The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-04-27
THE EVENING STORY
Nannie's Picture.
(By Bayard Truston.)

(By Bayard Truston.)
shes coming tomorrow" an
nounced Billy Singleton. Tom Har-
ward smiled. 'She" could be none
other than his picture girl" as he
had learned to call her. and ever
ward had been lost in day dreams. in
which 1.-The picture girl was ever
the central figure.
1t was Harvard's first visit to the
Singleton place. named Glenoak. and
for the first time he had seen the re-
with a camera
That hospitable matron had more
than a passing fad for photography.
and IN q well-eQuipped studio In the
back yard had turned out many prize
winning pictures. The most success
full had been of "the picture girl"
otherwise Mamie Prescott, Mrs.
Singlcton's niece.
1t had been taken some years be-
fore and showed q child with a soul
that shone through the thick-lashed
eyes. The small. sensitive mouth,
delicate molding Of the chin. the per-
feet oval of the face and the high,
white brow all combined to make q
picture almost perfect, yet Harvard
seemed to see only the eyes, with
their inscrutable questioning of the
life just beginning to unfold.
Singleton had surprised Harvard
before the picture half a dozen times,
and Harvard WINGED at the jests his
chum made about his infatuation for
the photograph, but even Mrs. Single
tons assurance that the original now
looked vastly different from the big
eyed girl of the picture did not abate
his interest in the handsome carbon
print.
Man has a scanda1ous fondness
for picked pigs feet" went on
fr1c last H1vr - to- Oh
grow too great. you never saw an
ideal with an appetite, did you Tom ?"
He lodged the book Harvard threw
at his head and stepped out through
the French windows onto the porch.
still! chuckling over the fun he
It was Singleton who drove to the
station to meet Miss Prescott and
who base1y betrayed Harvard's pas
sion to the girl who shared his seat
in the dogcart.
TITS not you." explained Singleton.
with brutal frankness, Its the pic
ture that he's in love with. I'll bet
when he sees what plump and
husky person you've grown to be he'll
decide to stick to the picture
There was much more to the same
effect, and so it came 10 pass that
when the introduction was accom-
plished on the Singleton porch and
Harvard guarded his expression from
any betraying glance Of qualification,
Miss Prescott decides that this man
who loved her picture and was dis
appointed In the original was very
unpleasant person whose presence at
Glenoak would make her vacation a
miserable one indeed.
Mrs. Singleton endeavored tactfully
to counteract the effect of her sons
this well-meant effort. 1T was in
tolerable to her that they should
suppose she cared in the least what
Mr.. Harvard thought of her.
If he was disappointed that the
angles of fourteen had rounded into
Germ of hers. and to show how little
she cared. she devoted herself indus
triously to snubbing poor Harvard at
every possible opportunity.
And Harvard, manlike. suffered
keenly from the treatment, and went
about saying savage things to and Of
Billy, and he looked no more than
he could help either at the picture or
Miss Prescott herself.
So matters continued for nearly g.
month, when a business letter gave
Harvard a welcome excuse for quit
longed to retire, but he would not re-
treat ANONYMOUSLY and without ex-
cuSe.
He managed to slip away from the
house without being detected by his
watchful chum, and made his way to-
took its name. He would have a
farewell quiet hour. It was favor
lite resort Of his, and he climbed up
the cool shades toward the falls at
the head of the glen.
He was nearly at the falls, when a
fiutter Of white caught his eye. He
half turned to retrace his steps. for he
had recognized Mamie, and he was
not minded to have his last day Of
vacation made more bitter by the girls
sharp speeches. But as he turned she
called his name, and he hurried for
ward.
I'm sorry to bother you" she said.
half defiantly, half in appeal. IT slip
ped on the wet rocks and I have
sprained my ankle"
How long have you been here?" he
demanded. "You were not at lunch"
"It was hours ago." she said, with
wan little smile. 81 came about IL,
guess, and it was not long after that
I slipped
With word of sympathy Harvard
kne1t to examine the injured member.
Already the swelling was great and the
girl had felt too faint to remove the
stout shoe she wore. With tender
hands Harvard cut the 1aces and Nan
ME gave a sigh Of relief as the shoe
was slipped off.
"I'll have it easier in a jiffy," de-
clared HARVARD Slppln2 OH MS coat
and with his knife cutting out the
sleeve Of his shirt for bandage. "a
little cold water will help the fever
until we can get back to the house."
ct suppose you'll have to go for
help" she said family. The idea of
being left alone again terrified her.
Help? Not a bit Of it," declared
Harvard. TITS short mile to the
house. I can carry you easily with an
occasional rest. Even with the rest,
1t will not be as long as though were
to go back to the house for assist
ance."
"But you said was so fat" remind