The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-08-31
THE EVENING STORY
Her Awakening.
(By Clarissa Mackie.)

Inc road zig-zagge0 White ana
dusty down the hillside into the cool
shade of the village where it changed
to a mellow brown under the wide,
spreading elms and naples.
Olive Vincent leaned over the gate
OF her fathers house and looked
wistfully up the long street. Robert
Wade would come riding down that
crooked white road from the village
beyond the hill, and when the set
ting sun flashed on the satiny coat of
his cream horse she would fly back
to the porch and sit demurely there
until he had driven under the shed
and made his way around the path to
join her.
Thep-Olive and Robert had been
engaged only one short week and
there were thousands of delicious
condolences to exchange.
The churchbells had called wor-
shippers to prayer meeting, and from
the distant village green, where three
white churches formed a triangle,
came the sound of music and singing
voices.
The sun set and long shadows crept
restlessly in the trees. and still Robert
did not come.
olive paced the gravel path. That
Robert should be late tonight con-
H1Cted Win ner own state OF IIll1AuS h0
could not so long for her presence
or he would not have permitted any
thing to have delayed his reaching
her as soon as his little office was
closed.
There was a soft thud of hoofs on
the road and q dark shape doomed out
of the dusk and stopped before the
gate.
olives heart leaped and then sank,
for the mans voice was not Roberts.
'That you, Olive ~ 1t was FRANK
Winton's deep base.
Eyes" she said rather TREMENDOUSLY
Father homer"
mo; he and mother have gone to
meeting"
''Teli your father If he's still of the
same mind about his twenty acres or
woodland he better stop in and see
me in the morning. I've found
purchaser for it.
waiting for Rob?" his voice came
loosely out of the darkness:
Olive hesitated. NO" she said
CURLY
MI Winton cheerfu1ly, because l
met Rob on the mountain road driv-
ing toward the Heights; had Mattle
Ryder with him, and Snowbird was
lust Swimming over the ground! Pret-
ty good horse that Good night, olive,
don't forget to tell your father!''
"Good night" said Olive, mechan-
ically.
When the hoofbeats had died away
she went up the steps and sat down
in big chair on the porch. All at
once she felt queer and strange and
very cholzy about the throat, ana sud
denly great warm drops splashed on
her clasped hands
She was crying because Robert
Wade, her betrothed lover, had FAIL
ed to keep his appointment with her.
but was riding over the. mountain
roads with Matte Ryder-the most
hateful girl in Leighton village The
horne1iest and most hateful.
olive wiped the tears from her eyes
and stared resentfully into the shad-
owy garden. White lilies swayed In
ghostly fashion on their long stems
and waves of fra grance swept toward
her with every breeze.
OF course this would be the end
of everything, for she would never
marry Robert nova man who would
engage himself to one girl, and with
in a week pay noticeable attention to
some one whom Olive
detested, was not worthy of any wo-
mans Iovei
Through the stiffness came the
sharp clatter of hoofs on the hill
road, and Olive ran hastily into the
house and extinguished the parlor
lamp. Then she ran up TO ner room
and locked the door and knelt by the
window.
The carriage stopped in front of
the house, and some one tied horse
at the hitching post. Then Roberts
firm tread sounded on the path and
she heard his voice calling.
"OIivei' he said in a low tone.
There was no reply.
"Olive," he called again. Where
are you. sweetheart?"
The girl on her knees by the win
dow sobbed softly to herself in the
darkness.
Love was calling to her in thrilling
below her window, yet
she dared not go. Going down now, |
meant the sacrifice of her maidenly |
pride. She loved Robert Wade as |
she never could love again, but share |
him with another she would not; no |
matter what his excuse for riding |
with Matte Ryder she would not con- |
done the offense. Would not Matt
boast of it to all the other girls when |
olives engagement was announced! |
she blushed angrily.
Oliver The voice was more insist
emit now. -.
that drowned the jealous doubts clam
oring within her. Before her mental
vision arose the picture of Roberts
face as he had hidden her farewell for
the last time.
stairs and fumbling at the doorlatch I
and in another instant she was in ROD
ert's arms, her head upon his broad
breast. her fears and doubts forgotten.
ct want to tell you why am so late," /
said Robert after while. II was COM
ing down the mountain when 1 met"
"You needn't tell me If you don't
want to- said Olive, bravely. Il would
rather not know"
Nonsense laughed her lover, press
ing her closer to him. Il met Frank
Winton and Matte Ryder; he was
driving her over to the Heights station
to meet a chap from Albany-she's en-
gagged to him and he was coming to
visit her folks. Franks horse went
lame as they were climbing the noun