The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-06-21
THE EVENING STORY
Rushing a Climax.

| shy, discreet bachelor of David Mel
| roses stamp. indications naturally
lead to a matrimonial conclusion.
| On the Sunday afternoon mentioned
| in the notes, secure in his isolated
cottage, David, very thinly clad and
totally unconscious of visitors, was
busily engaged in his weekly additions
when he was startled by a loud rap
on the door.
Peeping from behind a curtain David
was appalled, to find his visitor was
Mandy Peters, vinegar-faced spinster,
he particularly abhorred. He was fur
Their appalled, by seeing the approach
from different directions of two more
spinsters of marrying proclivities.
His doors being unfastened and all
exits cut off, he acted on impulse,
which was a precipitate retreat to his
bedroom.
Miss Peters was Joined by the other
ladies and the subdued murmur OF
debate came to David's ears. Again
the knock was repeated, and, as it
elected no response, a firm hand open
ed the door and a determined step
brought the visitors into the living
room. A giggly pretense of modest
surprise greeted their discovery of Dav-
ids bath preparations.
HUM announced Miss Peters, In
acidulous accents. Evidently 1 was
not expected quite SO soon.''
Evidently we were not either"
echoed the others.
HUM continued Miss Peters. Did
you ladies have an appointment here
this afternoon?"
I'VE did, replied the others in
chorus.
Doubtless he invited you to confer
with me on some important matter"
was Miss Peters lofty. cutting reply.
The Misses Root and Branch were
properly subdued
a Speaking silence held tho ,,,,,.+t
fed David in its grip. What did it all
mean? He had not invited these Ia
dies; in fact, they were far from well
come. The next remark of Miss Pc
ters made David gasp for breath and
retreat to the closet.
We'll, there is no use sitting here
like three sticks. Mr.. Melrose NAV be
sick in his bed and need our aid. Let
US look about" With a firm hand,
the indomitable Miss Peters onened
DaVid's bedroom door.
In the excess Of fright David emit
ted strangling sound like a chok-
ing cat Miss Peters heard the sound
ana through crack in the closet door
her ferret-like eyes caught a slight
movement.
lmpressively announced Miss Peters
Mr.. Melrose is confined in that
closet, doubtless bound and gagged nv
some relentless robbers. 1 am going
70 release n1m.
Miss Peters remark was received
with subdued, Mortified screams nv
the other ladies'. Firmly intent on her
purpose, Miss Peters advanced and
swung open the closet door.
human nature has it's limit David
had heached his, and as Miss Peters
opened the door he bolted throueb -
clad very briefly in a sheet he 80
happened upon in his frantic search
Tor something to cover his nakedness.
NO wonder Misses Root and Rrancb
la!iteo, or that Miss Peters, the fntrenid
SANK TO the bed, weak and speecbIess aS
tne Wlld-eyed, bare-legged apparition in
Whlte shot by them in a desperate sprint
for freedom. Sh'ii
MISS Peters was the first. of course. to
recover her mental poise. THAT was Mr.,
eMeIrose' she decisively stated to her
frightened companions land doubtIess ~
is temporarily unbalanced menta1iv enS
IL is necessary that he be followed and
returned home; therefore, you ladies' 20
ana hotlIy the neighbors that an imme-
ulate search be made. and will stav |
here in view of his possible return
David, from his hiding place in the |
nearby woods, saw the Misses Root and
Branch depart. Why did Miss Peters re
main? No solution being apparent he
settled down to wait in misery, for black |
exposed limbs in clouds, making existence
a nightmare.
He fought insects and loosened up I'M
assorted remarks for upward of an hour
or until it was getting dark
PHYSICAL torture was fast overcoming
his fear OF women and natural modesty
He was all ready to make break for
the open when he saw approaching from
the field men, boys and women, armed
and unarmed. That they were after him |
he fnstinctvely OWNED, but why was a
poser.
What he did was to follow the instinct
OF the hunted. Through bush and wood |
in open and out he fled, followed by the
cries of the pursuers, who had caught
sight of the white clad figure with the
sheet sailing out behind like the tail of
comet. |
the same time and as a stone wall an
peared before him in his aimless flight.
he clambered weakly over this obstruction
and fell plump into the arms of a female
who had risen from the ground on the
other side.
With a cry of dismay, David sank limp
y to the ground, pulling the protecting
sheet closer about him. OF all women in
he world the one before him was the last
1ne he would have met in this condition |
1t was Mary Stone, the one woman he
had always worshiped at a distance and |
who, like him, lived alone only a mile
rom his place Her first words increased
lis diSmay.
ssWhy, David Melrose, what in the
world is the matter? Why are you flee
ng in such a condition.
David had enough sense left to realize
hat a full explanation was due, and he
,ravely plunged into it.
Mary suppressed a quiet smile at the
'ecital. yet fully in sympathy with his
aid:
Come to the house with me and will
ig you out in suit that was fathers; {
leighbors and evict that prying Mandy +
Peters"
AS the last was said with CONSIDERABLE
lsperity David's hopes took a sudden ,
The courage that in years gone by had ]