The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-10-12

our esteemed neighbor. Mr.. Emmett
Blake, of Olympia ranch, is about to
bring bride to the handsome resi-
dence he has erected there"
Il expect her name is Olympia and
/ he named the ranch after her." COM
mented Aunt Betsy. breathlessly. in
closing.
very likely" smiled Drusilla. her
face suddenly losing its frozen stern
ness, and Aunt Betsy dounced from the
room to prepare the neglected dinner
Wien she was alone Drusilla relaxed
| her clenched fingers and leaned back
/ in her low chair. She closed her eyes
and there were little lines OF suffering
about her temples and lips. 'If they
wouldn't watch me So" she whispered
| to herself Presently she sat up and
pulled at the ring Emmett had given
her, and which she always wore on her
| engagement finger. She realized that
| the gossips who predicted Emmet's
desertion regarded the ring as a bar
| ometer So long as she wore it they
knew he must be faithful. In the face
of current talk about the newspaper
item she knew they would expect the
ring to disappear.
Suddenly she pushed the sring back
| to its place and a soft light filled her
| eyes. How do I know" she asked
herself earnestly Perhaps Emmett is
faithful. I promised to wait for him
and 1 will until it is proved that he is
false. Laurel Cove can say what it
likes-I don't care!" So Drusilla Ford
kissed the ring with a little half-sham-
ed gesture and picked UP her needle
work once more. Faith in her lover
shone in her eyes.
So Aunt Betsy found her, and as the
old woman surveyed her niece's sweet
ly serene countenance she felt that
here was an unanswering constancy
that must compel her admiration and
she began to doubt the authenticity of
the Windy River paragraph. Half
the time those papers don't know what
they're writing about she grumbled
as she suddenly turned around and
hoped out to the kitchen. "Drusilly."
she called mildly, come out and get
your dinner-you must be most starry
edi'
OF course, they came to see how
Drusilla Ford took the news of her
lovers desertion- They were not spite
full or malicious in their curiosity, but
Laurel Cove was a quiet place and the
people had grown to look upon ro-
mances and tragedies with an eager
ness that might have been partially
satisfied by witnessing a play on the
stage They were kind at heart, but
they hungered for the drama of human
life.
Drusilla was cool and sweet and
evaded their indirect questions and
changed the subject whenever It grew
objectionably close to her intimate
affairs. So they went away baff1ed and
told each other that DrusiIla was cold
hearted anyway.
The next evening at sunset, while
Drusilla and her aunt were eating sup
per, there came a knock at the front
door. 1t was a familiar doubtful knock
that brought radiance to the girls
face and startled Aunt Betsy to keen
alertness.
AS Drusilla started for the door,
Aunt Betsy arose and followed her to
the entry.
''Whoop-eeeei" cried Emmett Blake
softly as he held out his arms to Dru-
silla. you got my letter, dear?'' He
asked this question with his lips press
ing against his sweethearts fair hair
:" GU got my letter telling you 1 was
coming after you, and have the we'd
ding buds all ready?"
Il never got it," said Drusilla from |
the shelter of his arm, but I'rasfeady !
AS l said l would be, Emmet, When |
you came for me-"
Aunt Betsy, peering around the door, |
admired Emmett Blake's tall manliness
and considered that he had grown very
handsome and brown during his alb
sence. She heard him tell Drusilla
about his ambition to own big ranch !
he had built a large new house, and !
they were to stop in Chicago and
choose the furniture on their way out
to Montana.
The old woman. looking at them, |
felt a warm glow in her heart and her |
face softened magically. Just then
Emmett looked up and saw her gazing
at them. He winked amiably at her
and waved a dismissing hand, and |
Aunt Betsy laughed as she disappear !
ed.
I'll write to Emeline she can send |
one of the girls to come and live with |
me now" she murmured importantly; |
land I guess I'll go and tell the news |
to Mrs. Copyright, 1911, by |
Associated Literary Press).