The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-05
The EVENING STORY
The Fence and After.


en- sunshine of the Indian summer
morning, strobe Arthur Gray, a look
OF absorbed abstraction upon his in
tellectual brow, and three heavy tones
or German philosophy beneath his
arms.
Behind him on the terrace, Mrs.
Renwick and her husband watched
his retreat. Mrs. Renwicks face was
clouded by an. impatient frown; Tom
Renwick was grinning sardonicaIly.
Il can't understand it, Mrs. Rem
wick complained. at invited all these
young people solely on his account.
picked out only the deep ones of our
acquaintance-the Taylor girls and
Miss Frayne and Charlotte Brand.
They know all about the ego and
the subconscious self and all that sort
of thing. They could talk it to him
by the hour. And what does he do?
Goes off every morning with his mus
ty books and stays all day by himself
l call it downright rudeness in him."
Her big, easy-going, happy-go-
lucky husband laughed. MY dear
Agatha" said he, this comes Of har-
boring genius in our midst-a gem
ius We can never hope to understand.
Now If he could talk horse, or shoot,
or get a bit more speed out of a road
car than it was ever intended to show,
we could give him the time of his life.
But a philosopher, dropped here
among our unfntellectual selves-dear
heavensi"
He threw out his hands in a gesture
or deprecatfon and made a wry face.
But he IS a coming man, Mrs. Rem
wick began.
HE seems to be going man just at
present he remarked with a bob of
his head in the direction of the stoop-
shouldered figure trudging across the
helds. Its desertion, pure and simple.
Your intellectual maidens corralled
here must evidently philosophize with
out your lion to inspire them.
Come oni Let's round 'em up and
give 'em whirI in the road cars up to
the top of Bald hill and back That
Will take their minds UP for the tine
being, at least"
IFS the last time I'll ever try to en-
tertain genius,'' Mrs. Renwick de-
clared fatty, even if the said genius is
my cousin and has done the family
proud"
Amen! I'm with you there said
Tom heartily, as he turned from the
terrace and strobe off toward the
garage.
In the meantime, Arthur Gray. quite
oblivious to this criticism of his ac-
tions, tramped down the field, climbed
trees were deep laden with their wealth
of fruit, and selecting corner where
the mottled shadows were most invit-
ing settled himself comfortably on the
ground, opened one of the ponderous
volumes, and was soon lost in the alb
struse speculations of its author.
He read on in absorbed fashion, now
pausing to thoroughly di~est some
choice morsel, now frowni;- V noting
upon the margin his own opinion of
the text at that point. 1t was an
ideally quiet place in which to pursue
his research
But suddenly the quiet was rude1y
shattered. Just beyond the orchard
came the pounding of rapid hoofbeats.
A girls voice urging forward her
mount rang through the still air. There
was the swish of a hunting crop,
loud command. up. RajahP' Then the
sound of hoofs suddenly ceased.
A masculine voice said: He'll never
take it, ma'amT" And the girls voice
replied, with a note of obstinacy in it:
He'll stay here until he does.''
Gray arose. He walked to the edge
of the orchard and looked afield. On
the smooth turf of the adjoining field,
a girl-a wonderfully pretty girl-sat on
a horse, which she had evidently been
trying to induce to take the high fence
just before her.
A little distance to the rear a trim,
silent groom upon another horse inn
passively watched the proceedings.
Even as Gray watched them, the girl
wheeled her horse and galloped azray
from the fence. Then she turned him,
touching him lightly with the crop and
rode full tilt for the fence again.
But arrived at the fence. the horse
refused to jump. The girl gave a little
'fsilly Rajah!'' she said You should
be ashamed of yourself. You could take
it easily. I know you could Now them
Again she wheeled the horse and can
tered away, only to turn him and ride
Gray in his interest, quite forgot him
self He vaulted the low wall that sep
arated the orchard from the field and ran
Don't try itr' he cried warningly. It's
too high He'll never do it in the world"
Al
"oh. yes he win said she. "All he
needs is a little, confidence"
she raised her eyebrows. at can't stop
fence. now, that he knows It is what I
expect Of him.
The girl looked surprised Aren't you
the philosopher friend of the Rem
II am he Confessed Involuntarily he
his STOPPING shoulders: But
even philosophers sometimes ride" said
you don't mind.
Instantly the, girl slid from the saddle.
I've been trying it all the morning, and
confess I'm beginning to doubt my
TINA success % Wit him him flushed face
''And if I succeed. what reward do I
The h girl inq laughed G0i0X You may have
canter with me up to Bald hill and back,
Gray sprang into the saddle A man
in a side saddle is not a particularly
graceful figure; but there was a light in
his eyes and a general determination in
his whole bearing that went far toward
making up for his lack of grace.
Three times he put the horse to the
fence. each time with success. The
fourth time he piled the crop freely.
They reached the fence and the big
horse rose lightly. cleared the top bar by
a good two feet and landed easily on the
aBravo!' cried the girl. splendid
Splendid SplendidH And even the
groom vented an involuntary, ''Well done,
sirl'
'And now" said Gray, his eyes glowing
with an eager light. 81 shall claim that