The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-09
THE EVENING STORY
The Purple Comet
(By Clarissa Mackie.)

The Purple Comet.
By Clarissa Mackie.)
Mrs. Osmond emerged from the mil
liners abstractedly buttoning her
glove She crossed the pavement and
entered a a small electric brougham
which was waiting at the curb.
Home she said to the chauffeur
as he closed the door.
In an instant they were gliding up
the avenue. As they threaded the maze
Of vehicles crowding its length. Alicia
Osmond leaned against the cushions
and closed her aching eyes.
The glare and hustle of the busy
streets had tired her already over
strained nerves. She felt a sense of
grateful relief when they entered the
qufeter uptown district.
The gentle motion of the car lulled
her into somnolence. She must have
dozed. When she finally reused 1t was
to glance from the window with a little
exclamation. They had left the city
streets and were in the open country.
The car bowled along the old post road
with occasional glimpses Of the blue
waters of the sea between the bare
branches Of the trees.
A glance at the leather-cased clock
added to her establishment. The hands
pointed to 1 o'clock. 1t had been II
when she entered the brougham!
She signaled to the chauffeur. To her
amazement he did not respond. His
great, square back partially blocked
the window. The collar of his coat was
turned up about his ears and met the
cap, pulled well down on his head
With gauntleted hands grasping the
steering wheel and eyes set straight in
front. the man seemed oblivious to his
surroundings.
Alicia Osmond was thoroughly fright
ened. Could it be possible that her
chauffeur had suddenly been bereft of
reason and that he was carrying her no
one knew whither?- She leaned forward
and raped desperately on the plate
glass with her. silver portmonnie.
"Stevens!" she called sharply. The
only response was the increased speed
of the car. She called again and
again, but received no reply. At last
she sank back on the seat with real
alarm.
After a while she Gained herself
and looked eagerly from the window.
Help might be obtained in their swift
passage through the towns; but their
speed was SO great that the people
they met flashed by like specters.
while trees and dwellings were burr
ed panoramas.
She recognized the country now
they were near Ferncliff. Her lip
quivered and the slow tears rolled
down her cheeks. Fernclih had been
her home and Norman's ever since
their marriage, but since their serious
quarrel and the quiet separation which
house and Norman had disappeared
quietly from his accustomed haunts-a
gone to Europe. said the gossips.
The sight Of the familiar country
gave her sharp pang that made her
forget her anxiety over her strange
predicament of the moment. A hot
sense of grief overwhelmed her again,
as it had overwhelmed her many,
many times In these past sad weeks.
AS soon as her first unreasonable an
no known
poignantly that her quarrel with her
husband had. been a mistake. she feIt
with bitter woe and passionate self
reproach that she loved ,. h1m-ioVeo
The brougham whizzed on desper--
ateIy, but she did not notice IT. she
was sobbing stormllyf and Gazing ZOE
him who was far away. How good
Everything she had wished for had
been hers The automobile. in which
she rode had been his last present to
her: aau,,un he
had announced, laughing his great,
boyish laugh as he indicated the car
with a sweep of the hand. The
thought brought her back with start
to her situation.
At the instant it dawned on her
that there was something unfamiliar
about the car There were the fittings
of cream leather and purple velvet
but the clock! The gold monogram
beneath it's enameled face bore the
initials "B. c." instead of ga. L. O."
In place of the purple velvet cush-
ions on which her feet were wont to
rest there was a white fur rug.
The machine was not the Purple
1t was so like her own that she
could see how she had made the mis-
take. But where was the strange
chauffeur taking her?
a wi f.
tered an almost hysterical cry. They
had turned into the elm avenue which
led to Ferncliff, and now the long, low
front of the closely shattered house
confronted her.
They drew up under the wide porte
cochere and she saw the grave face OF
old Angus, the butler, peering down
from the gloom of the doorway. With a
little sob she alighted and was stand
ing beside Angus before the chauffeur
descended from his seat.
Alicia was frightened and bewildered.
In her agitation she could think or
nothing The old butler greeted her
with a puzzled glance, stepped aside.
bowling low, and she entered the door
and walked into the library.
Mr.. Osmond is not at home, Is he?"
she asked with frightened look at the
old servitoE
mo, madam" .
But. you are keeping the house
open?" she asked, wondering meantime
how she could explain her arrival.
Mr.. Osmond," replied the butler
.sordered us to keep the house in readi-
ness. He, thought he might be home
any time suppose"
Alicia's eyes were bright with tears.
'That is all; you may go now, Angus"
she said kindly.
When she was alone she laid her
head on the broad arm of the huge
leather covered. chair beside her own
it had been Norman's favorite seat. and
the very touch of it seemed to bring
him nearer to her. She was crying
again when the soft closing of the
door caused her to lift her head.
She sprang to her feet and confront
ed the muffied figure of the chauffeur