The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-17
TIE EVENING STORY
Over the Fence.
(By Dorothy Blackmore-)


Had Doreen not been sightseeing
the entire day, the thing might not
have happened. She had been seeing
London from early morning until
dinner time. 1t was very tired lit
tie American girl who arose from the
dinner table and looked out over the
garden in front of the house.
The garden at which Doreen gazed
was one of those squares of which
London boasts, and was surrounded
by the usual fence with the four gates,
one on each side of the square.
perfect a twilight flooding the gar
den" Doreen admitted to herself
while her weary muscles carried her
willingly over to the steamer chair
that opened its arms to her beneath
the great copper beech tree.
oh" she sighed contentedly, as
she sank into it, 81 am 81 tired"
There were not many persons in the
garden and Doreen had time to think
over the many wonderful towers and
galleries she had visited. Her eye
lids huttered and lay STILL
1t was perhaps two hours befors
they f1uttered again. DOreen had
slept and during her sleep darkness
and a mist had fallen. about her.
After a moment of semi-conscious
wondering as to where she was Do
reen- awakened fully to her position.
''I am in pitch dark garden and"
an involuntary shiver swept over
her. at am most probably locked in. p"
She caught a swift breath and jumped
to her feet.
1t seemed as If the night had sud
denly grown appallingly black. Do
reen was forced to feel her way from
one gate to the other IN ner attempt
to get out of the garden.
Every one is locked" she said half
aloud in her fright. She put a hand
up to feel the height of the pickets
above the fence and drew back dis
Iu h
over she decided.
Doreen was both tired and fright
ened. Something that sounded like
sob reached the ears of the man who
was tramping steadily around the
square. He drew nearer the gate
whence the sound came and stood
still.
s'Who is there? ?" he called.
81 am came back in a very small
The man laughed, and Doreen
found courage in the heartiness of it.
And who are you?" he questioned.
ST went to sleep and that gardener
locked me in here" Doreen had
come close to the gate. Sh= could not
distinguish more than a big masculine
frame, the face was entirely hidden
the garden?" she inquired
Yes" the man told her, and Do
Teen breathed freely; But great
Scott" he muttered, there is chain
"Oh-h," gasped the girl. then I
will have to stay here all night
Not if I know it," the man expostu-
lated and for a moment he was silent.
more than
81 am not very big" Doreen put in
quickly.
informed her. "Is there anything in
there you could stand on?"
my steamer chair" Doreen sug-
geSted. She carried it close to the
gate and stepped up on it.
The task was not easy to contem-
plate, even though the girl proved to
be featherweight. George Durant
pulled together all of his well trained
muscles.
Put your hands on my shoulders"
lie commanded.
Strained and tense was the awkward
position Durant brought the girl slowly
up and over the Jagged pickets and down
on the other side of the fence.
For a. brief moment Doreen remained a
prisoner within those powerful arms THAI
refused to let her escape until she had
found her proper balance.
tIt-was very good of you,' she said a
trifle breathlessly. Thank you, very,
much.'' Without waiting for his deep
Doreen sped away and was lost in the
mist.
Durant strained through the darkness
for a glimpse of her, but nothing was
left him save the wild fragrance of Ter
hair and the knowledge that he wanted
to know who she was. He had felt her
breath on his cheek and the memory OF
it sent a CULVER over him.
How and where and when shall I see
her2-because I must find that girl he
realized he went across the street aid
into the house
And Doreen? When she reached her
room there were two roses cleaning in
her cheeks which neither the mist ncr
the exertion were responsible for.
''And not once could 1 see his face"
she reflected regretfully with a blush for
the color in her cheeks II wouldn't
know him even If danced with him anc
yet Doreen did not finish the thought.
Perhaps she knew, down deep in her
heart that the man who had held her in
his arms while he lifted her over the
fence would not escape recognition.
During the. summer in London Doreen
scanned every passing person and if
George Durant scanned the feminine
passerby no one was the wiser
( Yet, when they met at the big annual
dance given by the Iowa Society in New
York neither was conscious of having
met before.
George Durant knew only that he wart-
ed as many dances with the dainty
creature in pink chiffon he could con-
ventionally take upon first acquaintance
Doreen found herself blushing at the
number of times she found his name OF