The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-03-21
The Eueni,,s Story


4
Trib piped shrilly ~ she burst in
upon Maynard. breathless. rumpled.
yellow curls Quivering. both chubby
hands straight In front Of her and
| stimy clenched.
Mfdroom she stopped short. stuck
out her chin, then her tongue-but
very. very family. then bestowed ON
the visitor her most beguiling smile.
She was rising nve, her nickname
an abbreviation Of Tribulation. her
less a mOuthful than Elisabeth Louisa
Caroline, the gifts of baptism. and
rich maiden aunts.
'.Hang what?" Maynard demanded
gravely.
Trib's smile grew and spread until
it became positively uncanny. "Just
you." she said, peering at him
through her long lashes. in . way
maddeningly like Jessica's. "But-I
amt mad at yOu-cause you brought
me candy yesterday" with a seduc-
tive suggestion in her tone. also
siding nearer.
'Then-what made you say it,"
She was beside him. all her stiff
ness gone. Tits what Aunty Jess
said when I told her you were COM
In" she conhded artlessly. Tier hair
Is all in curl papers. you know-mine
don't ever get rolled up" with con-
scio6s superiority: but she says hers
has grown out of curly-and that
mess, Joe Daniel. il comm to take her
drivin' at o'clock"
| HE H.? How nice-for, him." May
nard murmured-the last words UNI
der breath.
| He laughed AZ he said it-but Trib
did not like the sound Of it. Are
you huntin' trouble?' she asked-as
near anxiously as such q bit OF quick
silver could speak. She was wise be-
yond her years; also slangy-wise
from comradery with her brother
her quite as an equal what time he
was not teasing the life out of her.
| Maybe I was-but it's clean put
on" Maynard answered, rising.
You see. Trib, I really thought I
wanted to marry-not anybody spe-
who would have me. Now-my mind
il made mp not to do fiat least UNI
til You grow up-you'l take me II
wait?''
Trib pursed her lips judicially. She
had been flattered and courted since
know" she said. signing. IT like the
candy you bring-stifl I might find
some 1 liked better"
Il believe you are-already grown
up, MAYNARD said with q peculiar
smile. but ftmbling in his pocket. He
enameled, small and dainty, but cost
ly. a work Of goldsmith's art. Take
this instead of ring" he said II
hope you'll like what's inside. Now
kiss me good bye-a long kiss for a
long time. Tell Aunt Jess came to
say good bye all round-as I'm going
| away tomorrow for oh, years and
years."
Trib surveyed the trinket with av-
ricious joy '.I'll tell her. she said
1--we cut her out-she was goin' to
get this-if she hadn't been such a
smArty.''
You are a witch for guessing. Now
;-one moro kiss-then must co."
MAYNARD answered. holding the soft
little body tight and burying his lips
they trembled in spite of HMM
the yellow curls. Don't forget me
Qutte-and grow up as good as you
are pretty" he muttered as at last he
let her 60.
Next minute he was mounted and
conscious only of a wild, aching long
Ing to throttle Joe Daniel ana remove
him bodily from contact with Jessica
Linton. 1t would be hard enough to
lose her to q man-n0t one whom
Trib had called. truly. y mess. Joe
.
listed grandmother. He had also fine
horses, a motor car. q certain man
ner that passed with unthinking for
I0tt-and no principle whatever where
his own desires or interests were con-
cerned. Jessica should not be seen
driving with him-Maynard had
warned her OF the fact more than
once. He wondered how she could
even tolerate the fellow-not knowing
that Miss Jessica was using him 90
t><nr-< - -
self upon Anne Morrison for much
and sundry social unfairness. Green
i way village no more than the big out
side world, escaped developing envy.
n.alace. all uncharitableness Jessica,
proud, pretty, high-breA, not over
rich. but innately aware OF her inner
tied position. was favorite target for
the lower sort-Anne Morrison in par
tticular.
Anne had. in village phrase, "set
her megs' to be Mrs. Joe Daniel. She
had almost landed the goldfish when
Jessica interfered, not openly to be
Isure-but with delicate al1urings,
with gay. pretty speeches, with half
tolerances that became whole toler-
ances, until Joe was her bond slave.
He had said 80 brutality to Anne, add
ing: when man can pay for the
best, OF course he's going to have Il. y
This had come to Maynard's ears
hence his ca1l 30 early in the after
inoon-to be met with assurances that
he was unwelcOme. 1t was madden
fng-he would hold his peace. II Jes-
sicA were the sort to let money hide
the groasneas OF a man, she was all
unlike his thought OF her. His part
was to go away-forget- and set him.
self to doing mans work In maa's
Il world.
i But flfst he would see and say GOOD
bye to All his beautiful, his beloved
green countryside. Therefore. AFTER
. bit he checked speed. and rode tenn
peFAtely up hin and down dale, stop
lping now and then to vision indelfbly
some favorite vista, some bit Of ruad-
i side. Or stretch Of ripping stream.