The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-05-05

youth, full of a certain womanliness
and serious intent.
but how do you know?'' she. de-
manded suddenly. HE has never said
one single word
How do you know.?'' smiled back
Chambers. at have never spoken one
word to her.
And Bess laughed, a low, joyous
laugh, and hent-l low over her horses
neck, as sweeping willow branch
came below her hat brim with soft
swish. Love is blind, isn't it?' she
said.
aAs bat" replied Chambers,
cheerfully. And the trouble is, we
let pleasant old ladies like-well, like
somebody we both know, manage the
outward view for. US. Now, listen to
facing college. 1t won't do him any
good. What he needs is the fresh
toning up that only life out West
would give him. He's an anomaly
that sometimes happens here in this
Eastern society of ours. He's a prim-
big ideas and great intentions, and
he hates the life here. Another thing,
he has a couple of elder brothers
ahead of him already entering the
make good himself. somehow. He
won't do it lafing around on a foot
ball team as halfback, and running a
swell frat suite for four years. I'm
wife. Can't YOU manage Billie?''
Manage Billie % She lifted bewild-
cred eyes to his.
Take him West with you. You
don't like it here. l saw you were
homesick, weeks ago, when you first
came out. Let the boy tell you what
he's longing to, and take him back
with you, and find happiness in Gods
country whi!e you're both unspoiled
youngsters
RacS rOdo .lonO cilautIx-
IS, and as she listened to the even,
kindly voice beside her. she felt even
ten years less. Instead of the low
Westchester rolling land, she saw the
home ranch, circled by mountain
peaks and the purple haze that
wreathed the foothills. miles upon
miles of rich, primeval country, wait
ing for the newer blood. for newer
hopes to stand by it, and believe in its
promise. And she thought of the look
in Billie's eyes when she told him of
the land she loved.
But she said no more. When they
rode up to the broad portico, Cham
bers dismourted, AMI she watched
him as he strolIed leisurely along the
smooth walks to where Winifred
stood. white cad and fair haired, gath
ering late chrysanthemum blooms.
Bess stood wrh one small booted foot
a clump of ferns with her whip-and
| thinking. Suddenly came Billie's voice
from the verapda rail overhead.
"Well?',
She did not look up.
rs it to be Mrs Hartley Cham
bers?'' She could have laughed from
sheer happiness at the wretchedness
in the boys voice. 81 don't blame
you,'' he vert on. "Any girl would
choose this if she had the chance in
preference to an Idaho ranch OF
course, the mater is your own aunt,
and my steprnother. so L suppose I'm
prejudiced against her good advice.
But if I dared
Coward she whispered, 81 dare
you
He stared of her for moment,
then took the railing at one spring,
crushing the ferns and flowers, and
landing beside her with new born
ner.
"Bess,'' he demanded, "have you
refused Hartley?"
Bess laughed. billie, Billie boy,
cub broncho. He never asked me to
marry him. He's talking it over with
Winifred this minute. I'm going back
to Idaho"
tone was low. He caught her to him
almost roughly. 'Bess, look at me-"
81 wonti'' She struggled rebelIious-
ly. billie, don't. They'll see
you
'They?" Billie retorted trium-
phantly. They're too busy them
selves!'
Mrs. Dudley Graham, on the second
veranda above. bent forward to catch
the next words, but everything was
very quiet. She adjusted her eye
glasses thoughtfully, and smiled Even
wilful Cinderella may be disciplined
by the right PRINCE Copyrighted
1910 by the Associated Literary
Press.)