The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-02-12
The Epenine Story
when Cinderella Baked.

her mind to dosso from the very day
when the commodore had invited her
to go abroad with him and Aunt Isabel
Hallock ~
1t had been q marvellous day. Phil
and Ted had been diligently picking
strawberries for preserving when the
old r. F. d. cart ambled into sight
little white box on top Of the post at
the end Of lane.
Phil read it through before she ex-
ploded into a swift succession Of "Oh!
to tell her mother. It was SO sudden
and SO almost unbelievable. 1t APP
peared that the commodore was
obliged to go abroad on business
trip, and that Aunt Isabel could not
bear to let him go alone.
I'm these days of dangers on the
sea from palatial leviathans, whereof
the Lord would never have approved,
1 cannot permit myself to let Benja-
min travel alone. II the time comes
side. And I've been thinking. Phil
ippa, that the trip would do you good.
and you'd be lot of comfort to me,
for. as remember, you're the Quietest
so you'd better meet us in New York
the 9Th. We sail the 10th. but shall
want you to get some decent clothes.
1.-THE old dear's always SO mean
dering, isn't she?" Ted said. peering
over his sisters shoulder. Wonder
If the commodore doesn't want an eff
ficient and lightfooted courier?"
"I suppose you'd better go, Phil.
Mrs. Chadwick smiled up at the tall
blonde girl beside her. Phil had re-
life. while the other girls had dark
ened," as she put it. into almost bru-
nettes. But Phil's hair hung in two
wide braids down her back. except
ing when she dressed up and wound
them about her head. Her eyes were
blue, not dreamy nor wistful nor any
thing that was romantic. Two wide,
deep blue eyes looked out .at the
world in comradely fashion, ana found
everything in it very good indeed.
And now it was over, the five weeks
of travel through France and Nor
mandy. old Bsittany and Holland. Phil
hardly heard HEh@t the count was say
Ing as she aR& over the ren snnq
of tall buildings shaping out of the
morning haze. She knew perfectly
well that Aunt Isabel was watching
them from her deck chair even while
she discussed custom troubles with the
The whole situation had beens ex-
planned to Phil before she left her
we've done everything We could
for you, Philippe" Aunt Isabel had
said plaintwely. Here we have the
royal suite or bridal suite. or whats
ever they call 1t. and every -one
thinks. Of course, you are your uncle's
heiress. haven't denied 1t. for It
helps immensely and both the COM
modore and myself are really quite
fond Of you. You've been very sweet
during the trip and clothes have done
wonders for you, too. and there's no
reason why you shouldn't marry the
count 1 have no doubt but what your
uncle would do the right thing by
you, though 1 do hope the castle Is
we'll ventilated. He hates stuffy
ruins. so I'd never get him to visit
you. I'm sure your mother can't say
but what I've made you a success"
Yes, ma'am." Phil said. mildly.
turning around. on her little finger
Larry's boyish silver ring. Plain it
was, Just a band of silver worn thin.
with his monogram engraved on it,
but 1t had been en- her hand since q
certain evening The third. day out
had not been definite. He had not
made any sort of a proper proposal.
as Aunt Isabel would haye put IT. He
had only slipped the ring from his
own hand to hers Is 1t bay beside him
on the railing, and had tried to tell
how some day when he had made a
success he would go to the commo-
dore and ask himTto give her to him.
Even now while the count talked in
his slow, precise way. COUGHING all
terms Of love in formal phrasing. she
thought Of Larry. He had been the
| unknown quantity in Aunt Isabefs
reckoning. The commodore had met
him in Paris. stranded after trying to
impress the continent with the value
of certain make Of spark plugs. As
q salesman he was failure, but the
l. ~
rotary, courier and general major
domo, and he had won his regard and
the surety Of work in the big general
ofnces out west.
Phil glanced restlessly. unhappily,
toward her aunt and met Larry's eyes.
Surely he knew what the count was
saying. It was all so silly, she thought
suddenly, so full of make believe. She
was not an heiress.- She was just a
dressed-up doll And just then Larry
rose and came 1eisurely toward them,
although Aunt Isabel tried to detafn
him with q question. There was a
hook of determination in his brown
eyes and around his bps that ret Phils
heart beating faster. even willis the
count was telling her OF how the
Loire swept past the rich lower mead
ows around Rougincourt. her future
home.
The liner was headed for the Hud-
SON river now. How she loved it all,
her own homeland! She lifted her
face in thankful greeting even to the
gulls that circled and dipped over
head Somehow there didn't seem to
be anything real excepting the little
silver ring She hated the Cinder-
leila clothes she wore and even the
string of pearls the commodore had
given her. And - she saw LArry's
cheerful, boyish face she did what Ted
back home called .sPhirs trick" She
baked
I'm awfully SORRY. she told the
little, courteous count, giving him her
hand. hut can't do - you wish