The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-02
THE EVENING STORY
In a Bride Path.
(By CIarissa Fackie.)

|
the we'll macadamized highway and af-
| forded a Ieafy, shaded way for several
miles before it took a sudden, unex-
pected turn and wandered off through
the deep woods to the river and the
bridge.
| Connie Stone rode dreamily along
the bride path, her brown eyes fixed
on the green perspective ahead. From
| the highway came the sound of swiftly
flying motor cars and the rumble of
| carriage wheels to the accompaniment
| of horses hoofS.
"It would be lovely if it were not for
| the noises from the road, sighed Con-
ME at last She f1icked Brown Ben
| lightly so that they would reach the
turn in the path and ride toward the
river.
'Ah, I wish something might hap
pen-something perfectly lovely" she
sighed again. my life Is so cut and
dried-plenty of money and even my
future husband selected for me! If
Uncle Remus had only spared me that.
The very fact that 1 am bound to
marry Phil Barring has prejudiced me
against him. 1 can't bear him wish
he would go awayi
This unhappy victim of matchmak-
ing parents and worldly old uncle
and guardian sulked openly as she
rode along. for now her grievance
against the world in general, and Phil
Barring in particular, quite overpower-
ed her delight in the fresh morning
air.
A saddle girth had slipped and Con-
ME aIighted and bent to tighten it. AS
she did so, standing there in the
green-brown woods only stones
throw from the highway, she heard a
motor car jar to a standstill close at
hand and two feminine voices engaged
in conversation.
g and we all think it was per-
fectly horrid of old Remus Barring to
agree with the girls parents that when
Phil was 25 he should marry the girl.
No, I've never seen her, but you may
take it for granted that she's a fright,
Adele! If she were not her parents
wouldn't have been to such pains to
marry her off,
"And so Phil isn't quite happy over
it?'' asked a lazily amused voice.
''Wretched! Why-you know. my
dear, it's no secret that he's breaking
his heart over little me-and there's
that fright of an heiress standing like
a mountainous wall of money bags be-
tween us. Of course. Phil couldn't
marry me without some of his fathers
forture-and there you are
Poor Elizabeth derided the voice
of Adele. "If you only knew Phil Bar
ing was free to marry, you wouldn't
care two pins for him!"
"And so he has poured out his trou-
bles to your
mo. He isn't that sort. and you
know it, Adele. Only he looks miser-
able. ard I understand the reason"
The motor suddenly started noisily
and drew away from the spot where
Connie Stone stood, crimsoned, pal
pitating eavesdropper. With swift
movement she pulled out gold vanity
case and scanned her reflection in the
little mirror.
She saw a blushing face framed in
a mist of jet black hair, brown eyes
with golden specks in them, a perfect
nd q WI "a 011 wit
deep dimple.
ssIf she calls me a fright, wonder
what she looks like" exclaimed the
indignant Miss Stone. and she mounted
Brown Ben and flashed down the
AS she rode along the 1eaf-strewen
way she thought of her first meeting
with Phil Barring. He had returned
from a long residence abroad, and al
though he was very grave, good look
ing Young man without much to say
for himself, Connie had mistaken his
silence for awkwardnesS and she was
angry with him from the beginning.
When he did try to be agreeable
and displayed some admiration for this
cousin who was to be his bride, Con-
ME became contrary and erratic in
her moods Somehow she felt that his
was affected He was try
ing to play his part
And all the time he was in love
with a horrid creature named Eliza
beth who Shrieked when she talked.
Connie could have spared herself
any oualms-he was not in love with
rev He was miserable at the idea
of this foreordained marriage He
was unhappy.
"T hate him. cried Connie as she
eew around the sharp bend away
from the high road and into the still
ness of the thick woods.
Here the trees grew gnarled and |
,1nshapely bending down from the /
bieh messy banks on both sides to |
form arches overhead. A scarlet |
tanager flashed across the road and |
made a spot of gorgeous color against |
n brown tree trunk.
A hermit thrush sang from some |
hidden covert and a thrill Of unearth- |
w. happiness was in his tender notes. |
Tears sprang to Comics eyes for |
this love and happiness that would not |
be hers
st ought to have had a chance"
Her nutinous voice broke sharply, for |
! head of her there came the thud OF |
hoofs on the bride path.
She drew Brown Ben aside under |
the trees as the hoof beats became |
louder. Then a black mare streakcd |
ma ct and disappeared in the direction
whence Connie had come.
Connie felt sick and faint The
black mare was Phil Baring's fayorite |
mount and the saddle was empty
In another instant Brown Ben was /
Aving down the path and Comics |
ewes were half fearfu1ly searching for |
q limp form in the road.
All at once she came upon it. A |
the road '