The Topeka state journal., 1913-07-12
TIE EVENING STORY
A Prize Package.
(By Martha McCulloch-William


CBy Martha McCulloch- Williams.)
! "You are a nice person! Very nice, -
Ashley said, her tone whitening.
/ Billy Boss caught her two indignant
hands, crying joyously: "At last you real
ize it! Now, you can't possibly refuse me
''No-because I shan't let you ask me-
Ashlev countered. her head high. Just
| as a matter of curiosity L like to know
what you did yesterday. You said you
| were coming to take me to the picnic"
Wouldn't you like to known Billy
asked teasingly. Ashley made a face at
him and started to the door, He blocked
! her exit, took both her hands again. and
said as he drew her to a seat on the sofa:
much as 1 do-and a husband has to be
always the superior in knowledge
Does he? Dear me! You'd better look
for a wife among the feeble minded in
mates them Ashley returned, twisting
her face wholly away from him.
He appeared not to mind in the least,
since he still held her hands. Presently
she felt him slip something on her finger
the ring finger, at that-and made to snatch
his. saying coaxingly: shut your eyes
and think how it looks-then open them
and tell how you like it.
glanced at the finger upon which dia-
mond of fair size and perfect luster
nked ;of erry drew s bans ong ben srsaf
a lot of prize packages to get that nod
ding at the ring. you are sure always
to find find inside-the thing you don't want
II like prize packages-that's partly why
I'm SO soft on YOU Billy retorted, his
ring never came from any sort of pack
age"
HIN. Reckon the ten-cent store
must have in a new line of jewelry," Ash
ley mused, her head on one side. Billy
laughed uproaTiously, and slid an arm
about her waist. She sprang up. rushed
half way across hte room. stamped her
foot, and said, You know I'm not that
sort of girl-how dare you-
Behave. Touch-Me-Not! I do know"
Billy soothed. But you are that pro-
voking. I had to punish you some way:
Please. please. ma'am forgive me. III
never do so any more-not until next time,
anyway"
"I won't ever forgive you-anyt thdng-un-
less you tell me-" Ashley pout@d
sweetheart-all in good time. But not for
Indeed. why?" Ashley questioned;
means clearinghouse other bodys bust
ness he said. You can't think anything
merely my own would have made me dis
appoint your
''Is the other body Marion Sinclair"
Ashley hazarded. She saw by Billy's start
her question had hit the mark IN that
case" she went on freezingly. IT want to
know nothing about the mathematics
now, next year-nor any time"
GLAD you take AXE. it & SO sensibly," Billy Billy
oughly angry Jealousy always made
him so. And he knew himself so innocent,
SO wholly in the right. Besides nobody
should be jealous of poor Marion-she car
ried weight enough without, notwithstand-
ing she was so rich and SO beautiful She
had monomaniac mother-a fine smiling
gentlewoman-eXcept when the murder
lust laid hold on her-then demon. There
had been family trouble as well. Marion's
father had forbidden her ever to see her
mother, in fear of the sights possible In
fluence on his child. Word had come to
her secretly that her mother. dying and
terview. Marion had appealed to Billy,
her fathers ward, who was like a broth
er, to take her, secretly, safely-and ne
had done it.
He shuddered recalling the wild ride
the big red motor devouring space in the
darkness. They had run the hundred
been triclSed. Mrs. Sinclair had reused,
laughing, and made them understand she
all day to quiet her-when at last she lay
sleeping heavily, the car with two unhap-
py passengers had again raced home.
Coming and going in the dark, nobody
was the wiser-Billy had plead business to
his associates, Marion'S maid had given
out that she was suffering from violent
made good the assertion-but she knew. as
Billy did, that If her father got an inkling
of the truth, there would : be an end to
freedom for her, and much unhappiness |
In the home.
Therefore Billy was honor bound to
keep silent. The doctors had given them
rr:ad ad!y' n an would lie at peace. So MaTion
had really taken a last good-by-and gone
home so heartstricken Ashley would have
wept had she known. Unknowing, she
was hard and furiously angry. Take
back your-trinket" she said, tossing the
ring to Billy. 'It will look better on
finger-she will prize it, dare
say, for the giver's sake, even though ,
she has SO many Others"
ASHLEY. did you ever know me to ne?"
with scornful smile. He went on, hold
ng himself hard: You can't deny-I have
the name of being truthful-on my
honor"
Don't swear by-an unknown quantity"
He strcde after her, but she slammed
PluHging through a French window, he
eaped a low railing and confronted her, |
taught her hand, hard but no urgently,
md said, his voice tense:
If you send me away now It Is for
always. You know 1 love you-you only.
admit you have ground of complaint,
,ut you might trust me when 1 say there
vas imperative reason for my neglect.
Tou hold my heart, my life in your hands.
Are you going to crush them?"
"Good-by,' was all Ashley could trust
lerself to say, but she ran of among the
oseS, her head high, whistlng in her
'est key: Come, haste to the wedding"
;he knew Billy hated to hear her whistle;
'eing very angry. very unhappy, she had
mad wish to hurt him in small things
Is in great. ~
minute later she heard him GALLON