The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-17
THE EVENING STORY
The way of The wind.

| lay much deeper. A tricksy south
wind. ftful and fawy, now zephyr-soft
now blowing in mad swirls; you simply
could not count on what it might or
might not do, especially to hats perch
ed perilousIy upon newly brushed soft
puffs.
Mildred had put on her undulant
crown, manifestly false, but very be-
coming, with mora than maiden pride.
Anne her elder sister, distressingly
truthful person, had watched her be-
| tween criticism and admiration, and
had ended by saying:
You'd better wait for Harriet. Sure
as you walk, if the middle path is so
sheltered, you'll get to Elba a tag-ras-
| Mildred had shaken her head, smiling
an uneasy smile. She had planned TO
go in the gray auto with Harriet, her
best chum. That was before Harriet
| had risen to heights of patronizing con-
descension-rooted apparently in Mil
dred's need of the favors done her.
| No girl of spirit could endure that
not even though she knew the real root
of the matter wore trousers and an
sWered to the name of Ellis Benson.
He was fairly rich, more than fairly
good looking, of an adventurous temper
that had sent him around the world,
ostensibly on business, but more for
the sake of seeing sights and wonders.
He had been wandering three full
years which in their passing had trans
| formed Harriet and Mildred, the pig
| tailed pair he had loved to pet and
tease, into full-fledged young women.
He had brought them strings of beads
turquoise for fair Mildred, coral for
dark Harriet-and had not dreamed of
anything but claSping the strands
about youthful threats, and taking
kisses in reward. When he had actual
! ly made the gifts, presenting them
stiffly, albeit his eyes twinkled, he had
| laughed inwardly-perhap at his own
former folly.
He liked them If they had grown
up-and very nearly equally. But
since Harriet had SO much. Milly so
little, he was rather inclined to do
more for her. His kindly preference
had set Harriet wild. All along she
had had her mind set on marrying
Ellis Benson. She was tired of the
rich and tranquil countryside. She
wanted a husband who would take her
out into the thick of things. Further.
as an only child and heiress, she had
grown up rather spoiled, to think that
the best of everything was her due.
Mildred's charm for her had lain in a
certain loving generosity, which made
her not merely willing, but eager to
give Harriet. in everything, the first
place.
Benson had come home in midsum
mer. In September he had gone away
for while. Now in late October his
aunt, Mrs. Lane. mistress of Elba
the show place of the neighborhood,
was giving a garden party, which she
called her chrysanthemum show.
Ellis was coming back for it-so
much everybody knew. Therefore Har-
riet had ordered three new frocks for
it. partly because she could not make
up her mind as to one, partly also by
way Of triumphing over Mildred. who
could do no more than make over her
grandmamma's pink brocade. Time
had softened 1t and, thanks to hobble
skirts, the pattern was ample When
at last the frock was finished. touched
here and there with cobWeb yellow
lace and wonderfully fitted to Mil
dreds lisSome slimness, 1t had truly
an air of Paris. all the more that she
had put into it the veriest glints OF
blue, exactly matching her string OF
turouoises. There w9s just a hint OF
the same blue amid the funy Ieatners
of her wide brimmed hat. Altogether
when at last she was ready TO go
Anne was not far wrong In saying with
regretful sigh:
TITS a shame to let you waste your
self-Iooking as you debut you al
wavs were too hard headed for any
thing
The middle path, the short cut to
Flba ran souarely into the main drive
as it curved in from the highway The
nath led over a stiIe in hedge, cum
ningIy hidden by tall shrubs. MIL
bred had got safely over the st1le' ano
was settling herself TO walk the ISss
of the path serenelyt when the W1nd
flew at her, almost wrenching off her
hat and wrapping her long coat SO
closely about her she could barely
move. There was nothing for II but 10
go forward, head on, seeing no more
of the way than the next STEP
Thus, when the path ended In the
main road, she ran plump into Ellis
Benson-who had also come afoot-
to his own amazement- He was
thinking hard - Mildred bumped
against him before he was fairly |
aware of her presence He caught |
her gently in his arms, saying with a |
g HAS the sky fallen that I am
catching lark"
sswhy! Its the wind-and this
-rubbish-y hat Mildred painted, !
putting both hands up to stralghten /
the brim of her headpiece.
Ellis surveyed it critically. ut is
not exactly walking hat" he said
'sNow-why didn't you wait for your
fairy godmother's coach-and sixty
horse power? A car, making its own /
wind. can beat this small disturbance
FAIRY godmothers went out with
Santa Claus" Mildred said, blushing
family, but trying to ignore the I'M
dermeaning of his words.
He shook his head at her "A skep-
tic" he said sorrowfully. What am
going to do about it? I want her to
believe-oh, a great many things"
seWhat sort of things?'' Mildred ask
ed still ciutching her hat "But wait !
and tell me after have found shell
ter she added, making to walk on.
The wind blew harder than ever In
her sWathing skirt. she could barely
mince, and even mincing she tottered-
Benson steadied her. made himself
shield, and ran on:
fg~m-frl L want