The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-08-13
The Eueniag Story


SGS 1OCsS0kX 0eOS0
At Aunt Maria's.
(By Louise Oliver.)
The limited had just roared In on
| track No. z as a local pulled up on
No. 8. beside it.:
Instantly the platform was crowded
with hur-ying figures from both
| trains and Alan Dilworth had his
hands full 1t world perhaps be bet
| ter to say "cyes FULL for his hands
were buried deep in his coat pockets.
habit when in perplexity.
How in the world was he to know
the daughter OF Aunt Maria's friend
| from the west? Aunt Maria's de-
scription Of her expected guest was
necessarily vsgue, because she did not
know herself what Polly Norman
looked like.
! She ha asked her nephew to meet
the young woman. as she had q head
ache and could not go. Let me see,"
Polly must be the Oldest. You might
look for a young woman OF thirty or
SO. and II she looks at all like Aggfe,
her mother. she will be a blond, rath-
er red blond. and I would not look
for a girl with too much style, you
/ know"
So Alan wa, looking for. a blond, q
very red blond of thirty or so. who
dressed indifferently. He was twenty
five. and paid particular attention to
his own clothing. Therefore, he did
not relish his present task. and
thanked his stars for closed taxicabs.
| AS the crowd rushed past, it was
dtmcult to discriminate, but at last he
saw her. There could be NO mistake
Tor the person who was darling pug
lied. tnquiring glances into the faces
OF the bystanders was not only a de-
4 v,ssS1S1 f~x 49,
! thirty, and wore q suit that had paled
through years Of use from black to a
dark earthly color. She had 4 basket
In one hand, tho cloth cover Of which,
although tied down all around, was
having suspicious commissions, going
up suddenly in little hills ana then
quickly subsiding. Tho Family cat. !"
thought Alan with .hoi ror.
He braced himself for the encounter
his hat
e! beg pardon. but are you Miss
| Polly NOrman?'
The woman with the live stock
looked him over Indignantly. mo. I
amt, smarty. Try somebody that's
greener n met 80 = =.
Alan replaced his hat ana retreated
hastily, furious at the laughter Of the
crowd. He did not notice girl who
happened to be near enough to hear
and see everything, nor the confiictine
emotions that showed in her face, sur
prise, perplexity and amusement.
| Alan. feeling that he had made a
nice mess of the whole business, did
not dare to brave his aunt's righteous
wrath. and called up by telephone to
tell Of his failure to and her visitor.
| IT'S all right" cane his aunt's
voice reassuringly. shes here!
Found the way herself without much
trouble Then in reply to an anxious
inquiry. she responded guardedly, mo,
not SO bad. No. not red exactly
can't tell you. You'll have to see for
yourself. Not SO very old. I'm not
quite sure.''
Alan could not understand his
aunt's evasive answers. But it was
possible the girl was within hearing
distance. At any -ate he decided to
give his aunt's house q wide berth
during Miss Polly's visit.
| He had an engagement for that
evening when he was s-sked to call.
''Some other time. Aunt Maria, when
I'm not 80 busy. thank you.''
But some other time never seemed
to come. He steadily refused all in
vitattons to meet tho guest. Then he
was called away on business, which
kept him several days.
| AZ his train pulled in he hurried
from the car and passed through the
very same iron. gate that he had
haunted three weeks before. Just in
side stood his Aunt Maria with q girl
land such a girl! Alan hurried to
his relative. anxious for an introduce
ton to her young companion. He ha0
never seen anybody so beautiful. nor
SO exquisitely dressed. he thought A
sober young person in black, who kept
respectfully in the background, and
was taking charge OF q bag. was ev1-
| IDENTIFY her maid.
.ssomebody pretty 1ne!" thought
Alan. It would have surprised him
exceedingly If anyone lad associated
the sobriquet of bounder. pfker. or
snob with the very important ono Of
posed himself to be . gentleman.
As he approached with his very
incest smile. the young lady with his
aunt turned away.
Come. Mary. she beckoned to the
maid. .the trains ready" She hastily
said Goodbye to his aunt and was
on. It all happened 30 quickly It took
| HIS breath.
Aunt MARIA laughed 1T just serves
you right. Alan"
.eBut I don't understand. VINO is
.its your own fauit that you don't
know who she il. Polly Norman. Of
course!'
.Polly Norman." he gasped. 'swhy.
thought-but what's her hurry"
| She saw you nr9t-
| But she Doesn't know what I look
like
ssYes, she does. She's the sunarteat,
best, prettiest. incest girl ever knew
in my life. and you've certainly missed
lit! She just paid you back now for
your neglect"
But I didn't know" he protested.
You ought to have known enough
to be gentIeman.'' sharply. mo mat
ter what she was Ike. She was my
guest and I'm your only relative
Eyes, do believe IL I'm not careful
lT1l develop into 4 cad" ruefully. "Of
course, it's all my own fault