The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-12
The EVENING STORY
Imprisoned by the storm.
By Belle Maniates.)

10y Beile Man1ates)
can't imagine, Lynne" expostu-
lated her mother, "why you should /
want to go to the country in midwin-
ter"
- cam declared her father signif-
Lynne's eyes of velvet softness |
glanced furtively in his direction and |
met an amused. parental expression.
men she was on the train she |
louno herself echoing her mothers
surprise After ride of two hours |
she arrived at her destination. a little
provincial town. She approached the |
man who drove the omnibus
want livery conveyance to take
me to Nathan Chapman's farm. 1t is
nVe miles out on the West road"
Spouse.
What shall I do?" exclaimed the
girl in dismay
There's Bud Larkins" suggested
an interested bystander. He's got his
oon sleigh. Bud. want a passenger"
sure thing!" acquiesced Bud. COM
ing forward
Lynne climbed into the long sleigh
ana seated herself on the straw near
the end. Bud touched up the horses,
and they were off at full speed.
They had to stop in town ''to do the
traoln, Bud explained. 1t was grow
ing dark; the north wind had risen,
bringing an Icy blast. Lynne noticed
with apprehension that when Bud re-
turned from his prolonged "tradin' -
ne staggered. When they had left the
ngnteo street and were out in the
country. her fear increased. The
horses. over which Bud seemed to
from the road. but the driver only
sang hilariously and INDUCED in fire.
quent libations from a bottle.
Lynne decided to slip from the
sleigh and seek shelter at the first
farmhouse. Presently she saw friend
ly lights from a house set well back
from the road. Cautiously she climbed
over the edge of the sleigh and
dropped into the snow. A moment OF
narrowing suspense ensued, and then
she was thankfully assured that Bud
had not noticed her escape.
There was a crust over the mound
ed area of snow which was not hard
enough to bear her weight Slowly
and YEARLY she doundered through the
drifts. Her strength was nearly ex-
The door opened promptly to her
knock; the bright light shining out
from a big hall and a cracking open
fire were welcome visions.
"oh!" she gasped. "the man was
and I climbed out
"All in!' finished the tall man who
had opened the door. as he half car
| ried her to a big easy chair.
ct didn't come from a lunatic asy-
| recovered from her nervousness. "I
will try to tell you who am"
Lynne Wendalli Forever and way
back!" came voice from the door
| way.
Hannah Josephine!" cried Lynne.
gaunt woman. AREN'T you with Aunt
| Ellen now?"
Eyes, but your aunt let me come to
| help Mrs. Torrance till she could get
her city help. Didn't she come to meet
| you?" $
! Lynne related her troubles.
well, you'll hev to stay here to-
night. The roads is awful toward
your aunt's. This. gentleman is Mrs.
Torrance's brother. He'll be glad to
| have you stay"
| ST shall insist upon your staying"
assured the tall men earnestly. ''It
will be a great favor to me, for I ar
rived unexpectedly and find that my
sister and her family had gone to the
city,
pitaIity I think I should telephone my
aunt. though. She might hear that ]
had come and worry about me-"
| "She hasn't this line" explained
Hannah Josephine
"Then I will call up father by long
4
Ellen to see if 1 had arrived"
| In the space of half an hour Lynne
was relating her adventures to her
father. informing him where she was.
Mrs. Torrance" she explained. t'has
bought the old Hillman place. and ii
Happens that Hannah Josephine is
here tonight. No; Mrs. Torrance is
| not at home. None of her family is
except her brother. II don't know
Haven't heard it yet-he hasn't vol
unteered. 1t makes no difference
| "He seems amused at my plight,
said Lynne resentfully, as she hung UP
| the receiver.
I'm goin' over to the next farm to
a sociab1e." announced Hannah Jo-
Isephine from the doorway. Isl Fulks
has come for me with his bob. He
says the roads are cleared that way
After her departure they made
merry over her oddities, Lynne having
| a host of "reminiscences of Hannah Jo-
sephine. Then they looked over the
magazines and books that were on
the library table. Their literary dis
| course was interrupted by the return
| of Hannah Josephine.
"For land sakesi be you folks set
tim up yet? It's past midnight
But agued Lynne, you're up and
so is Sy.''
Eyes. but were keepin' company
Lynne hastily babe her host good
night and went up the stairs with
Hannah Josephine.
f'I would really have liked to know
his name" she was saying.
@'Well, I swami Come right back
In spite of Lynne's protests she was
led back to the library.
ST clean forgot my Manners ex-
planned Hannah Josephine apologetic-
ally. Miss Wendall meet Mr.. Camp
bell-Mr. Gregory Campbell of Chi
cage"
at see now" said Lynne. as she
gravely acknowledged the introduce
ton. ''Why father was so amused
when I told him I was here"
/ "Why should he be?' he asked
mystified.
| She refused to enlighten him. and
again said goodnight.
"The Storm" he remarked cheer
fully the next morning at breakfast
| kept up all night. The man of-all-
| e. ,at he f1xrc