The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-07-19
TIE EVENING STORY
A Lady Unafraid.
(By Louise Olney.l

A Lady Unafraid.
CBy Louise Olney.)
She was little enough and slight
enough and with a great enough bur-
den upon her. But she carried her
self with gallant lift of the head
and squared shoulders. In boyhood
her father had begun by hard work
to make fortune. If in old age he
had suddenly lost it, his daughter
thought she could begin at the foot
as he had done. Regina Frank was
equipped with youth and health and
her courage was even better than her
Fathers, because through her aris-
tocratic mother she inherited a thor
oughbred strain. She was even thank
full that the mother died just befor
the crash came.
This hot morning she came to the
Office prepared for nothing but the
usual routine which her years steady
work had mastered And the unusual
happened.
Zant's real estate Office was quiet
enough and as vacations were on and
business hopelessly Gull, Jared Zant
stayed at home that day and sent his
son to the office. Junior would have
preferred golf or dawdling about sum-
mer verandas where pretty girls were
to be found. but he knew that after
an elaborate college education and
several years abroad at dads expense
it was necessary for him to do office
duty on request Therefore, he went,
for the first time in two years.
And he saw Regina. Regina was to
all appearances almost oblivlous to his
gay presence. He could feel that heI
steady brown eyes marked his en-
trance, took stock of him in general
and then attended to the days cor
respondence, lifting for another look
only when their owner heard herself
addressed.
She took a few unimportant letters
for him, write few important ones
on her own initiative and got him to
sign them, and generally minded her
business with extreme concentration.
In which trait she was like her father,
John Trant-
Just before luncheon young Zant
wondered whether he dared try con-
versation with her, and irritably de-
cided that he didn't know what to say
to her. He meant to ask dad where
he got her. He hadn't known that
girls like that worked in offices. His
keen blue eyes followed her every line
and color and movement with sort
of surprised approval. She might have
been a college queen-and with that
thought he dawdled out to lunch.
Along the middle of the afternoon
came breezing into the Office Maidie
Perkins, her fat mother and her fat
ter father. They had heard that a
picturesque, old-looking place on the
lake was for sale-the old Trant place.
Did Mr.. Zant handle it? Old Perkins
thought SO, and gave a sidewise look
of admiration at Regina, who made nc
sign until the young man turned tic
her for help.
I'm only here for the day, you
know" he said help1essly. Miss
the lady here will tell you" He look
ed at Regina.
1--WE have the place-it's for sale
Have you looked at it?''
Maidie began raving about it, her
eye on young Jared Zant.
1.-THE dearest grounds, and the house
SO romantic Rockingham you let us
see it? Does any one here know all
about it?' They all looked at Regina
but Maidie. Jerry zant turned tic
Regina.
could you go out with them? Dc
YOU know the placer" She gave
queer little smile. Did she know the
place which her father had built for
her, dear in every stone and brick,
every nook and corner?
II know it well,'' she said. 81 will
go if you like" Her steady eyes met
young Zant and all their deep beauty
was for an instant his.
1--WE have the car out here-we can
bring her back said Perkins. my
daughter thinks she wants the place.
she can have it-what do you want
for it?'' John Zant. Jr., turned to
Regina and consulting a card cata-
logue she coolly named the price. Then
she put on her hat and gloves and
prepared to go. At the door she heard
a little call. and waited for orders.
ssMiss-Miss-you needn't come back
tonight She gave him a little bow,
as if it were she dismissing him in
stead Of, he her.
seBy-gravyi' he remarked when she
had gone. Then he repeated the ele-
CANT ejaculation: whats her name?
land where did dad get. her? Look
out, my boy, or you are gone for
sure!'' With which adjuration he
called over to the further corner OF
the room for Walters to come to him.
walters had been young half CEN
turv ago, but was now withered UP and
wrinkled SNUG and dry-as-dust. Wal
ters was bald, and his lips were pursed,
and a pen was over his ear. He faced
his employers young son.
| whats her manner" asked that
worthy, and at the old. mans stare.
added, "the young lady in the office
here I mean"
Miss Regina; Regina Trant.' he
submitted solemnly. Your father
would never "a sent the gal out to sell
| her own old home neither! I must
say that fer 'im!''
sswhat?" submitted the young man.
| What do you mean?'
Her father, old John Trant, built
that there place on the lake for Miss
Regina She never speaks of it. He