The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-16
The EVENING STORY
Dorothy's Way.
(By Edith Speed.)


tBy Edith Speedy
james drew up the window shades
and. laying some letters on a little
table by the bedside, remarked:
"A fine daJ, SIR"
The sleeper opened his eyes. Don't
toll me 1t Is time to get up?"
IT lie o'clock. SIR"
While James was drawing the bath
Tor ms master the Rev. John Ashe
Stretched out his hand and took up the
bundle of letters. On top was little
due envelope addressed in a feminine
hand. familiar and full of character.
Overlook, L. l., April 1.
my Dear John am writing to an
nounce not only my engagement but
the date of my wedding, May 1, Just
month hence.
You no doubt will be surprised at
my decision to marry so soon after the
announcement Of my engagement; but,
IS you know. always did do eccentric
'hings. and now that 1 know my own
mind | wish to be married as soon as
possible.
Perhaps you know the man I am
20 marry. At present shall not tell
you MS name, but leave you to guess.
He is one of our own old circle of
friends
viii you marry us, John? This I
Fish most earnestly. The wedding will
nv oOiCA1AlZSu DIT NOON on the IlrSI, Only
4 quiet little home wedding with a
:ery few friends present. Try to catch
the O'Clock train from Long Island
City. Do not refuse this one request
and please your sincere friend.
DOROTHY MILLS
1t was not meant to be a cruel letter;
hut it hit hard. The Rev. John Ashe
had known Dorothy since his junior
year at college, where he had met her
ct a football game. She was a very
> ttractive girl and he had fallen in
I've with her. After graduating from
the seminary he had proposed: but
she had refused him. A year later,
when he received a flattering call to
parish church in Evanston. he re-
peated his proposal to Dorothy to be-
come his wife. but her answer was no.
She admitted she cared about him, but
rot enough to marry him and prom
ised that, should she find, in years to-
come. that she really could love him
she would write; but he must not pro-
pose to her again. To this he had
reluctantly consented. Now, he had
cen in the West for two years and
had received friendly letters from Dor
orthy, but she never had said the
words he So longed to hear.
And, after all this time, she was
about to marry another man and she
begged him to officiate. That seemed
more than he could do. 1t was hard
enough to know that she was to marry
SO1Ile one 0lS0"DuI TO perform the
ceremony. No he never could do that.
Why was Dorothy so cruel? She knew
hat the one great hope he had cher
.ehed for the last three years was to
rake her his wife. He would send
her word at once regretting his In
ability to be at Overlook on the first.
Again the strong desire to please her
the desire that had mastered him
since their first meeting, prompted him
&c send a telegram of acceptance. He
against which his soul and heart re-
bel1ed. He would attend her wedding.
The tub filled, James returned to ar
range his masters wearing apparel.
Instead of having to cali him second
lime, as was the custom. his man found
into vacancy. His brown eyes. no long
er full of sleep, were unusually bright
and his mouth had become very stern.
"Do you recall any engagement for
May 1, James,"
The Reverend John Ashe had al
ways to depend upon his servant to
Keep him in mind of engagements.
1--WE leave New York for Old Point
Comfort, sir. at $3.50"
"Bless me, had forgotten it. But
hat doesn't interfere with IL o'clock
Wedding"
His servant stared a minute. then re-
rarked: "Your bath is ready. sir"
The minister was sure he would
never nave performed MS duties cor
~ectly during the month that followed
it it had not been for James. The
faithful man instantly reminded him of
things to be done, and when the thir-
tieth came secured berths, packed the
luggage and, at the last minute, bum
dled his master on the train for New
York and the wedding.
The train rolled along all night and
rhe minister slept with semi-con-
seriousness that provoked endless
which he proposed to Dorothy and she
accepted him. Finally he awoke with
happy sigh which memory turned
into unhappiness Thus disconsolate, he
arose, for the train was nearing New
York, and he began the difficult per-
Torrance of dressing in sleeping car.
BY $40 he was crossing the ferry
from New York to Long Island City
20 catch his train. He met no one he
knew: the wedding guests were to go
nut later in the day.
In an hour he reached Overlook. a
pretty. little Long Island village in a
.,:llv country, with a few stores and
cottages nesting in the valley and
beautiful homes of the wealthy CROWN
Ing the wooded knolls-
An automobile met him at the sta
ion and he was soon at the Mills
-ome a very spacious house, of colon
ial style. overlooking the sound.
Mrs. Mills, an elderly widow. re-
eived him. Il am glad TO see you,
John. and SO pleased that you caught
his train. do not know what I
should have done with Dorothy If you
had not come early. She has been very
ervous all morning fearing that some
tkine might happen to prevent your
coming. She was so relieved when she
saw the automobile. She is waiting
for you. in our sitting room upstairs.
You know where 1t isl
Slowly the minister climbed the
stairs. noting every familiar object.
The gayety of the smilax and roses
everywhere struck a Earring note upon
the depression of his own feelings.
How different from the home coming
| he had planned He stopped to pat
Bob. the collie, who stood at the head
Of the stairs wagging his tail in well
ceme.
| AS he was about to knock upou the
door OF the sitting room 1t opened and
i, Dorothy stood in the square of the
| E oorway, a lovely vision in white. The