The Topeka state journal., 1909-02-17
The EVENING STORY
Running Away From Bob.
(By Ethel Fowler.)

Ilane, puttered over it bit, then drop
ped all useless effort to revitalize 1t.
destination or her home she had no
| idea: it mattered little whether it
was one or a thousand, she was
anchored to stay as far as the ma
| chine was concerned.
| She had set out with more haste than
discretion and had left undone things
that should have been done IN pre-
! paration for so long a run; also, she
things that should have been taken in
case of the emergency which was sure
to present itself.
Emergency without recourse is new
er pleasant: Janet felt it almost trag-
| ic. 1t portended the failure of her un-
dertaking, intended to impress and
subdue her family, and-Some others.
Was it to end in this silly little fasco? =?
| Never!
She set her teeth with determine
tion and went down the road to re-
connoiter Nothing in sight either
way. She climbed a large rock pile at
the roadside and gazed long and IN
tently in the direction of her dest1na-
ton, as if to materialize in the near
distance. the factory village whence
she had meant to speed away on the
prosaic but reliable railway
She finally persuaded herself that
she perceived spires and chimneys
upon the blank horizon, and with
more determination returned to the
car, gathered up her suitcase, lunch
box, raincoat and umbrella and set
out to finish the journey with her
small, fashionably shod feet.
Painting under her load, she event
ualIy reached the rock pile, rested her
demonstrating, aching little person a
half hour and meekly, with great dis
gust, plodded back to the runa bout as
to a city of refuge.
When she packed so large part OF
her personal belongings she had not
considered the possibility of transport
ing it by main strength, like a hod-
carrier.
She could abandon the treacherous
car, but not her plumage; one can
not make a creditable entrance into a
strange country without suitable
adornment, and she felt that her fu-
ture largely depended upon the i'm
preston her unknown relatives re-
ceived of her at meeting.
Therefore she resigned herself to
await the passing Of good Samari-
tan, hoping devoutly he would be pos
sessed of a large touring car and tow
her into port.
This was entirely a matter of
chance, though, with the probabilities
against it, as she had purposely chos-
en- an unfrequented way to avoid the
auto party she had deserted.
She kicked her heels and reflected
upon her position with anger and self
pity. Bob would go, of course, in his
big new machine, and equally Of
not avoid that-in spite of her en-
phatic refusal to accompany him.
Her refusal counted for little, or
his reluctance, either. with both fam
lilies continually f1inging them at each
other in the most bare-faced manner.
Her father had come home beam
ing the night before and informed her
that Bob would be on hand, as he had
taken pains to explain that she, Janet.
was expecting him as usual, the re-
fusa1 being a mere bit of feminine
coquetry; and her mother had laugh
ingly added that she had met the
very respondent and had cheered him
up by remarking that Janet never
meant half she said and would be dis
appointed if he failed to came for her
had run in and assured her-as if she
demanded such assurance-that Bob
would be around early, as she had
reminded him that Janet expected him
GAS usual!'" Janet quoted, vindic-
lively. 1.-THE poor fellow couldn't get
rid of me if he tried, as I am sure he
sure of this. They'd push us to the
very altar without~a word from either
of us as to willingness, and If I object
ed and Bob hung back they'd explain
and assure and force me upon him.
I just had to run away to relieve him.
Though I haven't got far yeti will
Some one will come along"
Some one did a few moments later.
a farmer, going the wrong way, with a
hayrack. and large curiosity concern
ing the machine, which, having graft |
fed by peering and prying until Janet
was tempted to bid him mind his
own business" he proceeded to do that |
same, remarking that he was mighty !
glad to see one o. the dad-blamed |
things broke down: they'd skeered his |
comforting with merriment at her pre- |
dicament, and it was not exactly a |
blessing Janet sent after him.
Come next a barefooted boy, who 7
to her offers of reward if |
he would send some one to take her |
to the village, and who also passed on |
exclaiming audibly that che didn't |
know them skootin', tootin' things got
tired
Then appeared, headed viIlageward,
young man with a lumber wagon and |
a prancing team. who lost nerve at
Janet signaling wildly, and tore off in
a whirl, the driver hurting maledic
tions over his shoulder at the "smarty
city folks for playing tricks
GAS If any one would be idiotic
enough to stop here for the poor sport
of setting off his horses" Janet
unused scornfully, watching the vanish
that wagon, with my things! But I
expect I'd be bumped pretty hard"
A man on horseback from the little
town told her civilly that if she was
there when he went back he'd send
some one out for her. though it might
be dark and it would cost her a con-
siderable.
$50 much, maybe, that I'd not have
enough left for my fare and just have
failure!" She jam
ned and ratified everything with han
Hes and cried heartily.
After which she felt better, wiped up,
powdered her shiny nose and pTeDared