The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-07-09
The EVENING STORY
Dony's Dilemma.
By Stacy E. Baker.)

III,
disappeared down twin lines of polish
ed steel. and the slim girl who had
been the only passenger scheduled for
this lonesome spot watched its de-
parture with a heavy heart. This
seemed to sever the last tie binding
her to the happy past.
She gazed curiously about her. The
little hut of a station was brazenly I'M
conscious Of paint, and the sultry sum-
ner air was so still that the dull dron-
| Ing of bee came plain to her from
across the daisy cluttered fields
The new arrival was g. slight crea-
ture, dressed with exquisite taste, but
that told of recent tragedy. nomad
breeze. springing into sudden life,
teased at the wavy wisps of her brown
hair.
curious, stared first up and then down
the dusty pike. At last the whirr of a
rapidly approaching automobile came
to her ears. and great, yellow ma
chine hurried around distant bend,
slowing suddenly as it came toward
| her.
rs this Dolly?'' asked a girlish voice,
| and radiant young person spraug
from the machine.
She advanced. both hands out
| stretched.
Wonderingly, the solitary passenger
| inventoried this apparition. why
yes.'' she hesitated. But
"Oh, know you didn't expect me-"
came from the stranger. Slim fingers
carelessly reattached a breeze blown
curl to a mass as yellow as the hearts
of he daisies in the adjoining fields.
I'm Molly, you know. 1 suppose you
have heard Of me
Truthful politeness compelled the
waiting one to ignore the question.
Yes. am Dolly she evaded, hurried
| ly. LAS a matter Of fact, didn't
really know who would come for me.
but-but I hardly expected"
You hardly expected Jacks car to
| be on the job came laughingly from
| the interrupting maid. He sent 1t
down last week, you know. We expect
| him by any train"
The puzzled look again crept into
the pilgrims eyes. but she brought
forth a suitcase from where the por-
| ter had placed it, and climbed into the
machine. The girl with the blue eyes
and the red-flecked cheeks entered
after her, and, with q quick turn of
the wheel, reversed the car and sped
| it back over the road down which 1t
| had come. ct am sure you will like
this place. she Moderated. "All the
comforts of the city, you know, with
| breathing space, and nice roomy quar-
ters. Jacks thoroughbreds are here
| now. Do you rider"
"T-I-why, yes.' came rather stu
understand. There must be some mis-
| take"
mot bit of it." broke in the other
| Jack is a regular crank on horses,
| though he probably hasn't told you
about his little fads and fancies."
| The other was silent.
Mother is all for the simple life."
| the little blonde ratified on. lone can
hardly coax her into the city any
more.'
Past apple orchards and well-kept
! fields of growing grain flashed the
great machine. Farm houses and huge
| barns sprung into view beside the
road, and as speedily flung themselves
| behind.
Suddenly a great mansion with a
| marvellous lawn clothed with dainty
| shrubbery and flower pots appeared
| before them. Instantly the pace of
the car adjusted itself to numbering
crawl.
That's our place." announced the
driver. Mother doesn't like to have
me scorch, SO I just canter in under
the wire. She would puncture all OF
the tires if she imagined that I pulled
| you in at the pace we have been COM
| ingl"
The machine turned in at an open
iron gate and crept up a white peb-
bled patch to a spacious porch. An
elderly whitehaired woman. dressed
in simple taste, stepped out to greet
them.
"And so this is Dolly" she cried,
impulsively taking both hands in her
| own. Jack has told me SO much about
ready. I am sure that we shall like
yCu-and we want you to like us. Did
this slang-using, harem-scarum''-she
indicated Mollie with a wave Of her
| ways on your trip here? She's an in
yeterate talker."
II think there Is some mistake" be-
gan the new arrival. determinedly.
mot bit of It," laughingly inter-
| rupted the elder woman. "She is pos
itively rattlehead. When you know
her better you will have to acknowledge
it. Now come in-do-and Tom will
bring in your suitcase as soon as he
comes. want to show you your
room"
Dazeily the girl Internationally. be-
cause she didn't in the least under
stand this reception. Jack" and
"Tom"-who were they? Her coming
out to the home of this unknown friend
had been a matter Of complying with
the wishes of her dead father. Until
the estate was adjusted and her inheri-
tance declared. she was to stay here.
No one among her acquaintance SEEM
ed to know the Durhams, of Lowville
township. She had but the kind invi-
tation to come in answer to her own
little letter telling Of her fathers in
sistent wish. Now she was here, and
these people seemed to be under the
impression that she knew their Jack"
There was some embarrassing mistake.
This is your ROOM" the elderly wo-
man was saying, Remember, please.
that you are Just the same as one Of
the family.
"Oh my dear She suddenly drew
the girl to her, and, with tears in her
eyes, kissed her. at can't tell you how
glad am that Jack is to marry such
nice girl Before the girl could say
q word she had closed the door softly
behind her and was gone.
To marry Jacki
The truth suddenly flashed home to
the girl She had been taken by Mol
lie for some other Dolly, who was EVIL
IDENTIFY unknown, but expected. and
who was the fiancee Of the much-talked