The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-10-04
TIE EVENING STORY
The Old Trail.

(By Louise OIney.)
The whole thing was rather wild
To any Trent, except to Doris, tC
whom it happened, it would have
and we'll bred to a degree. They die
not speak to strangers-much less
roam the woods with them. Life was
a carefully chaperoned affair with the
four Trent girls Three were safe;y
smugly and conventionally married
a feat accomplished by Mamma Trent
with carefully concealed hard labor
Now she sighed over Doris.
There had been a scene with Doris
1t was at the breakfast table, shock
ing and disturbing time for a scene
And it was about Mr.. Grant1ey. Mr.
Grantley, unlike Lochinvar, had come
from the east, and in all Nine
Trent's wide acquaintance. his in
come was by far the best. He had
been marked for son-in-law number
| four. To his credit be it recorded
that he was, as Doris's brother Bert
| put it, wise to- his election. Many
mammas had courted him. and he
was only a bit bored-until he met
in wisdom. She had not watched the
match making for her sisters in vain.
She knew the game as played:
! When for about three weeks she
| had been managed into various
tete-a-tetes, picnics. dinners. dances.
| porch parties and the like with Mr..
Grantley, she did that which caused
| the scene. 1t began like this and
Mrs Trent nearly tainted.
To the table one morning came
Doris late and unexcused, but pink
| checked gray eyed, her curling
| black hair none too neat. She ate
| her grapefruit in silence, and then
settled herself for the fray.
II had it out with Mr.. Granttey
last night
Her mother misunderstood the
fact. but rebuked her manner OF
speech. What a horrid way to put
| it, Doris"
Doris stared moment.
1.-The words fit the facts, mother.
After you so carefully unanswered
him out into the rose garden last
night, 1 literally had it out with
him. I told him he needn't make
love to me. that I wouldn't have him
if he was the last man on earth, and
that I was ashamed of my mothers
match making, that WANTED to
die
Mrs. Trent gasped for words,
Doris went on:
Il told him that my GOODNESS was
not assumed for the purpose of at
tracing him, that 1 didn't like him
for two reasons: First, because he is
everything that he is 1 told him he
and far too rich. Also, that he was
far too sure he could have anyone he
liked. The second reason was that L
wouldn't have man who could be
engineered into proposing to a girl
by her mother. 1 told him 1 was going
to marry the first clean, good, honest,
attractive young man that asked me,
and that I wanted him, Mr.. Grant1ey,
to take himself off,
AT this juncture Bert choked, gig
gied, and left the table hurriedly.
Mr.. Trent, meek and afraid of his
life, refused for once to interfere,
and departed for the office. Mrs.
Trent was speeches. first-and then
unbe1ieving.
''Doris-you are coarse-and shock
ing! You did no such thing! What
have you really to tell me?" Mrs.
Trent was sure of Mr.. Grantley.
ITS every word true. I said even
more. And [ have a suit case packed,
and I am going at 10 o'clock to take
the train to Cousin Annie's-I don't
care if she is fathers relative, instead
of yours, and L intend to stay buried
in the country the rest of the summer.
1 won't be sold to the highest bidder
like Janet and Anne and Gertrude.
This is not daughterly talk-but your
behavior is not motherly."
At the end of the scene Mrs. Trent
went to bed with a headache, Doris
went to the country, and Bert Sc
cretIy chuck1ed. He delighted in this
sister of his. The boy went straight
to his chum, Jack Priest1ey, who
passed II on 10 MS DlS DTOlHeT,
Jerry Priestley was not welcomed in
the Trent home-save secretly by the
men thereof.
That determined and blue eyed
young gentleman, after seeing his
brother, sought the young brother of
Doris. Bert was grinning and COM
municative.
Sure" he replied. She gave Grantley
his from the shoulder, Yes, she said the
first clean, honest, attractive fellow that
wanted her That's what she said. Yes;
l can find out where Cousin Annie lives. |
Sure-of course I won't tell. Geer'
At sixteen romance has a flavor all its
Thus it happened that Mr.. Jered Priest |
ley ambled up to the senior partner of MS |
firm and asked, nay. demanded, that his |
vacation begin Immediately The chief de- |
INJURED. 1t was not convenient Jerry !
hesitated and then trusted the chief.
Mr.. Short I've got to have that vaca- |
ton now. lisa case of my one chance |
with the right girl-the only girl. Don't |
business will be of no value to me. You !
see. that girl
His face was perfectly serious. his blue |
eyes full of purpose. TIE chief looked at |
youth-and the girl he did not get
"Well--go on, Priestley. I like your de-
ternflnation-an your nerve, If you get
you. Remember that
Three days after Miss Doris Trent had |
packed her simplest clothes and departed |
the green and tree-clad hill country:
the woods, free as a little wild
animal, and for the first time in her life
entirely happy.
ing with Pierre. the great Bernard dog. as
With him she was safe. She
wore short, .girlish khaki dress with
bright tie and her hair was tied at the
6aP nj pit a