The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-06
TIE EVENING STORY
An outlaws Bride.


would steady her down.
It's nothing against girl that she Is
frivolous. 1t simply means that she
refuses to worry about the things that
her mother does; that she doesn't want
to tie herself up too soon; that she is
falling in love with a new chap every
week or two to study the male sex;
that she is romantic by nature, and re-
fuses to take the world as seriously as
others.
whether folks liked it or not, Miss
Mildred went right on being frivolous.
She thought a great deal of Stephen
Hazelton, but when he started out to
lecture her on frivolity she always
tossed her head and replied that there
were plenty of other good men in the
world. and that at exactly 10 o'clock
the next forenoon she would be found
walking the top of the back yard fence.
The evening before Miss Mildred went
down to the country to visit her aunt,
Mr. Hazelton spoke of having their en-
gagement announced in the papers.
why, when were we engaged?" she
asked.
Months ago"
at never heard of -
But have asked lou to be my
wife,
And I have answered that I didn't
know whether I would be or not. No,
sir; there is no engagement may see
some one down in the country that I
like better"
Stephen took things very mildly and
refused to contest the point that even
ing, or to be perturbed for the succeed
ing three days. Then happened what
always happens with a conservative
young man who has gone along think
ing he had sure thing of it and laugh
ing at would-be rivals. The green-eyed
monster clutched him by the throat
and he found himself the most wretch
ed man in the state. He did not know
n h.
girl. She had denied the engagement
that he had looked upon as a settled
thing. She was frivolous, but she had
spells of being very much in earnest.
Stephen had asked for daily letter.
He didn't get it. Instead he got one at
the end of the week, and its contents
cid not satisfy his yearnings at all.
Arrived" read the epistle. Aunt
glad to see me. Dear old souII Cows.
calves, sheep and pigs. Also windmill
Also strawberry shortcake. Have got
two freckles on my nose, and there IS
an actor boarding at the next farm
house. can hit a frog with a stone
every time, and hope you are WE'LL
That actor! Who was he? What
business had he there? Would he have
the cheek to scrape an acquaintance
ship with Mildred and f1atter her that it
was her mission to reform the stage?
He had never heard Mildred say that
she would like to become a great ac-
but throw her into the society of an
actor for two weeks and how would
it be? And there would be piano men,
sewing machine agents and tin ped
dlers driving around the country in
droves.
Mr.. stephen Hazleton stood it for
three days and then started out 20
have matters settled. He did not notify
Miss Mildred Drew by letter, telephone
or wireless that he was coming. H
-
and started off. He knew she LETT
the train at a village called Kalem,
and in time he reached the place.
Only then did it occur to him that he
didn't know the aunt's name. lie
thought Miss Mildred had talked about
her aunt Eliza, but that was no guide
to him now. There might be a dozen
aunt ELIAS around there.
There had been sort of reign Of
terror around Kalem for the last three
weeks. Horses had been stolen, houses
entered and farmers held up on the
highway. The sheriff and constable
had been very active, but had accom-
plished nothing. They had accom-
plished nothing because they had not
looked in the right direction. The
editor of the Kalem Weekly said
they hadn't, and editors are ALWAYS
right about these things. Look for
some one that no one would suspect"
was his advice.
A constable was at the depot when |
Mr.. Hazleton stepped off the train, he
being the only passenger to alisht- |
After a look around he leaned UP |
against the depot building.
Hat whispered the constable.
Here was a man that no one would |
suspect. He was a stranger, and he |
had an honest look. According to the |
editor, he should be the outlaw He |
didn't seem perturbed at sight of the !
officers nickel-plated star. but tina. |
was a case of cheek. Indeed, he adj |
vanced with laugh to say:
Il am looking for some one, and |
vet don't know the name"
That's rather funny" replied the Of |
fcer as he felt to see If his handouts |
were in the usual hind pocket.
II admit it," smiled Stephen. "A /
young lady of my acquaintance in the |
city came down here a few days ago to /
visit lie- aunt"
And who is her aunt?"
That's the very thing 1 want TO
find out
'.Humphi How are you going to find |
out about anybody if you can't tell
her name?"
That's what occurred to me just as
I stepped off the train. 1 think the |
young lady referred to her relative as
Aunt Eliza"
ssWen, I don't know any Aunt ELIAS
nor Uncle Peters.
mo? think she must live out
side the village, as she has cows ard /
pigs Perhaps my best way will he |
to take a highway and follow it for
two or three miles"
UNLESS you think it better to go I
back to town by the next traini" was
the suggestive reply
Mr. Hazleton had come down TO /
rescue Miss Drew, and he took up /
his grip and started OFF,
The constable had found the right /