The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-26
THE EVENING STORY
Cousin Fanny's House Party,
(By Edith S. Speed.)

be the only person in the car who was
going to Sunny Craig, the summer
home of Mrs Howard Milebanke. The
Others she told herself. were in the
forward coaches. Such opulent trav-
cling, however, was not for her.
teacher in a Newburg pubic scnooi-
She was very happy, for she was go
ing to house party. Four Gays %
gayety were to be hers; she counted
them over on her fingers to be sure
that not one had escaped ner-
Thursday, Friday, Saturday ana sun
day.
When she descended from the train
light and the fast falling snow sne
had a moments misgiving to discover
that she was still the only posslpiS
guest for Sunny Craig. Helen nau
never been to a house party. but sne
was positive that the stout woman
with many bundles, who dropped one
at every step, and the tall man Win
a red muller. were not of the mouse
party type. Helen fastened through
the station to find the carriage when
she was sure her cousin Fanny would
have sent for her. The street was
empty.
Surely she could not have made a
mistake. She had studied the time
table and had sent telegram inform
ing her cousin that she would arrive
at Orristown on February Is at
O'Clock. She enviously watched the
stout woman and the owner OF the
red muffier disappear in hollow
where the lights twinkled through the
from Sunny Craig did not come. The
girl nervously consulted the ticket
agent who informed her that he was
a stranger, having taken charge or
the station that afternoon. He ad-
vised her to get a sleigh at the hotel.
Helen was soon being driven UP the
steep, snowy five mile road to Sunny
Craig. She grew chill as the cold
east wind howled about. binding
them with large flakes of snow. But
Fanny was a lovely woman to have
given her poor cousin such a joyful OPP
portunity-a house party and twenty
young people! Helen began to hum
the air of her favorite waltz.
1--WE are gittin' there" observed the
driver, making a turn from the high
way to private road.
Before them, through the mist OF
snow, Helen could see large. old
fashioned house; but from not one
of the many windows did a mellow
| light of welcome shine. The sleigh
stopped. The driver passed the re1ns
into the girls hands tand stumped his
way across the large piazza to the
obviously inhospitable front door. No
answer rewarded his pounding.
''Pll go and stir up Jim Drake and
his wife" he remarked. disappearing
around the side of the house.
After what seemed to Helen an m
terminable wait. Jim Drake. followed
by the stout shawled Mrs. Drake. ap-
| peared in the wake of the driver
''Well, 1 nevert" exclaimed the as
tonished woman. eff this isn't one
of the house party. Didn't you hear
Milebanke wired yesterday that her
baby had dipthery and that she had
let all the guests know. Such a night
to come out here! My. my. my!"
Mr.. Drake interrupted the excla-
nations of his voluble wife. There
isn't any train until tomorrow" he
said, "but the house is warm. for
started the furnace before ! heard
the baby was sick. The pantries are
| full Of food: SO we will be able to
| make you comfortable"
| Helen got stiffiy out of the sleigh,
ready to go any place that was
warm.
"Th trains do not seem to be very
frequent on this road she said to
Mrs. Drake, who escorted her to one
| of the guest rooms.
| mo, indeed she agreed, "but you
will be comfortable. Me and Jim will
be scared. Now 1 will get you some
| thing hot to eat" and she hustled OFF
downstairs.
ST wonder why Cousin Fanny didn't
let me know" pondered the girl, as she
! made herself comfortable. The room
was pretty with it's old fashioned rose
wreathed paper, its mahogany furni-
| ture, delicate muslin curtains and sill
yer. Helen was a Sybarite at heart
despite her small room in boarding
| house, and all the pretty things filled
her. with delight.
! Removig her travelling suit, she ar
rayed herself comfortably in a pink
negligee that she hoped her cousin
would admire.
The shrin voice penetrating through
the door aroused Helen from her mus.
ings.
Hastily going to the landing she
looked down into the hall. At the foo
tall. snow covered man staring up
ward
Another one of your party" an
Inounced Mrs. Drake tersely.
"Oh, didn't you hear. either?" sh'
said.
mot until Mrs. Drake told me,
answered the man. I am Billy Crof
ton, a friend of Stephen Milebanke,
he continued. land have Just com,
from the West. That is why I did no
get a telegram. 1t is probably at m.
i hotel in New York. Won't you com,
down and be sociable?'
presently" said the girl.
} In few minutes Mrs. Drake knock
ed at her door.
"You will have dinner with MI
Crofton, won't you?" she asked "H
. is such nice young man. He was her
last summer with his girl. the one h
is going to marry. oh, forgot m
biscuitsi" and off the talkative woman
flew to the kitchen
$50 Mr.. Crofton is engaged" muse
Helen as she dressed.
Never to anyone did ham and eggs
! fried potatoes, hot biscuits and core
, taste better than they did to the hous
party derelicts. After dinner the
drew up their chairs before the cheer
full blaze of the open CRATE and chatte
merrily.
'I wonder" said Helen to hersel
as she softly closed the door con
Meeting her room with Mrs. brakes