The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-03-27
THE EVENING STORY
An Eleventh-Hour Bridegroom.
(By Katherine Hopson.)

only twelve days off. the trousseau is
finished, everything is ready except
the bridegroom. He alone is lackingi
Why, ON why, was I so foolish as to
get into this scrape ?"
Dorothy Bowers, sitting by a win
dow in her bedroom, stared out into
the night with frightened eyes. Ner-
vously she clasped her hands as they
lay on the ledge before her. and a
ray of moonlight caught the chaste
little diamond on her third finger till
it seemed to mock her with its sig
nificant CLEAN. The trouble had all
begun with that ringi
Six months ago when she had gone
to Chicago to visit the aunt for whom
she was named, the latter had given
her this diamond.
TITS an heirloom I always intended
to give you, since you are my name
sake she said.
On her return home Dorothy had
thoughtlessly worn it on her third
finger to a meeting of the Fancywork
club. The girls remembering that
she had recently returned from a
two moaths' sojourn in the city, nat
they saw that diamond. Most of them
were either newly married or engaged,
so their thoughts ran in matrim onial
channels. Dorothy, taking the matter
impulse, had accepted their good
natured raillery with laughing acqui-
escence.
TELL us his name. Dot; you must
him." begged her chum Edith.
TON Norton replied Dorothy,
giving the first name that popped into
her head.
rs he handsome?" asked another.
''Why-er-I suppose most people
wouldn't consider him so; but he's big
and broad-shouldered, with a breezy
western manner"
Before night it was known through
out the village of Dunton that Dor
man named Tom Morton.
The absent-minded old uncle with
whom she lived heard the news in
dazed surprise. But when other men
concerning his nieces fiance, Uncle
Emmett breathed a sigh of relief that
the courtship had been carried on
elsewhere so that it in no way inter
fered with the even tenor of his life;
then he signed generous check for
her trousseau and returned to his be-
loved books. Dorothy sewed with the
other engaged girls on wedding
date for her wedding, replied:
September 12th.''
81 must have been mad the girl
declared. 81 shall have to end the
affair some way-it has gone much too
far. But how can I do it? Oh. Why
did I let things drift so long!" she re-
peated
ST must conjure up some new story
about the engagement being broken.
or his sudden death something"
Strangely enough, the thought of HAY
ing her fictitious lover die brought
curious pang. The years of her love-
starved girlhoOd rose before her and
she laid her head on the window sill
and sobbed in a helpless, heart-broken
way.
1--WE never had chance like other
girls who have mothers. Living alone
with uncle has made me shy and re-
served aud-different! People here
have always called me queer, and I've
never had an opportunity to meet 9TH
ers'' She included her visit to Chi
cago in this statement. Aunt Dolly
lived the life of an isolated flat dweller
and beyond half a dozen women in
the same building, Dorothy had met
no one on her visit.
The frequent letters from her aunt,
addressed in rather a masculine hand,
had been interpreted by the friendly
Dunton postmaster as coming from
him.
ters in which she poured out the
dream-love and fancies of her inno-
cent girl-heart. and addressesd-no to
Aunt Dolly but to T. M Morton. Cen
eraI Delivery. Chicago.
81 dare say the dead-letter office is
flooded with them by now" she
thought ruefully.
Next morning at the breakfast table
Dorothy appeared pale but resolute.
She was determined that, cost what it
NAV. Tom must die. That would
be the easiest way out of it all. If
she attempted to invent a broken en-
gagement it would necessitate endless
explanations; but in this way she
would be surrounded with halo of
sentiment as a heroine of blighted
romance She felt that she could
carry off the situation unless Aunt
Dolly came to visit her
s.She knows I didn't meet a single
man when I was visiting her, and if
she comes I shall have to make a
claen breast of it and throw myself
on her mercy. She would enjoy help
ing me along if she sees the humor
ing me along. for she always sees the
humor of her case
She had decided that the next letter
would be made to contain the fatal
tfdings. Usually she heard from her
aunt on Tuesdays, so a letter would
probably come on the noon train.
ct shall soon be maiden all for
lorn.', she was thinking when her un-
Gle broke in upon her revery.
ct should think. Dorothy" he be-
gan peerfng at her from over his gold
Trimmed. glasses that it would be fit
ting if your-er-ah-fiance visited
us before your wedding. I suppose I
should get acquainted with the young
He heaved a sigh as he thought of
some new books that were still I'M
read. Eyes. it is clearly my duty. Is
he fond of outdoor sports2" Uncle
Emmett had visions of trailing dis
maIlv in the wake of an enthusiastic
golfer.
af,..% 10 10f fffaIx he will frO1-