The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-10-13
THE EVENING STORY
Challenged.

I tune yet. She went riding this after
noon with Wallace Perkins. Haven't
they come imp asked Lenore Nolan.
AS if in answer to her question, the
, door of the hunting lodge, where
Dick Steffield was entertaining gay
| house party opened and Joy and
young Perkins came in, a handsome
| pair in riding toys.
You're just in time to have your
| fortune told called Lenore. Joy
comes first, Wallace. Then it will be
your turn. Whom shall name them %
nuts on it ready to thrust 1t over the
big fire of black jack logs.
Every man here is in love with
JOY" declared Mabel Willard, so il
would be tactful to name those pres
emit
'All but our genial host, Dick. He
is certainly not an aSpirant for mat
rimonial honors," laughed Tom Rags
dale. so there is no use in wasting
one of those chestnuts by naming 1T
for him.
Thanks, old man." answered Dick
dryly, but l prefer to be given a fair
chance with the rest of you"
And how is my fortune to be de-
cided in such a novel way?" ques-
toned Joy. She had been rightly
named; her fresh beauty and rich
coloring, her sweetness and charm
made her indeed a joy to her friends
The chestnuts represent so many
admirers and the name of the man
first is the name of your future
husband"
"A sort of tried by fire test, isn't
it?' Joy declined the chairs offered
and sat down on a low camp stool
across the hearth from Dick Sheffield
You were very gallant to undertake
to go through such torture and Sus-
pcnse for the sake of my pride"
1.-The reward is great enough to
make man forget the hardships of
the contest
Suppose you win, Dick! How
would you feel about it?" Lenore
asked gayly as she thrust the shovel
in the dancing flames.
ct would be the happiest man in
the world" Dick returned, looking
intently in Joys eyes.
And you, Joy?"
Smoke began rising on the shovel
and without giving her time to
reply, Dick Sheffield leaned forward
quickly, his dark face flushed with
some sudden emotion that kindled a
strange light in his eyes and made his
voice husky.
eff should be the lucky man, Joy,
will you marry me?'
"a challenge! How interesting"
cried Lenore.
"ouick, joy! Answer mel urged
Sheffield.
A tremulous smile played about
the girls mouth. 81 WILL she said
clearly.
Let us in on that DEAL began
Ragsdale, but the little brown nut
Sheffield burst suddenly.
Sheffield crossed the hearth in two
strides.
Did you-did you ready mean 1t,
Joy?"
Not one of the crowd had ever
voiced the belief that Sheffield loved
Joy, but the sincere eagerness in
his face and the suppressed excite
ment about him were unmistakable
signs. Joy waSeqso exquisite. so i'm
partial in her attitude to men that
Sheffield had evidently credited the
gossip that she was engaged to a
young nobleman who had taken no
care to hide the fact that the charm
of the girl held him much longer in
this country than the business affairs
that brought him over warranted.
Joy were you honest with me?
Will you marry me, dear?' He APP
terested audience. He had eyes only
for Joy.
"I WILL" she said again.
The crowd fell upon them then with
merry congratulations. That 'Stet-
field himself was serious. nobody
doubted, but Joy was merely testing.
so the men thought, and laughed 1t
the absurdity of the situation.
Dicks play was too public for
real sentimentality. wasn't it, Joy?'
ciously, so Joy believed, seeing the
bitterness in his face.
When his guests had gone to their
rooms to dress for dinner, Sheffield
dropped down in big. arm chair
before the fire and opening worn /
card-case, took the picture of a very
young girl from it's hiding place. JOY, |
who had been detained for a few |
minutes in the next room, was just
the stairs. She looked |
through the parted curtains in the /
pig door and saw Sheffield with the !
little picture at his lips. Il love you |
So she heard him whisper. 81 love
you So"
sudden jealousy that famed to her |
1eart and paused uncertainty on the |
stairs. Sheffield seemed to feel her |
gaze and looking up, saw her there.
reckoning her to come back to him.
But Joy only waved and kissed her
hand lightly as she went on up the
stairs
1t was a wonderful JOY who came
lown just a minute before dinner was
announced.
You are Irresistible" whispered
2agdsale. Confirm my hope that the
challenge you accepted from Dick this
afternoon was taken in Jest?'
There was no ache in her heart,
tut her lips were smiling as she turn
ID to him. What a question, Tom! |
surely you understands
Il don't believe you do yourself" |
vas his jealous retort.
Just then Sheffield came and slip
bed joys hand in his arm.
II believe this honor is rightfully
nine,'' he said.
Make believe games seem to be
ust as much fun now they were
when we were children, don't they?"
The laughed at him.
She felt his arm tighten against |
lers.
FORTUNATELY for me-" he said as
hey moved toward the dining room,