The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-11-20
THE EVENING STORY
Her Good Sense.
By (Francis A. Corey.l


There was a succession of discour-
aged grGnts, and the little narrow
! gauge engine came to a dead halt in
the isolated Vermont valley.
Stalled" exclaimed a chorus of
voices in varying degrees of annoy
ance and disgust.
Mrs. Van Brunt sat suddenly erect.
She was a magnificent parsonage, ag-
gressive and oVerbearing, much too
smartly dressed for a journey into the
wIlds,
How exasperating. There's no tell
ing how long he will be delayed! And
We are due at Stormeliff in an hour
What's wrong, wonder?"
The male passengers were pouring
out of the dingy little coaches on a
tour of investigation, Mrs. Van Brunt
watched from the car window as they
hurried down the track, then her cold
eyes swept the landscape. An excla-
nation was smothered in her throat
She turned hastily to her niece, a very
pretty girl with dark, Velvety eyes and
copper CLEANS in her eyes
Constance, my dear, didn't we bring
fruit and sandwiches along? They'll
help to pass the time
Connie opened small handbag and
laid il on the seat.
Here they are. Aunt Helena. don't
want anything She had risen and
slipped quietly into the aisle. TN get
out and walk about"
left!' -" 'OA 9'' Sc
mo danger. I just heard one of the
traipmen say we'd be here for half
hour or longer"
Il forbid you to leave the car" cried
Mrs. Van Brunt, majesticaliy.
Rebellious red came into the girls
cheeks. What is the harm? You
are unreasonable, Aunt Helena" And
she started for the door.
Mrs. Van Brunt sailed after her.
There were angry splotches in the ell
der wonan's face.
Perhaps you think don't know,
but l do!'' she Kissed. THAT farm
house up yonder is where you went
last summer with the McAlisters! Il
know it from the picture on your
dressing table at home"
Yes said Connie, queer little Tilt
in her voice. ITS such a dear old
McAlisters are in Europe. The house
is closed - nobody will know" And
she moved on again with shining eyes.
There We're times when even Mrs.
Van Brunt dared not cross the girl. |
Why not let her have her way? Fate
had played a shabby trick in permit
ting the train to break down at this
particular point. But the worst that
could come from it was the awaken !
ing of memories that might better |
slumber.
st thought you had more sense" she
said ungraciously, lifting her skirts to
alight from the car. "Of course 1
can't let you go providing about the
dreadful place alone"
Connie climbed the hill slowly.
glancing from right to left. Each nook
and corner had its bitteF-sweet mem {
DRY. But for the ponderous figure
close beside her. she would have been +
unable to restrain her sobs.
Presently curve in the path
brought them close to the old house
a rambling affair, nesting confidently
under great trees. Connie stopped
short SO did Mrs. Van Brunt. The
windows We're open, the curtains
swaying in the breeze.
Somebody's there!" the elder wo-
man exclaimed.
A face appeared and vanished. the
outer door swung open, and a tall
young man-Duncan Vance himself
came forth
Miss Kirby-you!' he exclaimed
with a warmth of greeting that deep
ened the color in Comics cheeks. ooh.
I see!" as his glance fell upon the
tuckered out. 1t usually does. some
where on the road Lucky it should I
be at my very door!"
II thought had heard-you were
abroad" Connie faltered, all her dim
pies flashed and playing bewilder-
Eyes, my friends believe I went with
the McAlisters in June But I stole
away all by myself to study up for the
book I'm writing on Forestry. I've
put in six weeks of solid work"
look passed between the two that
made Mrs. Van Brunt writhe. Was
all her plotting and wire pulling to
come to naught? She had counted on
definitely settling her niece's future
within twenty-four hours. Now the ,
one man who could spoil her little ,
game had Unexpectedly crossed their
path.
'I hear the warning whistle she !
I'VE must hasten back" I
Duncan Vance walked down to the
rain with them. He and Connie ]
ehatted in accents of suppressed ex-
element, but Mrs. Van Brunt kept {
,Inse at their heels. She hurried Con- !
lie into the coach. but the young {
nan stood at the window until the t
rain began to move. +
7 shall see you again SOON" he +
sal1ed after them. {
mot if I can help it," Mrs. Van I
3runt CALCULATED to herself
Some hours later Connie stood on !
he broad veranda at Stormcliff. The
un had gone down behind Stratton
Mountain. All the lesser heights, the >
ir-crowned slopes, were wrapped in a
wonderful opaz haze. &
Several things had happened since
heir arrival. Colonel Calvert their /
lost, a railroad president. with no i'm
Mediate family of his own, had shown !
hem over the beautiful house. had
scorted Connie through the grounds. q
Afterward Mrs Van Brunt had un- .
arthed from her trunk a very lovely &