The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-09-07
TIE EVENING STORY
A Mater of Figures.

/ CS, NaIdne STOOD IN the
| doorway.
That letter to Anne Whitmore in
regard to those purchases for Cora
lies trousseau with which she is to
be commissioned-can't you attend to
1t for me. please? CoraIie ought to
| be here to attend her shopping in
| person. You'll find the list with her
your own person so as not to disturb
me for the signature. You know
| what I wish to say; 1 went over it
with you this morning. Don't forget
| dollars George would utterly spoil
Coralie if I permitted it. and Anne
Whitmore would abet him."
Natalie turned at once to her task.
lay at hand. Such beautiful things!
But Natalie felt no envy of this fav-
ored cousin. whose rich bachelor I'M
Gle made it his chief pleasure to in
for dear Uncle Joshua. who was a
widower, childless and far from rich,
was as happy as it was busy.
Envy Coralie? Natalie envied no
one particularly now. when TED
Markham was coming to Forestville
to spend his vacation. She had met
him last winter during visit to Cous-
in Alkaline. Ted was paying teller in
the same bank where Cousin Adaline's
husband was bookkeeper, and his
calls at the pretty fiat had been fire.
quent during the three weeks of
Nataline's visit. Then all the spring
there had been his letters.
And only yesterday had come
box of roses. Her note of acknow-
| Judgement should go by this mail;
but Aunt Esther's letter must go first.
| She wrote this conscientiously, then
| looked at the tiny clock as she signed
her name. She had time for Ted's
note yet, if she hurried.
The postman's whistle broke into
| the signature as she finished, and
| hstily thrusting the letters into their
respective envelopes already stamped
! and addressed, she sealed them and,
| going to the open window, laughingly
| threw them on the gravel at the feet
| of the carrier who was just turning
away.
Four days later Ted's answer came.
| Natalie flew with it to her own room,
| while Aunt Esther seated herself on
the piazza with the letter brought her
| by the same mail.
| "Nata1fe!'
The call came sharply up to where
| Natalie sat, white-faced and stunned
with Ted Markham's letter before
| her.
ct have thought best to change my
/ plans'' she read Some fellows
are going camping and have asked me
to g with them. We shall be some
where in the Main woods. not
| imagine, in very close proximity to a
postoffice, SO that you will probably
| not hear from me while I am away"
That was the gist of the letter.
| The rest didn't matter.
''Natalie!''
Eyes, auntie."
'I wish you'd hear this, pleased"
whereupon Natalie descended.
my Dear Esther" read Mrs. Ell
| bred when she had reseated herself
your habit of delegating your letter
| writing to whOmsoever will relieve
you of the duty has in this instance
| resulted In the inclosed tumble, from
| which I am unable to extract any
! thing that will serve me as a working
| hypothesis.
with much love and some par
donable curiosity
| ANNE WHITMORE."
| Natalie glanced at the Enclosure
which her aunt handed her her face
paling and flushing by turns. The
| first page Of her letter to Mrs. Whit
| more-and her note of acknowledge
| ment to Ted! For a moment she sat
| staring; then her overweight nerves
/ gave way and she fed to her room.
There later, with head bowed on her
| crossed arms, her aunt found her.
| "Why, don't take it like that. child
The mistake can be easily rectihed."
HE isn't-isn't coming" she man
aged at length to sob out.
isn't coming!" Mrs Mrs. Eldred ad-
see that young mans letter, please"
| Natalie obediently passed it over.
Mrs. Eldred was puzzled.
| He should at least have your note
| of thanks for the roses. YOU will
send him that. of course
HE doesn't expect me to write him
| again; he-he doesn't want me toi''
Mrs. Elderd reread the letter. 1t
did seem as if the young man We're
| slowing down the correspondence, and
with sigh she laid the missive down
at Malice elbow and softly withdrew.
The matter troubled her for days,
| however. Meanwhile she did some
I thinking. the final result of which was
| that on the very day but one before
his vacation ended Mr.. Ted Markham
was handed the following letter for
warded from his bank to the little
| postoffice seven miles from the camp
| where he had spent a restless and
| thoroughly unsettled twelve days.
my Dear Mr.. Markham have
reason to believe my niece, Natalie
Dare, sent you instead of the inclosed
| note a list of materials my friend,
Mrs. Whitmore was to select for the
trousseau of my daughter, who it to
marry Mr. Harry CASTOR, bookkeeper
| in the First National bank of our
| town. My brother, with whom Co
ralie and I live. and who is very
wealthy, spoils my daughter dread
| fully, as the list will show. VIII you
kindly mail the letter to me at your
earliest convenience? Yours very
| truly,
Mr. Markham had just time for the
land him in New York in time to
catch train for Forestville which
would give him just four hours of
/ his precious vacation with Natalie.
Once settled on the train he took
worn envelope from his pocket. ex-
| tracted a letter-more properly speak
| ing, part of 1etter-and read:
"Aunt Esther insists that the in
4 rr-ifI