The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-22
THE EVENING STORY
Seeing Bentley on.
(By Ethel Severely

could trust.
This was all so different from her last
| sailing, and it brought more sharply TO /
her memory the scene OF two days be-
| fore when she had given Dick Nesbit |
| his ring and had declared that she
| hated the very sight of his face.
She had last sailed in June, and the |
pier had been crowded, but until the |
very last she had seen Dicks smiling
face framed in an indistinct blur OF
other faces. Now she would look in |
vain if, indeed, she looked at all.
She had about decided to go to her
stateroom until the boat should swing |
| into the stream.
She half turned to suggest to her |
aunt that course Of action, when she |
| caught sight of Dick making his way
through the crowd about the gangway, |
heavy suitcase that seemed to argue |
| his determination to take passage on
| the Aurania.
| Amy half turned back to the rail, |
| then she turned again and made her
| way to the lower deck, where she knew
| that the purser's office was located.
! Passing rapidly through the gangway
she saw that it really was Dick, though
| he was in earnest conversation with
man in blue and brass, and he did not
see her.
| He had his pocketbook in his hand,
and, with flashing eyes, Amy made her
way back to the upper deck, where her
| aunt still sat in the winter sunshine en-
Joying the hustle that preceded the de-
parture.
One of the most admirable things
about Aunt Molly was her willingness
| to do what her tempestuous niece
wished to do, but even the usually
placid Aunt Molly demurred when Amy
stormed up and demanded that they
leave the ship at once.
| But I've said goodbye to the
Brookes, and Mrs. Brookes is going to
send all our mail in care of the London
agent" protested the little old lady.
I'VE can't go back home after telling
| the Brookes that we were to be gone
until fall. She will tell all her friends
| and
And that's Just the trouble inter
! rupted Amy with a stamp of her little
foot. Mrs. Brooke has been talking
already. She must have gone to the
night and told everybody she ever
| knew"
But what will Dick think if you
J start and then turn back?" reminded
a spring in the south of France with
out exhausting every argument.
That's just the trouble explained
Amy. THAT horrid Mrs. Brooke must
have called him UP last night after
/ promising that she would not tell a
soul He's on board. I just saw him
in the purser's Office buying his
ticket"
"I thought that they bought them
at the dock" objected Aunt Molly, but
Amy shook her head.
"You can buy tickets on board at
the last moment. 1 suppose that Dick
II mean Mr.. Nesbit-had to wait I'M
| til he could settle about his practice
being looked after; not that there is
so much to the practice" she added
| spitefully. 'T don't believe that he's
! been in court this month
( els he altogether to blame for,
| that?" asked Aunt Molly. fencing for
i time in which to marshal other argu-
ments.
| HAnd runnose thatT did LET him
! waste a lot of time with ?" retorted
| Amy. 'I've been telling him for the
J last month that was tired of seeing
him about, and that our engagement
was all a mistake
'"Then 1 don't think that he is fol-
| lowing you,' advanced Aunt Molly.
''Dick is not the sort of man to fol-
| low when he is not wanted. If he is
on board, it is because he has to reach
| Europe by the first steamer, and he
won't bother US in the least"
Because shan't give him
chance explained Amy promptly. 81
am going down to the stateroom to
have the steward take our steamer
trunks back to the dock. 1t is lucky
that we arranged to have our other
baggage follow"
But what will people say?" de-
manded Aunt Molly, as she rose and
prepared to follow her energetic niece.
1t was plainly to be seen that the
trip was off, or at least postponed,
enough to realize when resistance was
| useless.
Amy. by dint of liberal tipping.
| managed to collect her things on the
sounded. For the moment it was USE
less to try and leave the dock.
/ The port captain stood beside the
remaining gangway ready to superin-
i tend the lowering of the last connec-
ton between the ship and the shore,
and line was stretched to keep back
those who had not gone to the end
of the pier to wave last farewell
/ The sides of the ship were lined
with eager faces, some smiling, some
| believed with tears. Aunt Molly
stood guard over their belongings and
looked wistfulIy at the fortunate ones
/ on the decks.
Just as the signal was given to hoist,
! Dick Nesbit appeared at the head of
the gangplank and dashed down, his
feet not touching the dock before the
upper end of the plank was hoisted
clear of the ships side.
He sprang lightly aside to escape
the swaying edge of the chute. and in
doing so almost bumped into Aunt
Molly, who was making a brave en-
deavor not to look disappointed.
| The black bulk moved slowly past
the open section of the shed, but
Aunt Molly did not see it now. She
was busy watching Amy and Dick.
| Nesbit, after a single glance at the
| frowning girl, devoted his converse
ton to Aunt Molly, with whom he was
| a favorite.
s'Did you get afraid of seasickness
at the last moment?% he demanded
gayly st didn't even know that you
were thinking of going abroad or 1
should have sent some flowers"
Aunt Molly glanced triumphantly
at Amy, but that crfmson-cheeked
young woman gave no sign that she
ihad heard the disclaimer.
"I came precious close to taking the
trip myself" continued Dick You