The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-21
TIE EVENING STORY
In Leap Year.

| thing of his joy in the joyous sum-
mer day. He knew every change OF
the eyes-beautiful brown eyes, dark
and liquid, set under arched brows
and curtained with long, soft, straight
lashes. Most lashes so long and
| thick have a trick of curling upward.
Morna's rather lay in soft dusk
fringe over the splendors underneath,
| or made a fairy shadow against the
healthy pallor of her oval cheeks.
| Faithful Heart, of course, had an
other name-indifferent folk called
more commonly. He was as honest
| as he was sturdy and ugly. 1t was
an engaging ugliness, that made chill
dren hold out imploring arms to him,
and dogs follow him, wagging the
tail in joy.
He had grown up knowing Norma
and loving her. He could not recall
the day since he was ten and she a
fairy of four that he had not been
conscious of somehow having her in
charge. After sort she belonged to
his people, being orphan step
daughter to the aunt who mothered
him most. He did not live with the
motherer, but with two of her spin
ster sisters. Both adored him, but
being stiff and shy, never dared show
him the open tenderness he got from
Mrs. Ware.
Norma was rising twenty now
in another six months she would
come into her property, a small COM
petence inherited from her mother,
and kept sacredly intact by her
stepmother. Mrs. Ware was eager
to have John press for maria age
no telling what a girl might do
when she had ready money and abb
solute freedom in the spending of it.
John was not afraid either would
go to Morna's head. Also, he had a
certain mans pride in showing his
world and hers that if she came to
him it would be open-eyed and free
from choice, without trace of COM
pulsive family influence.
He was, indeed, a Faithful Heart
foolishly faithful, foolishly fond it
might be. Even as he loved Norma
he trusted her. In reward she had
always been open as the day toward
him. That made her present state at
once puzzling and unpleasant. If
anything really troubled her, John
felt it at once his right and his privi-
lege to know it and seek a remedy
1t was tantalizing that he could not
go straight to her-he had Aunt Mar
tha's Sunday school boys in charge, |
to say nothing of the old folk from |
the poorhouse whom Aunt Mary had
insisted must be brought to the bas- |
ket meeting. Since it came off upon |
a Saturday rather than Sunday it |
owned a holiday aspect in which there |
was nothing of sacrilege.
The countryside for ten miles round |
about and almost the whole of two /
villages had come together in the big |
shady grove trimming Asbury meeting /
house to sit under a brush arbor /
famed by winds from heaven, hear glad I
tidings of great joy, then between SER
mons eat the fat and drink the sweet |
and hear the news of a whole year.
Norma was looking out for the Ware
dinner baskets, helped by slim dark
oil wi Cf
wondered, raging inly, if the dark
fellow could be her perplexity. He was
1.-THE and light ON his feet, moving as
Il on springs. Yet there was something
tense in his face, an edged timbre in
mis- voice when he flung gay banter
right and left.
AS Mrs Ware sailed majestically
past, John caught her arm, asking
under breath with the faintest nod
toward the stranger: "Who is he?''
Why Hasn't Norma told you? Her
cousin Len-all the really blood cousin
she's got in the world!' Mrs. Ware
;aid in half whisper. ''Son to her
brother-you know she was
Gordon This Lenox is awful friendly
md bright spoken, but some way-well,
wish he hadn't come"
Don't worry-he shan't make trou-
,le-for anybody John said stoutly,
hough in heart not quite at ease.
His aunt passed on with sigh of
elief. The morning service was over
the intermission was fairly a-buzz
With hospitality. Yearly the basket !;
Inner was a sort of housewifely COM
,etition. Though all baskets were
uread- upon common tables free to
.yerybody, those who had fetched them | !
made a point of seeing that their own
riends got the best of their own choice
dibles. Also that the poorer folk, and
specially the county charges, were not :
lighted John Speer and his spinster
unts were not singular in their deter
that Gods poor should be
Considered when they had come to the
ervices in Gods house.
Waiting upon them, looking out for Il
he small boys, with side efforts for
.unt Martha and Aunt Mary, kept O
ohm. so occupied he could do not more
han smile at Norma until, everybody
ed to repletion. the crowd began to
cater and clot for intimate gossip. s
,enox Gordon had momentarily left
er-John almost ran to her, caught a
err arm and drew her apart, saying
ushedly: Tell me the trouble, dear" Z
IT can't! IL mustnt-but o! I do
rish 1 could" Norma answered breath
essly. +.
John smiled at her. 'T am sure you
iii tell me-whether or no you can,
e said ''Out with it, At once"
"I-I-don't know-how to BEGIN"
lorna said flushing little. IS
Its about your cousin John said | v
18th decision, not Interrogation. +;
She started. How do you know"
he asked.
Never mind John retorted "TelI V
lie what he wants. u
"He-wants me to-to--marry him l.,
light away" Norma said with a little =
hudder, half closing her eyes
John frowned. Very naturally he v