The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-11-21
The EVENING STORY
A Love Chase.


'In-deed!" Betty, his granddaugh-
ter and sole heiress, said, sticking out
her chin a thought, and smiling an
irritating smile, as she shifted at a rose.
The chin was softly rounded, yet had
somehow a suggestion of firmness to
match the colonePs own. A willful
race the Harkways, said everybody
that knew them-good friends, fair
enemies, but set!-Oh, beyond any
thing.
At rising seventy the colonel was
most set upon two things-matching
Betty as well as he did her elders.
estate should be kept in the name;
and beating, with horse of his own
breeding, the pride of the DeSha
stables, whatever that might happen to
be.
Duval, Virginia bred, and at most a
fifth cousin, ought to have suited Miss
Bettey as well as he did her elders.
But she had in full the family fnclina-
ton for her own way-moreover, it
had been a case of love at sight be-
twixt her and Joe Desha. They had
met half a dozen times, yet were be-
trothed. 1t was Betty's own doing
speaking out to the colonel. She had
not said word to Joe-in the strength
of loyal love she meant to spare him
humiliation, since she knew he was
coming soon to speak for himself.
Seems like you'd have more pride
than even to speak to one of that
scurvy lot the colonel went on,
wrathfully
Betty shifted harder. 'I don't know
any one of a scurvy lot" she said,
sWeetly. you can't mean the
"Why can't ~" the colonel roared.
Because they are about the best
bred people in the county-as high
bred as their horse" Betty flung back,
points of dangerous light in the middle
of her eyes.
The colonel ought to have needed
them, but he was anger-blind. He
gripped her arm, saying hoarsely as he
pushed her toward the stairway:
you'll go to your room and stay
there under lock and key-until you
learn sense-and manners. Under
stand, you shan't set foot outside this
house until YOU agree to marry Duval.''
''Shan't II" Betty flashed back at
him, wrenching herself free.
She was tall and slim but 1.-THE as
an ash sapling. once free the colonel
was no match for her. But he felt
pink satin party dress. her feet in silk
stockings and tiny, high-heeled pink
satin slippers. She had made her rev.
citation while they were waiting for the
carriage, which was to take them,
Duval included, to the Easton's Christ
mas eve dance.
Betty had not put on cloak nor hood
her hair fell in tumblfng curls over
her bare shoulders. Outside it was
splitting snow, and there was a thin
white skin on the ground. But that
did not in the least daunt her-dart-
ing into the hall she snatched a long
horseman's cloak, then ran through
the front door, down the snowy steps
and on toward the stables. At first
her sole impulse had been flight. AS
she ran a purpose shaped itself, mad
one to be sure, but suiting her present
mood 1t was to mount Bonnyben, her
grandfather's darling, ride back, fling
a challenge at the old man-and beat
him in a fair race, in spite of carrying
weight.
She knew Joe would be down at the
crossroads waiting for a message from
her. He should ride with her-to-
gether they would distance the angry
colonel, even though his mount were
pride. She knew he would dare do it;
the Hawksworth blood did not know
how to be afraid. But Duvan and
grandmamma might interfere--at any
rate, they should have the chance.
While this was beating it out in
Betty's brain by help of Betty's heart,
she was in the stall, had scram bled to
Bonnybell's back, never thinking of
saddle. hardly even stopping to put
bride in place of halter. She had
heard her grandfather shouting an
grily at her. At first he had waited
on the steps-now he was stumping
down the walk to the stables-1ust as
she was clear of the outer door she
saw him, lantern in hand, fine, al
most a pathetic figure, ruddy. white
haired erect, with yet a little tremu-
lousneSs of movement.
In spite of it she flung him her
chaIlenge-the last words over her
shoulder as she sent BonnyDeu stretch
ing away.
1--WE will wait for you at the cross
roads," were the last words, followed
by a reckless laugh.
Youth is cruel often for want of
thought, as age is cruel in its hard in
sistence. The colonel loved Betty be-
yond everything but his own way. Bet
ty loved her grandfather better than
anything but Joe. Nature takes her
course in spite of wisdom, of anything.
Joe, in cold blood, would never
have eloped with anybody's grand
| daughter, least of all the colonel's.
| But how shall a man under 80, red
bIooded, madly in love, say nay to
creature of snow and fire, who filings
herself upon his breast. crying breath
lessly: I'VE have to ride for it, honeyl
| It's now or never!'
Ride they did, Joe in front, Betty
| wrapped in the horseman's cloak, cling
! ing behind him. While they waited.
| Joe had put his saddle upon the mare.
a thoroughbred, coming four years old.
/ in whom the colonel felt he had a
world heater. And especially con-
| Queror for Ladylove, the Desha FLY
who had beat Bonnybell by an eyelash
only in the local derby the season be-
fore. The mares were half sisters, by
| a famous foreign sire, out of dams trac-
ing to Lexington. Sir Archy, the pur-
suer, was as well bred, but in different
lines. He had a years advantage in
age, and had been pampered and pet
| ted as rarely ever horse was, notwith-
standing he had been kept in training.
And he had a rider. In his day the
| colonel had been in a class by him
self He knew still all the art and
mystery-he had still the courage, the
| sympathy, the soul that wins on cour-
/ age. Deadly angry though he was, he
had a thrill of joy in this rebellious
/ slip of his own blood.
1.-THE breeds not running out, thank