The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-26

am not a bit keen on leaving this
spot
She glanced at him sharply. think
ing it was satire. but his face was
The storm continued steadily until
the wind stil1 blew. and the station
agent thought train would go
through the next day.
The snow bound pair made great
strides toward intimacy, Iney mace
mad journeys to brakes cottage. the
barns and the memories. They took
constitutionals on the piazza; they
read; they shoveled paths. Helen
played the piano and her companion
ed Mr.. ana Mrs. Drake, who chaper-
oned the pair with great care
On Saturday afternoon, after lunoh-
con, Helen had an inspiration TO
tened and with Mrs. brakes over
shoes on her feet she was an amusing
little figure, as she worked. The man
watched her small fingers as they
snow. Surprised at his lack Of en-
ergy, she rolled a soft SNOWFALL and
deliberately threw 1t at him.
"Oh. you will. will your" he cried.
bounding toward her. She threw an
other ball as she retreated. For a few
minutes she eiuded him. but finally
stumbled in a drift She gasped, splut-
tered and struggled, but she could not
get away. Her rosy face was thor
she stared up at him. Suddenly the
arm that held her shoulder frightened.
'fYou DEAR" he whispered as he kissed
her; then, stupefled by his audacity.
he released her.
Blundering to her feet. she looked
at him with eyes full of scorn and
anger, and marched into the house
"she will never forgive ma he
don't blame her. what cad I have
been, when she was up here all
alone!"
Upstairs. Helen was washing her
face thoroughly. striving to rub of the
kiss; but her cheek still burned. He
came into the house and called her,
but she did not answer: then she
heard him pace back and forth across
the hall.
"de may walk forever. but shall
not leave my room until go for my
train she said angrily. Later she
heard the front door slam and through
the window watched him stalk with
long strides down to the Drake cot
tage.
Inundated and angry she lay upon
the couch DULY contemplating the CELL
ing.
Then she thought of the girl to whom
he had been disloyal and pitied
her.
eff she knew what he has done"
she whispered, "she would never mar
ry him."
An hour later a loud knocking at
her door aroused her.
"Who is it?" she asked.
"It is Crofton. Please open the
door; l want to speak to you"
She confronted him.
IT don't want you to think me a
cad as well as coward, Helen" he
said.
miss Stevens, If you please" she
said coldly.
MRS. Drake has just told me-" he
continued easily, that you think I
| am engaged. The girl to whom 1 was
SO attentive last summer was my sis
ter-in-law. 1t was wrong, however, to
| DO what I did. but somehow 1 could
not help it"
A dull red mounted her cheeks and
her heart began to beat madly.
down stairs?'' he pleaded. at is so
lonely"
Maybe she answered slowly, striv-
| ing to control her voice.
Later, when she made her appear
| ance, he met her at the foot OF the
stairs and handed her slip of paper.
This is telegram 1 am going to
Hope ne b sa1g is betteT rf aad de-
lightfui time at Sunny Craig: Am
| intend to make her marry me.
| BILL CROFTON''
| 4'That isn't truthful" stammered
the girl, land you convey an utterly
false impression. Cousin Fanny will
| think that you expect to have diff
Guilty in persuading me to marry you
and you know perfectly we'll"
| She turned toward him smiling, ra-
diant but with soft hint Of tears
back Of her brightness. The foolish
pit of paper fiuttered to the floor be-
| tween them as he took her in his
arms.-(Copyright 1910 by Associated
Literary Press.)