The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-04-10
TIE EVENING STORY
Penny Darling.
CBy Dorothy Blackmore.)

young woman.
Really, Penny, we flatter you by
that epithet," one of the boys once
said to her; you're no bigger than
| Canadian five cent piece-a penny's
| too ambitious for you'll
BUT Penny had tossed her curls at
MN and continued to tangle herself
up in the hearts of the college boys
with whom she came in daily con-
tact Shes little but-oh, my!'|
more than one of them had quoted
with sigh
Coe college was a co-educational
institute and in this as in all colleges
the freshmen and sophomores were
at daggers' points from the beginning
OF the term until the end. And
Penny Darling was as loyal a little
freshman as the college ever had.
me tilt of her dark curly head and
as she passed a mere sophomore on
the campus or elsewhere were worthy
of an actress.
The night of the freshman class or
ganlzat1on meeting Penny dressed
with unusual care and pinned back
her curls as severely as she could in
order to look dignified and scholarly.
For be it known that Penny had
aspirations of her own; she wanted
to be class president She was popu-
lar and clever enough for the office
but the members of the class teasing
ly told her it would look undignified
| to see the president in a high chair.
/ AT which remark, though it was half
| in jest, Penny has become discour-
| aged.
AS she tripped down the softly car
peted stairs of Wilton Hall and out of
the great front door to cross the
campus to the classroom in which the
meeting was to be held she was hum
ming airily, but her hands were cold
and she felt a nervousness unusual
with her.
| Penny had hardly set foot on the
| gravel of the path at the foot of the
dormitory steps when she was lifted
bodily by two boys who carried her,
basket-wise, on their hands, and ran
with her across the campus to where
! limousine was standing. Opening
| the door the boys put her gently in
side and stepped in beside her telling
the man at the front to go ahead.
You're very Well behaved-for q
| freshman" one of the boys ventured,
| and Penny thought she recognized his
voice.
tool" said the other.
Penny said not a word, though her
! heart was beating wildly. She had
heard often of these college prankS
and she was using all her wits now
to scheme a way out this one. Bound
ed on all sides by doors-and sopho
mores-and with the great car going
at a good speed toward the village
limits Sne 1olC very helpless.
If only one of her captorS had been
Tom Underhill, the situation might
have mitigating circumstances. Tom
was every inch a sophomore, but
Penny could not somehow or other,
muster up the hatred for him that she
knew she should have felt. He came
from her owns@heme town, and she
had known him almost always. 1t
was not his faff3tsthat he had been
sent away to coliegeSa year before she
1xy 80 l. 20
Penny felt an exaggerated loyalty to
her class, she would have nothing to
do with Tom. She had treated him
far worse than a stranger; she barely
spoke to him when she met him.
She felt the car slowing down and
she looked out of the window. They
were entering the long tree lined
driveway leading to the country
club. Penny knew the club house
would be deserted at this time of
boys would do with her next She
dared not let her thoughts dwell on
the class meeting and her now hope
less ambition to be elected presi-
dent. If she cared so little for the
class meeting as to be absent with
out sending an excuse how could
she expect to be chosen as a leader?
Presently the car stopped in fro
of the broad deserted porch of the
country club.
I'VE have an hour and a half to kill,
Miss Darling. What would you like to
do?" asked on" of the boys. politely
Go home" said Penny.
that's beside the question-what would
you like to do here?' he repeated. smiling
broadly.
sit right here and think what villains
you are-all of you-though L haven
found out yet who is running this car
know?'
Penny shook her head and peered
through the glass at the back of a broad
shouldered fellow. WHO is it?" she
asked.
Tom UnderhilI.shall we ask him in?
He might be cold.''
Penny did not answered. So Tom had
SO far Notwithstanding that used to !
be between them-as to aid and abet any |
aeed IN e ds she
.'is that's the sort he is I'm glad L showed |
my colors first
Toms tender mercies a moment, if you |
don't mind, while we go inside and inves- |
over something or the markings of cup |
of coffee. May we be excused?"
You have my permission said Penny |
loftiiy.
Laughing at the thought of what they |
had done, the two boys closed the door |
behind her and left Penny. sitting alone in |
Wen bring back anything we find that's |
attractive and share it with you one of |
them called back to her
For the first time since the start the i
man in front moved. Quietly he left his |
seat and stepped in beside Penny.
Are you lonely, Penny Darling?' ne |
asked, sitting opposite her.
Penny did not reply. She looked out of |
the window at the shadows of the poplars |
on the driveway
Did you want very much to be class |
PRESIDENT" Tom asked.
No answer.
This was my ideal, alone. am re-
sponsible for the kidnapping of you, Penny.
The boys know why; got desperate and |
had to resirt to strategic measures You
have treated me so badly-you little fresh |
man. you, Penny-look at me- he said. |
gently.
Penny did not move
Il knew if you became class president |
you would be further from me than ever /