The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-01-31
THE EVENING STORY
The Counterpart.
(By ]. L. Sherard.)


The prospect that greeted Julia as
she drove up the winding lane to the
old country house occupied by her
aunt did not help to inspire confidence
in her undertaking.
Gray was the mass of threatening
clouds overcasting the sky, and gray
was the word to describe her drOop-
ing spirits. She was thoroughly tired
and worn out after the rough drive
over rocky roads.
Mrs. Minor was regarded as a high
ly eccentric person. The life of Sc
| clusion she led no doubt accumulated
the i'll opinion her neighbors indus
lie.
But she was professedly fond of
Julia, who came once year for a
long visit. The old country place
hemmed in by vine-clad walls and q
row of ancient cedars, afforded the
always enjoyed.
Mrs. Minors house sat upon q high
hill, around the foot of which ran a
noisy stream. The river she veneer
ated as sort of sacred thing. The
mellow boom of the falling waters rose
from the valley below as sweet music
to her ears.
And therein, too, lay the bane Of
her latter years. A water power COM
pany had acquired the shoals imme-
diately below her lands and had
planned to build a mammoth dam for
supplying nearby towns with electric
power. Mrs. Minor stubbornly declin-
ed to consider a sale at any price.
She was model of courtesy to all
corners, but she had a way of smiling
them out of her presence that was
at the same time both complimentary
and exasperating.
Behind Julia's visit was a secret A
n icoT Tod 90 nit tot "a
relationship existing between the girl
and her singular aunt. Immediately he
besieged Julia in subtle fashion and
proposed to her that, if she would
secure an option covering the necessary
water rights, her reward would be
But her brother, with logged persist
ence, turned the scale finally. To help
him out, she gave in reluctantly.
Julia had not been in her aunts
home five minutes before a sense Of
deep guilt began to weigh heavily on
her conscience.
Here am, a guest in this dear old
house and also an emissary of those
who are plotting to get possession Of
auntie'S landSi''
For her own peace of mind, and be-
cause IL was an act Of simple justice
and honor, she made clean breast
of the whole matter.
Mrs. Minor heard her patiently to
the end. Her silvery laugh instantly
restored the girls good feeling.
Zine for you, Jule,'' she compli-
mented her niece. You can't help
ringing true as steel. The vandals
will never get my property while I
have loyal friends like you to stand
by me-even if you did waver a bit"
The days following were crowned
with pleasure. But Mrs. Minors keen
intuition detected a missing note. She
went to the root of the mystery with
her usual directness.
Its about Tom, child" she said
in a tone of finality. ct know it. Be
a good girl and tell me all about it.
Confession will help you a lott
Julia was thrown off her guard by
the unexpectedness of her aunt's dec
laration. She starnmered and blushed
in confusion, thus establishing her
guilt beyond reasonable doubt
Yes there had been a breach be-
tween her and Tom Marvel the girl
admitted. 1t was all the proud young
mans fault, of course. But out of
the vague story, all her aunt could
get was that there had occurred, and
there still existed, an estrangement.
The engagement had been broken.
Early one morning, a few days later,
when the sun had scarcely risen, Mrs
Minor startled Julia by entering her
room clad in riding habit whip in
hand. visibly excited, and with an I'M
natural light in her eyes.
''Where-in the world-are you-go-
ing auntie?'' gasped the girl waking
from a fitful nap.
you're lazy this morning., gently
chided Mrs. Minor. We're going on
the biggest chase of your life That's
where. Remember the little red fox
that has been catching my prize chick
ens2 Well, he was here again last
night. The trails still warm. We're
going to put a stop to his rascality
this very morning. Understand? Now.
get UP and don your riding clothes,
quickI''
Julia at first uttered a drowsy pro-
test. 1t would be suicidal for her aunt
to undertake such a rash venture, she
argued.
Look well to your own laurels,'' was
the challenging retort. t'In nv dav--
Hurry, child. and don't delay the fun"
A genuine fox hunt, Julia was now
thoroughly awake. The invitation pos
sessed too many allurements for the
to waste time in argument over its fulfil
ity.
1t was a matter of minutes to have the
horses saddled and to summon the dogs
which Jerry kept at his cabin down By
the river bank
1.-The fox's retreat is in the canebrake.
where the creek makes a fork with the
river" Mrs. Minor hurriedly explained
''rhe rascal VIII doubtless try to throw
the dogs on MS track Dy a fe1nt-
1 have instructed the other party to swing
round in a circle and take their stand en-
the wooded hill beyond the creek
What other party?" the girl inquired
adding in the same breath, with a smile
at her aunt's expense, Susie, the cook, I
suppose and Topsy.''
Mrs. Minor frowned. 1T takes assist
ance and strategy to get ahead of Brer
Fox. you know, and-would you believe
it'll actually had to call in some fs-or7i
the engineering corps at work down the
river Hard up 1 may have been, ,.e
course. to draft the enemy, but you've
got to seize opportunity when it comes"
The bayfng of the hounds broke out
suddenly with renewed vigor.
Look. look. auntie. he's. coming this
way" shouted the girl
A white strip of sand. shining clear in
the morning sun. lay like crumpled ri5-