The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-07-31
The Euening Story
Her Audacious Lover.
(By Erne Goodale.)

inv 6AO1iO0S ody last SUIIlHlSI NIL
Zane Richmond, and twenty-five, per-
mitted himself deliberately to come to
a conclusion-he would begin imme-
diately to search for his ideal, and
when he had found her he would
marry her without unnecessary delay.
His ideal-ah, there was the diff
Guilty! Although he was not so ethe-
real that he demanded mama for his
daily food, the lady of his dreams must
be endowed with a wealth of perfec-
| tions which would have made her a
| well-equipped candidate for the celes-
tial regions.
Although he was not an artist, she
must have the figure of a ladies' tai
lor's model. As for her face-well. he
assured himself he should recognize it
when it came within his vision. In the
matter of hair, he was not at one with
Titan, but he had a welI-defined mo-
| ton of the precise tint it should show.
| why don't you send your order
| straight up to ST. Peters gate?"
laughed a skeptical friend at the club
to whom he conf1ded some of his am
| billions in the matrim onia1 line. But
| no sarcasm or even ridicule could
| sWerve him from his purpose.
| Young Mr.. Richmond was most dill
gent in his quest for several months
| before his beatif1c vision materialized.
| When she did, it was a most unroman-
| tic meeting. He was at the union rail-
| road station one day to meet an aunt
who was to arrive for visit when an
whom he had dreamed to his very feet,
as it were. Yes, there she was in the
not-to-be-doubted flesh hair, face,
figure, even feet. Nothing had been
overlooked in the specifications.
She tripped airily to the waiting
room and he followed discreetly. She
| halted and looked about anXiously, a S
| does one who expects to be met and is
disappointed and rather indignant be-
cause one is in attendance. This
was Zane Richmond's opportunity, and
he regarded it as heaven-sent. Hat
in hand, he advanced promptly and be-
gan deferentially:
81 beg your pardon-but are you
| looking for some one?"
| Were you sent here to meet me %
she returned loftily.
Yes" he prevaricated awkwardly,
! THAT isl
''That is, you weren't She looked
But if I can be of any assistance
| "You might call a taxi
| Thanks! Delighted"
He was back in two minutes to es-
cort her to the taxi, but she had van
ished. He fingered half an hour, hop
ing against hope, to hear the flutter
| of her wings, but it was of no avail.
Angel that she undoubtedly was, she
| had tricked him, and he knew he had
| deserved it.
AS he was permitting himself a
| last hopeless look about the room,
some one seized his arm and a rasping
voice assailed him:
Young man, did you oversleep
yourself?"
why. Aunt Matilda!" he gasped
shamefacedly.
1--WE been here ten whole minutes,
and I'm just about scared to DEATH
| declared the old lady reproachfully.
Her neglectful nephew proceeded to
| offer the best apology he could on
| the spot, but at that moment he had
no thought other than to call down to
earth again the angel who had taken
| her flight so unceremoniously. He
| realized that she had treated him in
most unangelic fashion, but he felt no
| resentment. All he wanted was the
| opportunity to make a further expert
ment in bridging the great gulf which
separated them, and he determined to
| leave no stone unturned IN his effort
| to accomplish 1T.
With that end in view he put Aunt
| Matilda into a comfortable vehicle
| and started her off safely. Then he
returned to the waiting room and took
a seat in a position which command
ed a view of all the points of entry
and exit. Determination was written
on his decidedly attractive face and
| he seemed ready and fit to carry out
| q policy of watckful waiting.
He had thought it all out care
| fully, and had come to the not unrea-
sonable conclusion that the fair I'M
known was a suburbanite who had
come into town for the day, and that
| she would take return train some
| time during the afternoon. And he
was perfectly sound in his Judgment.
Five mortal hours he sat in that wait
| ing room, and then-She reappeared.
She discovered him almost immedi-
ately, but assumed an appearance of
frigid Inconsistencies He was be-
side her instantly and saying:
That taxi has been ready for you
for some time
She tried to frown and look indig-
nant, but it was a dismal failure The
humor of the situation overcame her
and she smiled instead
"Ah, Thank you,'' she stammered,
and passed swiftly on to her Grain.
He folIowed-not in the same coach
but he saw her when she left the
train.
That was a good enough starting
point for Zane Richmond. Leave it
to him to do the rest, he assured him
self bravely. At 2 o'clock on the fol- |
lowing afternoon, at her fathers resi- |
dence, a card was sent in to Miss |
Angela Odell- It was strictly up to |
the moment in its appearance and it |
81 don't recall the name said Miss |
Angela.
No, naam," agreed the camplai- |
SAINT Thomas.
Does he look like an agent-or
something?"
IF he did, ma'am, I should have
thrown him down the steps and not |
bothered you at all Shall I seat him |
in the parlor, ma'am?''
Tell him 1 will see him for a mo- |
ment."
As she recognized him on entering |
the room she flushed deeply, but
whether with confusion or displeasure |
he could not tell.
IT neglected to present my card yes