country |
every morning in the big motor car.
In the afternoon Nesselrode always |
took Miss Carter, and In the back seat |
he packed two, and sometimes three, |
Of the old ladies.
And 1 stay at home with the cat |
and parrot" Denton remarked indig- |
nantly to Miss Carter one evening |
when he had carried her OF to the rose |
garden, "for the old ladies who don't |
20 with you always take their maps at
that time, and II II wasn't for the cat !
and parrot I should die of loneliness"
"It's too bad" Miss Carter muir
INJURED sympathetically.
TOO bad" Denton flared, Its pre-
posterous He takes me in the morn
ing, and you in the afternoon, and I
haven't had an hours comfortable |
with you since that first
day."
'sWhen you thought I was a prin-
cess" said Miss Carter, demurely.
at still think you are princess"
al t.