The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-03-27

BILE you with athletics" With that he
was content.
However, it was not. SO easy to salts
" Mrs. Tompkins. their old house
keeper, who had overheard the ques-
ton and answer.
Seems to me your young man
would be comm of his own accord
before the sweddin' day." she remarked
later with the familiarity of an old
servant.
He has been very busy. expect a
letter today evaded Dorothy.
Mrs. TompkinS shifted. I'm my day
young men were more keen. They all
ways managed to see their sweethearts
pretty often, business or no business"
I must dress and go down for the
mall said Dorothy.
Il feel aim ost as if it were true" she
thought, as she fastened her linen
dress with shaking fingers. Then the
full force of the case rushed over her.
"Oh, I'm so tired of subterfuges and
been. l, who have always prided my
self on my truthfulnessl 1 began it
all in fun, never dreaming it would go
so far. / can't explain now without
making myself a laughing stock. oh,
if it were true and 1 was going to be
happy like other women
She. was descending the stairs when
a knock sounded at the front door.
On opening it she found tall. keen
eyed young man standing on the
porch.
us this Miss Dorothy Bowers?" he
asked, as he took off hic broad-brirn-
med straw hat.
Wonderingly, she assented.
81 am T. NJ. Morton. of Blue Mound,
ct NJ. Morton!" she repeated.
yes" Seeing the puzzled look in
the big brown eyes. he added, May I
come in and EXPLAIN"
She led the way into the living
room, which he seemed to fill with his
Virile personality.
He drew from his pocket a pack
age of letters whose addresses Dorothy
saw with a flush of recognition.
I'm afraid I've gotten hold of some
letters that were meant for anotner
fellow" he began with glance at the
diamond on her finger. 1t may nave
caused you trouble. If so, I'm sorry.
II was honest in thinking it mine when
them addressed to T. NJ. Morton. adver-
tised in the Chicago papers. When l
went there with a carload of cattle was
expecting some mail through the general
delivery, so naturally thought these were
mine.'
She did not speak. and he continued: II
the temptation was too strong. You see
1 have dreamed so often of little girl
who would write letters like those to me.
I have been alone so much with no one 70
know or care since 1 bought my ranch,
and the thought took pretty strong grip
on me. Strangely enough, my dream
sweetheart had brown eyes like yours.
But it all came over me the other
night what I'd done in keeping these les
tiers from some else-the lucky chap
to whom they belong. And 1 resolved TO
return them to you
Dorothy clasped her slim hands tightly.
''There-there is no other man." she said
mo other mann"
mo, mine was only a fancy too" Then
briefly. she told him of the whole affair,
from the sudden impulse to play a joke
on the club girls until before she was
aware of the fact she had been caught in
a maze of her own making from which
she couldn't extricate herself without
derful relief to tell the truth at last; 1
had no idea of letting the joke go so far
and now I'm not brave enough to own
to the facts so I've decided to have my
fiance die she coluded, with tremulous
little laugh.
Into his keen eyes came new light.
He crossed the room and took the nerv-
Gus little hands.
81 have a better idea, Dorothy. Let it be
true about the dream chap. Let me take
which we can get acquainted before the |
date of the wedding. And we can say a |
lot in that time. I'll furnish references |
about my character and business propects |
to your uncle I know I'm unpublished |
though I've always tried to be a decent
sort. But if at the last you don't want
me. I'll go-away.''
AS if drawn by the magnetism of his
earnest eyes, Dorothy rose, her hand still
in his.
Perhaps. together. we can make our
d come come true, she said-tCopy-
III -w-~~~ - - III