The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-07-10
The EUening Story
Her Mysterious Lover.

ments wanted column she turned to
her daughter Isabel.
How would you like to board these
six young men who are looking for
just such a place as this?" She
passed the paper to her daughter, who
had flushed eXcitedly at the thought
of six young men in the house during
an entire summer.
Isabel read the advertisement aloud
as if her mother had not already pc
rused it's contents.
Wanted, by six city men, room and
board for summer months. Must be
near sea bathing. Plain cooking and
home comforts. Fifty dollars a week
for the half dozen"
The girl laughed amusediy. lone
would think they were new-laid eggs
rather than twentieth century young
men, I think it would be a great lark
to have them she said finally, land
perhaps L could give up my shop work
for the summer and just stay home to
help you. We could manage nicely on
$50 a week, with the vegetables from
our garden and our own fresh eggs"
Lets sit right down then and an
swer them or some one else may get
them as boarders," Mrs. Browning
said in her usual energetic manner.
She had never taken boarders to
help exc out their rather limited in
come, but recently she had noted
with metherly apprehension that her
daughters cheeks had been gradually
losing color and that her step was
weary as she made her way hOmeward
from the days business. Mrs. Brown
ing felt convinced that she could make
enough money at least for one summer
by taking in the six young men as
boarders, and it would assuredly be a
diversion for the too quiet Isabel. So
three rooms, with great double beds,
were aired and freshened up, the I'M
used tennis court was rolled and all
the possibilities for summer pleasure
were made attractive. A new ham
mock was hung from the pear tree
and quick growing vines were planted
around the summer house
They can't resist u.s. Mrs. Brown
ing told herself, and in her heart she
cherished the hope that Isabel would
be in somewhere in the background
as an added attraction when the
young men came down to inspect the
premises.
when the young men came, but Mrs
Browning saw<tO it that, Isabel or no
Isabel, she was going to have her six
summer boarderS.
The men were completely delighted
with their new abiding place. Every
thing seemed SO con --rtable and
homelike, they declared. When, the
first night at dinner, Isabel came into
the dining room looking like nothing
SO much as a newly blossomed pink
glances.
joy" "Peach!'' Rose in the bud."
Some girl!' Those were only some of
the quickly inspired comments that
were exchanged in prudent asides
and expressive facial Accomplishments.
The girl herself found it rather diff
ficult to seem perfectly calm in the
trying situation of finding herself sud
denly the center of admiration of six
pairs of masculine eyes. Her heart
quickened beneath her pink gown, and
| her cheeks were delightfully."- respon-
sive to her emotions.
| From the moment her daughter
entered the dining room and was pre-
scented in turn to the six men Isabers
mother fell to wondering just how the
experiment was likely to turn out.
! Would it, she speculated, in any way
| interfere with the girls evident pref
erence for the companionship of Don
aid Stewart, a fine looking young
| Scotchman who had been paying her
considerable attention? For some time
| Mrs. Browning had half suspected
Isabers pale cheeks and lusterless
| eyes were connected with a growing
attachment for Stewart, who had not
l. yet advanced beyond the noncommittal
stage of friendly interest.
The first weekend that Donald
spent out at the Browning cottage af-
! ter the arrival of the male boarders
was a trifle trying, since he passed
most of the time glowering darkly at
talking with her mother. Isabel had
| tried vainly to make him one of the
| joy-seeking crowd that went for a
swim in the afternoon and for long
ramble through the woods toward
evening. Donald held himself stub
born1y aloof and. with greatly modi-
fled happiness, Isabel plunged desper-
ately into the fun of the moment.
The summer progressed steadily
with delightful days and wonderful
nights. The six boarders We'd with
| each other in taking Isabel to yacht
races, dances and matinees in the city.
To all appearance each man of them
was falling a willing victim to her
| charms
| Now. to add to the mystery and ro-
nance of the situation, some one of
IsabeIs admirer-She knew not
which-assumed a stea1thy, anony-
nous manner of wooing that, for her,
was as charming as it was bewiljer-
/ ing. Every morning she found at her
door, hidden in a bunch of roses, a
note bearing a declaration of love in
such frankly expressed terms that she
could not doubt the sincerity of the
unknown sender. There was never a
her door and left the token of love.
| The girl spent many a long hour
in trying to find out the identity of
| her secret wooer, but without coming
! step nearer the solution of the
puzzle Unconsciously she was fall
ing a victim to her Stealthy lovers
tactics Try as she might, she could
not exercise the SPELL
Mrs. Browning seemed to be as puz-