The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-07
THE EVENING STORY
Launching Leslie.

ing her last impassioned aria, and
Leslie's eyes filled with tears as she
turned her head in quick response.
Listen, dear. Jack and are going
on to little dinner with the Boyds.
It's awfully important for Jack to
keep in touch with them just now.
You won't mind, will you? You're to
go home in the Carrington's car. Don't
forget. Mrs. Darlington is that tall.
dark woman four boxes to the right. "
81 don't mind a bit" Leslie said
softly.
Yet when it was over, and the cur
tain fell, it startled her to find herself
alone in the box. Grace had said she
was to go with the Carringtons. Leslie
her shoulders her long white velvet
cloak, she glanced at the party in the
Darlington box. The two Layton girls
were there, and Dudley Paine. She
didn't like the crowd, and frowned.
There was Mrs. Kinlake, too. Even
Grace frowned on Mrs. Kinlake. Then
her gaze strayed to the next box, and
rested there in pleased surprise. She
bowed and smiled, the color steanng
higher in her face.
It was so good to see familiar face
way up north here in New York. He
was coming to her., Leslie bit her I'M
der lip, and looked down at her glove
fastening.
eve been hunting you for three
days." Carter greeted her. He gripped
her hand until she could have cried
out with pain. "Why didn't you let
me know they had sent you north
dearest?"
But why should I?'' she faltered.
He was always so impulsive and i'm
prudent. She wondered what Grace
would say.
'sWhy? Because you knew it meant
everything to me, and they were only
trying to take you away from me.
Dick told me So"
''Dick?" That was extremely like
ill <Nf tn "a mi
game when he believed her happiness
to be at stake and Carter was run
ming favorite in the race with Dick
as future brother-in-law.
and told me. I caught the night train
from Washington and telephoned in the
morning to the hotel, but they told me
you were sailing for Italy"
"Grace's maid told you, I reckon"
laughed Leslie softly, with fleeing
upward. glance at him. Were not
sailing until Saturday"
You sare not sailing at ALL he re-
torted; then in low pleading just over
her shoulder, as she started up the
steps from the box, Are you, Leslie?
Tell me, dear, you're not going abroad.
not now, are you?"
Suddenly Leslie saw that the Car
rington box was vacant.
"Oh, I'm to go in the Darlington
car home, Grace said" she ex-
claimed. will you take me down
to it, please?"
Don't go with them" Carter
begged. holly. It's my one chance
OF seeing you alone. Let me take
You home. What's the difference of
trotting around New York under my
ing twenty miles together through
the mountains in the Cumberland? ''
Leslie was silent. Her reason told
her not to go, that Grace would object. !
that her mother would object, and yet
every natural instinct urged her for
ward.
At the foot of the broad staircase,
he whispered:
Leslie, won't you? It's my only
chance. Be generous. dear. Grace |
fatty refused to let me CALI
ST wonder why?"
Because I'm not wealthy I'm lust |
Carter Fairfax. Since she married, |
and came UP here to live. Grace |
would do anything for position. Why
do you suppose they sent you here %
thought" Leslie's eyes We're full of
tears The lights before the opera
house were all a blur. She was glad
to creep into the shelter of. a taxicab,
from his sight. Why should. he scold
her so? It seemed as if everybody
scolded her nowadays.
"Give you a happy time" he re-
peal0Q through MS set teeth. Marry
you off to the man with the best map
of his present holdings. Dick said
he heard his mother say she hoped
Grace would succeed in launching
you.' Why. sweetheart, your father.
the blessed old colonel, would kick
the top off his casket this minute If
he knew about this
'"They mean well. Carter" Leslie
said said slowly, tnot Were awfully poor.
But, Lord Harry, so are we, dear.
What does that matter? Haven't
we got the dear old ruins that stand
for home, and all the splendid acres
that we love every ot-of. Can't
we raise enough to eat at our own
tables, and feed the guest who hon
ors us by staying under the rooftree?
rather guess we can. Wouldn't you
rather marry me, and come to be mis-
tress at White Chimneys. and see me
go to the legislature as my father and
grandfather did, and come back with
the same sort of a name I took there?
Wouldn't you, Leslie ?''
The taxi had slipped across town
to Madison avenue and up toward the
park. 1t looked dewy and mysterious
and al1uring. Leslie could have bless
ed the chauffeur when he turned into
5omeway. several thing had happened
Turing that silence. Carter had taken
her in his arms. white velvet cloak
and all, and had tried to kiss her. But
5ne was shy sweetheart, and very
avasive when it came to facing theI /;
real issue. She hid her head resoIute-I
" on his shoulder. and merely said, :
very forcefully, "Carteri'' Carter
ceased striving and was silent. thank
full that she even permitted his arm
about her. .
Then the taxi suddenly appeared to /,
stand on its hind legs. A least thatl
was Carriers description of it later. 1t
into something. reared md
.opDled over on the grass sward.
Don't you dare give my name" Leslie
whispered she found herself safe and
,eing lifted out in Carriers arms. The
'ther car was badly damaged. So was j