The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-07-11
THE EVENING STORY
Colonel Rowland's Love.
CBy Izola Forrester.)


| "May I. speak with Col. Rowland,
please?"
Mrs. Hawthorne's voice trembled ever
so slightly. The hand that. held the
| telephone receiver was cold, but she
was safe from observation in the booth
at the railroad station, and not even
the colonel at the other end of the
wire guessed her nervousness.
This is Col. Rowland" She caught
her breath at the full. ringing tone.
He was no weakling to reckon
with.
"Oh, colonel. must have a talk with
YOU at once. I have just come on from
Chicago to see you about-about my
| boy Roy. You know him. Roy Haw-
! thorne?"
Yes, L know him, the young"
| The colonePs voice ended in a cough.
| What can I do for you Mrs. Haw-
thorne?"
you can help me stop this marriage"
/ Her tone grew stronger. II simply
everything in the world to me, and he
hasn't even finished his course yet, at
Cornell. He's nothing but lad.
colonel Can you meet me as soon as
possible, and find a way out?"
MY dear madame, there isn't a
chance of prying the two apart with
any natural force the colonel's voice
rose a bit higher. ct have exhausted
my influence and efforts and I wash
my hands of the entire affair"
, But they may even elope. Roy's
last letter threatened it. That is why
came at once. 1t must be stopped.
If you could get Miss Rowland away
by some pretext, I am sure could
feign illness, and that Roy would at
least go home with me-
Suppose We lunch together and dis
cuss the matter?" suggested the colo
,0l Z he UT,
1t was very sweet, very hesitant and
feminine 1t appealed to every spark
of chivalry in his makeup, and the
colonel was from Kentucky.
Mrs. Hawthorne accepted with lit
tie sigh of relief, and just as she paid
at the operators desk, and walked
away, a girls head appeared at the
next booth to the one she had occupied.
Such a pretty head it was, an adorable
little head with close-fitting hat
edged with pink rosebuds, and little
blowaway curls escaping around the
brim. She gave a number to the oper-
ator and sat for fully fifteen minu-
ties bending close over the receiver as
though she feared it might tell some
of her secrets. When she left, her face
was full of radiant mischief and she
stepped into a waiting taxicab with
last look at the big round station
clock.
1t was a wonderfully secluded cor
ner the colonel had reserved on the
roof garden of his hotel for his tete-
a-tete lunch. And when he beheld the
mother of Roy Hawthorne he felt a
strange thrill of interest. She was
slender and very fair. All in tenderest
mauve. with a touch of black velvet
here and there, and a little close bon
net of silk orchids on her shapely
head.
She hardly raised her lashes until
they were safe in a corner, and the
colonel leaned forward with startled
abruptness. his hands reaching for
hers.
Helene, Great Scott. never
dreamt this
Don't, Bob, please, you hurt my
hands. 1 know you didn't understand,
of course, and If I had written and
told you that Roy was the son of the
one man you hated in life, it would
have made matters worse still. But
now you see why he simply cannot
marry your daughter
There were tears sparkling on her
long lashes. A waiter approa ched, ana
the colonel glared at him.
go away, sir, until. I motion for
you. SIR" He turned again to Mrs.