The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-08
7HE EVENING S7OQY
JnIia,s Answer.

10Y Jane OSDorn-l
george Norman had. after long de-
liberation. proposed to his old friend,
1uiia Miller. He had written the pro-
pussti because it seemed at the time
the easiest way. AT any rate a Ior
ical statement on paper was muci,
more In keeping with Juiia's BUSINESS
me methods, and much more likely
20 meet with her approval than a per-
But the waiting was tedious. ceorpe
norman, who in all his thirty years
u temperate, well-plannsd existence
uaa mated uncertainty above all
lungs; mad been kept waiting for two
uays oy the woman he intended to
he thought tne'
1t was in this state of impatience
tnat ne had started down the drive
way way OF IN Norman country place to
Inc highway. thinking that walk
that he might be able to meet the
reply.
Just as he turned from the drive
way ne heard a cry and a galloping
morse In the highway And then he
saw in flash a young girl. hanging
| with more pluck than. skill. to the
norses name He hurried out and
! tried to seize the bride of the an
gered horse. He succeeded in hold
, the horse to a standstiil.
ne mao fallen In his effort. and. for
minute. he lay helpless in the road,
dlmly conscious of having done some
tnlng worth while. A half hour lat
er. during which he was aware of
having been jolted about good deal,
ana OF having been half asleep, he
opened his eyes and saw that he was
lying on lounge In the family IL
prary. He was full of the old curios-
II n Iv.1r
the OLD question--was his first thought.
Then. as he felt an uncomfortable
sensation in his ankle, and saw that
/ it was bound with white bandages,
he remembered what had happened.
His sister. Grace stood beside him.
1t seemed at first as if she had been
standing there for hours.
Why don't you bring me my
mail?'' he asked.
None has come, George" Grace
said in surprise.
SIS 1t still today" George INQUIRED.
Grace laughed. well. Just for a
sprained ankle. you are certainly be-
having in most bewildered man
! The sprain, though not in any way
or the rest of the day George pre-
tferred to be left alone. The next
morning, when he had been helped
into the library, and his sister was tip
| tOSah6 l0Oul lue IOOIH III a ln0IOuEnlY
irritating manner George asked again
for the mail.
| ST send all your mail to you before
you came down." Grace answered
sharply.
st thought perhaps there was more.
trying to act as IL he were changing
the subject. "has Julia heard OF this ?''
Yes, believe she must have. I'M
less she has given up her old habit of
reading the papers. The reporters got
hold of it and made you out a hero
Hasn't she sent word. or tele-
phoned Or"
] mo; why should she?" asked
| Grace, who hadn't been let into the
secret of her brothers proposal. "But,
today. May. she?l The poor child
can't rest till she has thanked you and
made sure. for herself, that you aren't
seriously injured"
"Oh. is that the little girls name ?
I meant,to ask about her." George
fsaid, suddenly remembering the de-
tails of his injury. "She wasn't hurt.
was she ?''
| mot IN the least. But she's
alarmed about you. She had been in
the house only an hour when she de-
cided that she wanted to try thst new
horse of mine. I'd never seen her in a
saddle. but I thought she was good
horsewoman," Grace explained. 'She's
the little girl / met in the mountains
this summer. you know. Very pretty,
isn't she ?''
"well, I really didn't have time to
notice % George assured his sister with
Indifference. Its rather a pity to
have her visit broken into this way.
| How long is she going to be here"
"Oh, week. I suppose Will you
| let her come in and thank vou?''
Eyes, certainly" George answered,
and as his sister tip-toed her way out
he called. "Be sure and have the mail
sent in the instant it comes"
| In a few minutes Freda made her
first visit. Perhaps it was the shaded
| light of the room. perhaps 1t was
Freda's gratitude. that made the first
impression SO enchanting: or perhaps
| be1ieve-just Freda herself.
ct wanted to come in alone she
, said as she walked easily over to the
i lounge. 81 wanted to thank you by
myself. and I don't think we mead to
| be introduced after--yesterday'
"You really need not be SO CRATE
| full" George said. I'm only a trifie
bruised and any man would have done
the same
"oh, if there was only something
could do for you!" she exclaimed.
| st'Well, if really did save your life.
there is a reward that 1 might de-
mand,'' said George. thinking of, his
proposal to Julia. But. fortunately
for you. I'm not free to ask 1t. After
| what has happened you couldn't re-
fuse, you know"
st believe I do understand" said
Freda, and then with an almost
| imperceptible blush she had gone
from the room. and George was left
| to his tormenting thoughts of Julia
No word came. and not WISHING to
entrust message to his sister,
George Norman was forced to lie and
endure the uncertainty. Perhaps be-
cause he had found that first i'm
preston of Freda so divertiEg. he
asked to have her repeat her visit on
the following day. And so it was that
| during the week of his enforced in
activity Freda spent hours of the day
at his side.
| 1t was a week after the accident
| that George was for the first time.
i allowed to use the injured ankle and
| to go with the aid of cane for
walk. He had storped to rest in an