The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-10
TEE EVENING Story
ZINC Hilton Runaways.
(By Philip Kean.)
=, HsltAa xxyaC ,


| with excitement.
Mrs. Stebbins said they stopped
there and got her to put up some
sandwiches said Agatha Meeks, the
blue foulard on Mrs. Greer, the wife
of the town magnate. But she
| thought they were just going to the
Point for a picnic. It was early IN
| she noticed that Mile was nervous,
! and William was so excited that ne
could hardly tell what they wanted.
Put in plenty, Mrs. Stebbins,' he Kept
saying, we'll be pretty hungry by the
! time we eat it. "
| 81 should think they would said
! Mrs. Greer, getting comfortably back
/ into her kimono, and sitting down in a
| think they would. Who ever heard OF
running away in an automobile, and
getting married miles away"
"If they are married. was Agatha
| subtle suggestion.
But Mile wouldn't Mrs. Greer
began o,,r.o cha wouldn't. said the
dressmaker, "but what does anybody
know of william Clark? He came
| here without any credentials. And he
went to work for Miles father and
now he's run away with Millie. don
like the looks of it myself"
Good natured Mrs. Greer rocked
media lively. Hes probably after her
fathers money
Eyes, and if the old man wanted to,
he could have the police after them,
for they took his auto. But he won't.
He'd hate to have a thing like that in
the papers. But he says he won't for
give them"
telegram in such cases, saying all is
over, and that the loving couple hope
they're forgiven"
MILES mother looks dreadful"
,,o1,y1obIo5 AGATHA with month full
of pins; "she just sits there waiting
and waiting for some word"
But even as she spoke Mrs. Barker
was welcoming her daughter. The girl
crept in at the back door "Millie,"
cried the mother, aghast, as she saw
the pale face and red eyes, What
has happened?'
"Oh. mother, mother" sobbed Mil
lie, ard threw herself into the loving
arms open to receive her, Eve come
back, I've come back.
The mothers lips frightened.
where's William"
doleful heap. ct don't know. haven't
seen him since yesterday afternoon"
What" the older woman gasped.
We We started s%d out fGF the f i0gfed M on
stopping at Mrs. Stebbinss boarding
house and getting her to put up some
sandwiches. Didn't she tell you? And
we expected to ride back by moon
we forgot about the tide, and we went
across the causeway to the Neck.
There were lots of people over there,
and we found a cozy place on the
rocks, and sat and talked until we
were hungry, and then we ate our
sandwiches, and it grew darker and
darker, and the moon didn't come up,
and presently it began to sprinkle. And
that made US start back to where we
had left the automobile, and then we
found that everybody had left the
Neck, and that the tide had covered
the causeWay-and there we were. cut
hope of getting off till morning. And, |
oh, mother, when we found what had |
happened. William turned to me, and |
he said, Little girl, I've got to make |
deeper over the causeway'-and he |
kissed me, and before 1 could stop him |
he was off in the automobile, splash
ing through the water, putting on |
spead to beat the tide.
And then-oh, mother, when he |
reached the middle of the causeway |
the automobile began to float and the |
last I saw was the great headlight !
shining out over the water and Will
lam, was shouting back to me not to be |
frightened, that he'd swim for shore.
And all night" Miles excited
rain, and I was afraid to cross in the
night when the tide was low, and so
I had to wait until today. and, oh,
InOtne1, Wnere IS William 2?
why didn't you let me know you
were going on a picnic ?''
Il left a note on the table,
I've did not find any note-but a
high wind came up with the storm,
perhaps it was blown away
With her daughter quoted at last,
Mrs. Barker went to the barn to take
counsel with her husband
do you suppose William is
drowned ?'' she asked. WED better
send somebody out to look for him.
Hes probably been able to swim
ashore said Mr.. Barker grimIy "but
sea. He is thief and scamp, Sarah.
that's what he is, and Miles well rid
Of him, dead or alive"
Mrs. Barker hared up at that. sThe
child loves him, Silas,'' she said. land
never saw anything about him that
wasn't polite and gent1emanly.'
We'll, he's as poor as Jobs turkey
and fortune hunter" said the thrifty
farmer when he tried to steal Mil
lie and my automobile together that
vas enough for me. sha'n't hunt him
lp.' I
We'll Miles heart will be broken I
aid the mother sadly 'tShe won't get
over this easily {
All the next day Hilton talked about
he runaways. Few of the gossips be-
ieved that Millfe and William had
merely started out to visit the Point
They intended to elope," said the
wise ones, "and when the tide caught q
hem and William ran away from her, .
lille wouldn't own up that they had :
damned to get married.
For three days Mile Barker mourn t
d and wept, while her father made a } h