The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-09-30

person in black skirt and a crisp
white shirtwaist She wore a little
turban on her brown curls.
"Phoebe!''
She stopped. A little scowl develop
ed between her brows.
81 didn't know you were on this
Il got on at the last station" she
said stiffly, land took the chair car
Probably. that is it,
Look here. Phoebe. We acted like
pair of kids the other day. Why
can't we come to our senses and
be-
Because" interposed she gravely.
'I found out the truth in time, that
you would have acted differently.
could not be happy with man
UNLESS he yielded weakly to your
every whim? Is that it?' The re-
sentful red showed dark under Craig's
tanned skin as he spoke. But he in
stantly regretted the words and went
on in softened tone; Say that is
all a hideous nightmare. dear; that
you didn't mean what you said
that
in haughtily. Thank Heaven 1 have
strength of character to adhere to my
decision" She brushed past him, and
for a moment young Craig stood where
she had left him. He had no idea of
abandoning his purpose, but how
should he proceed?
The answer came from an unex-
pected source. Among the passengers
who had begun to alight for breath
of fresh air he espied little Molly
Gerelds, a winsome blonde who had
come in for a large share of his at
tentionS in Plainfield the season be-
fore he met Phoebe. Everybody had
said it was match, and doubtless it
would have been had not Phoebe
made her entrance at the psychological
| moment. He hurried over to Molly
and held out a cordial hand. The
girls pleasure was obvious. For
some minutes they stood laughing and
| talking. Then presently they walked
| off together and were lost to view
among the wild flowers on a little
| knoll beyond.
Phoebe watched them with burst
ing heart. She had never quite got
Molly Gerelds. and now the latent
| Jealousy famed into life
| The prolonged Shrek of an engine
whistle brought the pair hurrying al
most running, back to the disabled
! train.
Phoebe assumed her most frigid air
as she walked briskly toward her car.
| But the life had gone out of her; she
moved by sheer momentum, and her
| face was very white. The sound of
4
to turn with a start.
'I picked up your parasol down
there by the tree, where you were
sitting. Here it is It's yours, isn't
it?o Craig's voice was apologize.
or course 1t was hers. Hadn't he
himself given it to her on her last
birthday? She accepted it mutely
hating herslf because she could think
OF no word to say to show to him her
| Indifference.
Al This junct,1ra +ba en-t,,a bao1,ad
into the car with an ominous clank
Everybody was hurryins to get aboard
Phoebe turned, startled, and sought
the name of her car with anxious
eyes. The train was creaking and
whining; it had begun to move
"Oh!" she gave a little cry.
But Craig detained her with a wise
i like grip on her arm. The fercenesS
of his grasp brought her to pause
| Hal, how-how dare your
"I'd dare anything for my-for oul
happiness, Phoebe. I'm not going t.
let you get back to civilization unit
i you've come back to reason. Those
people are waiting for you in Lo:
tAngeles.r oh, L know all about the ar
lrangement, never mind how. 1 wan
it fixed so they can't hold you to AM
of those quixotic promises you mad
| them. We're only mile from one o.
the suburban towns. Wen look III
the justice and be married SAN
preacher and sans church, But wei
be married all the same-and nothins
u Phoebe suddenly bethought hersel
of Molly Gerelds. It would never do t.
let him go to Los Angeles where she
was. and
While inclination and doubt were
struggling for mastery the last coach
vanished around the curve.-(Copy
righted 1910 by Associated Literary
Press.)