The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-01-01
THE EVENING STORY
Lady Mine.
(By Izola Forrester.)

] She had insisted on taking the
morning train. The other brides
maids were staying over the holi-
days at Woodlands, but after last
night, she told herself. she never
could bear to look Barry Ames in
/ the eyes again.
| She had met him before Polly S
wedding at Washington with his
splendid old father, Senator Ames,
and again in st. Petersburg, the year
| the colonel went over in the diplo-
matte service. He had seemed over
grown and rather sulky, she remem-
bered.
But this year he was different.
| Perhaps the last two years in Japan
had given him more command of
himself, more adaptability. Adapta-
bi1ity. Her high-heeled, tidy little
sandal rubbers stamped on the FROST
ed platform as she waited for the
train. Wonderful adaptability to en-
vironment he had surely gained, for
she knew positively he had deliber-
ately kissed three different girls with
in two hours the night before. And
she had been the third.
It was still dark, with the great
pine-crested mountains rising and
blending into the skyline all about the
little Virginia station. One old col
ored porter dozed on the baggage
truck.
Mona caught the far-off chime Of
bells 1t was New Years morning,
dusky and chill Suddenly she felt
homesick, and lonesome, and thor
oughly abused. Polly had left in a
blaze of bridal glory two days before,
but the house party had gone on just
the same, with her mother to beam
on the six bridesmaids. The other
five were up there among the pines
at beautiful Woodlands, snug and
7or n I,or p al
out to them, and here she was pac-
ing cold, dark old platform, waiting
for the train for Baltimore.
Why had she run away? The swift
question put itself to her. The other
two girls had merely laughed over
Barry's mischief. But had he kissed
them as he had kissed her? Her face
grew hot at the remembrance. They
had been taking down the mistletoe
and holly trimmings and putting up
fresh ones. and Barry had challenged
any girl to take down the mistletoe
above his chair in the dining room.
The other two he had caught by day.
light and kissed them before the whole
party; but Mona had stolen down at
dusk, and on a dare slipped into the
long old colonial room and mounted
his chair. when his arms had sud-
denly closed about her.
I've been trying to get up nerve
enough to do that for three years,
Mona. Don't scoId. Are you blush
ing, dear? It's so dark 1 can't see
your face
And you won't see it. either, Bar
ry Ames." she had retorted, swiftly
Why, why 1 never was kissed like
that before in all my life
81 should hope not murmured
Barry devoutly. But you see, we're
going to be married, dear"
Are we? These are tidings of
great joy
But, listen, you know We are"
stumbled Barry. "You know I've al
ways wanted to marry you. ever since
you We're a funny, skinny little big
eyed kiddfe at your first dance, re-
member, down at Annapolis, my last
year?''
Then why did you kiss those other
two girls?''
1T didn't kiss them that way" Bar
ry consoled her.
And suddenly there had swept over
her the impulse to run from him. He
was SO sure of her, taking every point
for granted.
The porter Weakened a the shrill en-
gine call. In the succeeding hurry she
hardly caught the sound of the ap-
preaching motor racing down the
mountain road behind the station.
Then, just as the train pulled in, Bar.
ry was beside her. He took her two
suitcases from the porter and handed
them to the chauffeur. The train
WdlleQ JUST Three minutes at sutton,
and Barry's jaw looked argumenta-
tive.
What does this mean?" he asked
''Win you please have my suitcases
put on the train. Mr.. Ames?"
why? You're going with me- he
said, roughly. "You can't go on that
train, Mona, not without me- You
can't take any train in life without
me. now, don't you know that? If RI
were to allow you"
ALLOW mel"
Yes, allow very calmly, ito take
that train without me this first time
you'd think You could always do it
whenever the notion struck you II
told Mrs. Estabrook last night that
you had consented to be my wife,"
81 did nothing of the sort
Didn't you, dear?" His hand
reached for her chin and raised it up
towards his face. do you know that
you kissed me back, Mona?''
As the train pulled out two angry,
helpless tears rolled down her
cheeks. He was talking to the porter, ,
and her trunk was being strapped on
the rack of the motor car.
Were going straight on to Wash
ington, dear he said. Make it'll
about noon, I think, and Well be
married at once
81 think father might have some |
voice in the matter" Mona answered. |
Barry's face beamed with happi-l