The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-03-16
THE EVENING STORY
Trembling Road.
(By Kate Cleves.)

| the little station, Carrlngton turned
to the group of loungers who were
preparing to vacate the benches along
| the wall of the building.
81 want to go to the old Fletcher
place, he said; 81 will be obliged if
you can tell me how to reach it,
Stranger here?' asked the man ad-
| dressed.
| Yes
| Then somebody'll have to show the
way. It's down Trembling road-any-
body going down that Way" The
speaker blinked near-sightedly at his
| companions, but with one excuse or
| another they melted away around
corners or down the road until there
| remained only Darlington and the man
! he had questioned.
Darlington smiled quizzically. mot
| a popular promenade, 1 take it?" he
remarked.
The man shook his head. "Trem-
| bling road has got a bad name.
don't care about going down there
myself it was in any other direction
in Swampton I'd take you along in
my sulky and welcome-but my horse
won't turn down that road, nohow!"
well, then perhaps you can direct
me to it," observed Darlington impa-
tiently.
II can set you down at the en-
trance; get into my rig here and III
take you down a piece He arose
and walked toward the yellow
''sulky' and the sorrel horse dropping
in the heat of the afternoon.
Darlington tossed his bag between
his feet and balanced himself care
fully as the frail vehicle creaked
down a winding road toward the viii
lage of Swampton. His companion
said nothing during the brief time it
took the sorrel horse to traverse the
half mile to the beginning of Trem-
bling road.
Here you be-" declared the driver,
bringing the horse to a standst1li.
much Obliged: I'll save them cigars
for Sunday, sure! This is Trembling
road, and the Fletcher place is half a
mile down-you can't miss it, because
it's the onl house on the road
Darlington noted that the trees
grew closely to the very borders of
the road, and the road itself bore lit
tie evidence of travel; grass gre"
along the tracks of ancient wheels.
Trembling road wound in and out
among the closely pressing trees of
the forest, slightly descending as it
went; sometimes it narrowed to
scarcely more than footpath ana
again it broadened at some point
where the forest had retreated in a
deep curve.
1t was e strangely gloomy road even
on this bright June afternoon ano
Darlington wondered what must be
the aspect of the Fletcher place
which he had come to examine in be-
half of a client who wanted TO puy |
country home for a mere song. Ihe
Fletcher place had been advertised Tor
sale Hence Carrington'S appearance |
He was not favorably impressed by |
the approach to the place, aItnongn
his client was rich enough 10 cut new
roads. level hills and defect rivers. II |
He came upon it suddenly and stop |
ned short The forest thinned TO
plantation of young locusts' heavy with
~ The r1idst of a great tangled |
garden. and overshadowed by mag
nificent locust trees, was the F1etcher
house.
self into the garden, pausing to fasten
a b111sb rose in the lapel of his gray
coat. and pushed his way up an over
grown path to the broad veranda on the
south side of the house.
He peered through the paneless Win
dows into a room-once a handsome
parlor. Quite convinced that the place
was empty, Darlington stepped within
the room and set his bag on the mantel
before making a survey of the mousse
From one room to another he wan
dered. finding each one empty and for
lorn. until he had covered the entire
lower floor. Then he mounted the broad
stairway to the second story.
Darlington stopped short at the head
of the stairs. At right and left of him
open doors showed vistas of empty
rooms; but directly in front of him was
4 wide arched doorway admitting to
long bedroom facing south Here a rich
rug was spread on the bare fioor- manu-
some draperies curtained the windows,
a tall mahogany bureau faced him, and
in the middle of the room was ma
nogany four-post bedstead covered with
4 rich silk quilt
The bed was occupied.
while Darlington hes:tated some
body came out of the shadow of the
curtains and advanced toward him
throwing a backward look !
and a word toward the occupant OF
he bed as she came.
"Some one has come to buy the
place, grandfather! I'll be back in
Darlington was almost guilty of ,
staring at the beautiful girl who con-
'ronted him in the hall. even while
ne barred his head and listened to her.
81 don't know who you are she
hastily, "bu- I'm gong TO
S dying, and he has set his heart on
selling the place before he dies so
hat he can provide for me. Would
rou object to pretending that you
nave come to look st me place ana
want to buy it? 1t would be harm
ss deception and would ease his last
hours" She spoke leadingly. her :
lands clasped tightly in front of her
ssC,ertainIy.' said Darlington, quick ?
V: land there won't be any decep- a
ion about the matter, either, be-
ause 1 have come down to look at '
he Fletcher place with the intention t
# buying it. 1 thought the house
vas unoccupied. 1 beg your pardon
or intruding."
aThat does not matter in the least.
We are very poor, grandfather and l,
nd the few rooms up here are all we
ave to live in. Come and speak to
i'm" She led the way back into the h
DOM, where a small, shriveled old
nan lay dying. Darlington could p
-uess after one rapid glance about t