The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-05-17
THE EVENING STORY
Breaking Away.
(By Jeanne o. Loizeaux.)

The precious letter was there-he
sorted it from the others in moment
and tore it open. His eyes lighted and
back through the green woods toward
the small group of tents on the lake
side. where Mrs. Tiverton was chap
eroning Leona Scott and over a
dozen other young people who were
camping. His first thought had been
of his mother-she would be glad.
Then he made his way straight to Lee
ona. His jaw set little as he remem-
bered that he had left her flirting, in
her refined but desperate way, with
Harry Spear. Harry, too, was being
dangled. This would decide matters.
| He found her seated on a big pillow
under birch tree, her dark head
against the white trunk. her saucy
eyes bright, her mouth set stubbornly.
Harry was just leaving her, his face
dark. Kingston walked straight up to
the girl and held her out the letter,
which she took, reading it lazily. Her
face hardened a little. and she held
out her hand formally.
| CONCENTRATIONS" she said, "since
you seem to be delighted over such
crazy proposition-going to live in a
South American wildernessi Won't it
be hard to break away?'
| His heart sank, but he eagerly be-
gan to explain.
why. it's the chance of a lifetime
for an engineer. Under Foster, the
greatest man of his profession agotng,
and at salary to begin on that makes
me independent, with every oppor-
tunity to work up. Don't you see,
Leona?"
she drew it back. Anger as well as
|
feet.
| 'Leona, are you going to marry me
and go with me? Could you be ready
in two weeks? That's all the time we
will have"
"You-must be crazy, King, I never
thought you were in earnest about go
ing out there! Father could do better
for you financially-he'd be glad to
-
you haven't answered me, Leona.
You've trailed me for two years; I've
been engaged to you all that time, and
you've been engaged to me when you
Ipleased, and were not too busy flirting
with some one else. I'm civil en-
gineer, and even if there was work for
me in a manufacturers office, would
not be dependent on your father for
anything. 1 love you as always have
you know that. want you-for my
wife, but il you marry me, my life will
have to be yours. You can have all
nave ana all L am Out L snail De my
| self, not somebody else. Will you go
with me? Do you-love m enough
You won't have the luxuries you have
at home but you'll have a wide, free
life, and love always!" He spoke rather
hotly, but he had been patient long
time.
The girl rose and looked at him.
Her first impulse was to yield, to tell
him she would follow him anywhere.
Then the old pride came up.
''In-two weeks? With nc wedding?
-scrambling my things together,
when you could as well stay in civili-
zation? No, thank your She intend
ed it to begin as a discussion in which
she would finally be beaten, but for
once she was surprised.
| "As you WISH" he answered coldly.
ST have said all could
He walked quietly away and left
| her. Leaning up against the tree, she
thought it out. After supper she
would let him seek her out-she would
relent, and he would be less master
plans failed. When she came back to
camp she saw the little crowd all
standing about him, laughing, con-
graduating him. He was in business
clothes, his suitcases beside him.
You're all good friends, the very
best" he said cit will be hard to
break away. But I shall need every
minute l can give mother. and two
weeks is short time to settle my
business affairs UP in. And lest I
should not meet all of you, in town
again before I go, am going to say
good-by."
He shook hands warmly with every
one, Leona not first or last, but simply
among others She felt the glance of
the others curiously upon her, and was
angry and hurt that no one even
tchaffed her about his going. Did they
think she cared? Did they think he
had not asked her to go? Did they
think her sensitive about him?
The plan had been for ten days
longer in camp. Spear, delighted at
Kingston Corey's departure from the
field, devoted himself to Leona. who
was glad to show her independence by
encouraging his devotion. But the
days became intermfnable to her, and
the nights sleepless. From anger and
lsurprise. she became dismayed, and
then her heart sank hopelessly. Had
he said his last word to her? Would
he not write? She began taking the
: daily long walks to meet the mail, but
there was no word to her from him.
He must have meant it Fear seized
upon her, and then grief. Her one
effort was to hide 1t from the others
by sheer gayety.
A week passed. She was counting
the days-seven-beforc he went away
for always! And without even seeing
her againi Could she hear it? The
q time dwindled to five, to four days,
then to three. It was more than she
Icould endure. She planned quickly,
earring nothing of what the others
might say or think. On the afternoon
mail came a letter from her father,
wishing she were at home. It gave
her an excuse.
Dad wants me to come home" she
Isaid to Mrs. Tiverton, land I want to
start right away Could Gray take my
things to the station?'
Her face was so pale her eyes SO
eager, that the wise woman said moth
ling and was kindly helpful. She di-
: lvined something of the srciled mother
: LESS girls predicament, had watched
iher proud treatment of young Corey,