The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-09-09
TIE EVENING Story
Genevieve's Guest.
(By Dorothy Blackmore. }

"oh!" interrupted Mrs. Marsfor
with sigh of genuine disappointment
that is too bad. And on such hol
night, too
| enevieve. He had asked \ friend
a Mr.. Robert Hunter Barnes of Lon.
don-to meet him at Jamaica an6
come out for dinner and TO spend the
night with us. He's BUSINESS asso-
| ctate of the London house and father
feels in duty bound to entertain him
He's a perfect stranger in this country
| and, as father had no way to com
municate with MIN, the poor man is
| likely to be wandering about anywhere
this side of rimbuctoo!" GeneviAve
filled her cup and waited for her moth
er to gather the situation.
There's nothing to do but wait,
said Mrs. Marston. after a moments
until 1880. and maybe your father
will have found his friend some
where"
And maybe he won't too." added
Genevieve. Poor souli'
The attention of the two women
was attracted to the path in front of
their pretty suburban house. A man
stood looking intently at the gate and
bordering flower beds.
Mother" whispered GenevieVe,
grasping her parents arm none too
gently. THAT he!"
That's who?"
Fathers friend-he answers he
description father gave me over the
phone, and doesn't he look as If he
were searching for some one?" GeIe-
We've turned to the ramblers and be-
gan ostensibly to pick cluster; in
reality she wanted only to get view
of the stranger without seeming TO
notice him.
HE seems 10 be going on Sd
but reluctantly-see! FL is look
ing at the grounds, at the flowers
Movie sees us and is embarrassed.
wonder what we should do? Father
SAID he would probably turn Ep."
Surely a mere passerby wouldn't
stare So remarked Mrs Marslon;
Are you quite sure your fa'her salo
tall and dark ?"
quite replied Genevievs, rising.
"And I'm going to get him.
Genevieve picked her way out from
among the roses and walked stralgnt
to the hedge instead OF gong , py t tnG
circuitous route to the path. The TAN
stranger was moving on, reluctantly.
Are you-Mr. Robert Hunter
Barnes?" GeneVieve asked hesltal
ingly.
his soft hat in his hand In an IN
slant. mo; my name is kensington
James Band I must ask you lc
pardon my seeming rudeness IN sla5
ing at your grounds. l am lanu-
this place since laid it out five years
ago, was anxious to know how II aas
done. The roses are wonderful and
you have added to them.
Genevieve was endeavoring to re
cover her composure after the first
realization that she had made an er-
ror ut is l who must ask your par,
don. My mother and 1 both decldeo
that you were my fathers frieno' MI
Barnes, for whom we are looking. He
is a stranger, and father described
him as tall and dark. You looked lk9
a stranger seeking number so-you II
pardon me? nr
Marston Joined them he explained
again his own conduct. Then he add-
ed: II, too, am under q slight dlIticulty
as to my dining place. Mrs. Ihonip
son, one of your neighbors on the hii'
asked me to dine with them qulle III
formally tonight, and to come out
early. If 1 cared to, and look at the
places L had laid out some |
time since.
formed by the maid at the door that
she had instructions to let no one N |
without Mrs. Thompson's ORDERS EVi-
IDENTIFY the fact that she had asked me |
to dinner had slipped Mrs. thompson
mind and she has gone Tor the DAY
without informing the servants. Iney
had q house robbed by man VINO
said he wanted to mend the cLochS
and had come under instruction from
Mr.. Thompson" Kenslngton Iausn
ad $50 YOU see how the servants re-
gard me, I shall wait now until MIS-:
Thonpson returns, and thea-it Will
be all right"
CUP of tea" Mrs. Marston said, gra-
ciousIv. she liked the splendid face
of the stranger, and she well knew OF
the instructions to the Thompson ser
wants after the "clock" mans en-
rance. ut is quite natural on the
part of the servants she laughed as
they sought the tea table.
But 1 wonder where poor MT:
Barnes is" said Genevieve as they sat
m rustic seat in full view of the
His loss is my gain" remarked
teacup in hand But
trust he will find you
Mr.. Marston will be here on the
next train and perhaps he will have
found him." Mrs. Marston said.
Until train time, Kensington told
the two women much that convinced
them of his sincerity. He related TO
them the story of how the little set
-lement in which they live originated
''It was a great, rolling cow pasture
when Mr.. Thompson first found II, ana
IS he was DESTROYS of establishing
nome for himself and of surrounding
himself with a few ,ongenial neigh
oors. he bought the entire piece OF
that was left of an old
sstate-and asked me to come up and
ay if out, being careful to place the
houses so as to preserSe every one OF
he old trees that stood in the pasture
That accounts for the irregularity OF
he roads and the hit-or-rniss setting
# the houses. but-pardon my SEEM
ng self praise-I t. led to make it
Lrtistic irregularity, and Mr.. Thomp-
ian thinks I have succeeded"
- II