The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-07-24
THE EVENING STORY
Rich Mr.. Dobson.
nv Xyir1ipia RIair

him" said Mary-CorneIia, with her
head in the air. ''de hasn't thing to
recommend him but his money"
How do you know" Leonora de-
manded.
Listen to this." Mary Cornelia sat
up in the hammock. and read:
81 want you to be nice to him,
Cory. dear. He isn't good-looking,
and his clothes are badly cut. But he's
good and kind, and has leads of money
Mary-Cornelia threw the letter into
her cousins lap. Neither good looks
or style!"
'sshe says he's good er d kind
"Oh, of course she had to say some
thing. But any man can be good and
kind-and nonenity.'
mo, he can't" said Leonora, who
was married happily, AMI had the wis
dom of the contented wife. Ned is
that kind of a man, and my father
was. But if I searched the list of our
acquaintances I shouldn't find more
than a half dozen husbands and lovers
who are really tender ard true"
Aunt Jane doesn't say anything
about his being tender and true. "
ITS the same thing" Leonora
stated. kind men and good men, are
tender men and true men, and you'll
learn as the years go on to care less
for good looks and more for a good
heart
"Weu. anyhow" Mary-Cornelia
shifted the argument, II am not going
to stay at home to see him tomorrow
afternoon. I'm going tc take my
lunch and a book, and go to Big Rock
and have a lazy day all to rlyself.'
But Aunt Jane will he hurt. She
says he was so good to her, while she
was i'll at the hotel in Florida
You are great deal nicer than I
wicked light in them. "and you'll ask
him questions about hir1se-f, and get
him to talk, and he'll have a lovely
time"
But he wants to meet you, and he's
coming to dinner"
I'm not a fortune hunter the light
had gone out of Mary-Cornelia's eyes,
land you people needn't try to marry
me to a rich man that don't like
You're unjust Leonora said.
holly. "as If 1 wouldn't keep you with
me forever. But how do you know
you won't like him, CorTy?"
Because" Mary-Cornelia gathered
up an armful of books. preparatory to
her departure"
The next morning, a tall and will
Lowry maiden wended her way through
the daisy-starred fields. In one hand
she carried a basket, in the other a
small book. Over her arm was a rug,
Oh hSI uedQ d Wlu0 Hal. "A UlS COlllS
dog followed her.
When they reached the little stream
beside which lowered q great rock.
Mary-Cornelia spread the rug in the
shade. But she was not in a mood to
read. She threw stones idly in the
water. and watched Bobs run after
them.
Hi, there" said voice suddenly,
from the other side, you're soaring
the fish,
Mary-Cornelia peepe6 around the
rock. A young man in faded brown
corduroys was casting his line.
She threw another stone, and drew
back into her hiding place.
Hi, there, boy" said the voice
again, you wait till come across the
bridge"
Mary-Cornelia liked the voice. It
was that of a man born to command.
She kept still. She could hear the
whirr of the reel as the line was cast.
once there was splash and a chuckle
of satisfaction. Mary peeped around
the rock again and saw that the young
man had caught a fish.
81 like his looks she said to Bobs,
softly.
Mary Cornelia was a young lady of
retiring tastes The appeal that the
young man made to her was strong,
but no appeal could make her over
step the bounds of propriety, so with a
sigh she opened her book and read,
keeping her eyes steruly away from
the tempting corner.
Then suddenly Bobs hegan to bark
excitedly, and Mary ornelia, lookin &
up, saw slipping through the ground
just beyond her, a snake.
She screamed, and ran, stumbling
around the corner of tho rock, meet
ing halfway across the rustic bridge,
the young man in corduroys.
L l.
he was clutched by the vision in pink,
"are you hurt?'
Mary-Cornelia explained. distracted
~. 1T was so big-and horrid.' she
shuddered.
He left her on the bridge while he
dispatched the enemy, then he came
back to her, and found her, very white
and shaky. sitting beside his creel and
rod.
81 thank you so much,'' she said.
II don't think 1 was ever SO fright
ened in my life
IT don't blame you. He was a dan
gerous customer" he asserted. Then
he asked, suddenly. WAS it you who
threw the stones?"
yes You were so sure I was a
boy that was tempted
Il came over from the hotel early
this morning. he said. st am up here
to meet some people that I don't
know. and 1 was not to call until after
noon. I'm doing it for tt e sake of an
old lady 1 met in FLORIDA. She was
such a dear old thing that I didn't
want to disappoint her. But it's a sort
of bore
Mary-Cornelia stiffened Il don't
see why" she began.
well, it's this way. She has a niece
"a amesake-Cornelia, think, any
how, she calls her Corry-and she's
got an awfully good opinion of herself,
and she isn't a bit pretty"
Cornelia gasped. eff you haven't
seen her how do you known
Because the aunt showed me a pic
ture-''
Taken ten years agoi Mary Cornelia
knew that hideous photograph.
But I oughtn't to talk about her, :"
Il Il e. LIZ