The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-07-13
The EDening Story
The Lady of the Lake

| Lei Tie QdnSer zone"
If you know anything, Jim, you
ought to know I'm not susceptible"
Davis shifted
His friend laughed, a soft. thrcatv
chuckle, following with: Wait till
you've been, seen and been CONQUERED
Any odds then you change your
Davis also chuckled. but scornf,1lv
AFTER I've seen the world-London.
Paris, Brlin, not to mention the
treaty ports nor little old New York.
ne declared loftily. Experience
makes fellow fairly immune Won
know-even against the wiIes of be-
| WItchlng widows"
Wait! Have a care for yourself
Withers warned, turning the run
about deftly in at the open gate.
whence rough drive ran through an
| unkept lane to a low, gray house en-
powered in vines and shrubberv and
breathing an atmosphere of homely
comfort.
Like the grass, the shrubberv was
unclipped-long trails grew as Nature
W1lled from the vines to fall wreath
wise to earth. But there was no touch
or decay or poverty in the house prop
er-gay cushions crowded the settees
upon the piazza, a lawn rug spread be
tween two garden chairs was Uttered
with new books, handsome toys and
costly tennis racketS.
Infantry must be off in light
marching ORDER" Withers comment
ed, glancing at the rug as they stepped
from the car Doors stood Hospitality
wide, but there was sign of life
not even after Withers had knocked
with unusual VigOr.
But presently old negro pee1ed
cautiously around the corner of the
house, stared at them hard a minute
and then shrilled out in the high
pitched tone of the stone deaf: NO
use yer waitin'. Won't see Miss Mira
Susan much fore sundown-she've
nj p fCh 100
hull kit an bilin she'Ve got yere off
ter the crick, an the swimmin' hole
with fishpoles an dinner baskets an
sich''
GOOD. Wen follow-being fisher
men of degree" Withers proposed
gayly, slipping silver in the old, lean
hand.
Davis hesitated. sure We'll be well
Gomez" he asked. II confess the
swimmin' hole tempts-but suppose
we find it-occupied?
Just what L hope for" Witkers de-
clared briskly- clambering into the car.
Inside of five minutes it las spun
through open fields lying back of the
house, and had taken them to a fairy
land of green shade, golden sunlight
and glancing water. OVer-Voicing the
water babble rose babel of shouting
and joyous exclamation which came
from the smooth stretch of water, a
long narrow lake, flood built by a dam
of driftwood and silt.
winners knew the spot Well-the
Elliot "swimmin' ho1e'' dug by storm
waters pouring in through a channel
now dry. There, for a space of at least
two, yards, one might dive a matter of
three feet-if one had care not to do
it so violently that ones head might
reach the rock bottom.
Here the men found her, the lady of
the lake. AS the car stopped at the
very waters edge they saw her afloat
on one side, her free arm splashing
oh "a dc Of
boys. gurgling and painting in the
nearest shallow. Beyond, five young
girls swan laboriously, almost pain
fully, in ward of three strapping lads.
A young man and maiden lounged
upon a Handicapped bank, and
made a brave show at fishing.
The lady of the lake greeted With
ers cordially and acknowledged Daviss
presentation with an easy unconcern
that robbed the situation of all awk-
wardnesS.
Il do wish you could come in she
declared heartily, waving her hand to-
you can fish-you might even wade,
or bangle your feet in water. But
don't, please, misunderstanding toward
the pair piscatorial. 1T would be
one nice girl among so many?'
Come out yourself, Can't we per
suade you?" Withers entreated
She laughed softly, saying, Il will
game"
Tell us how. We're your accom-
plices," Withers shot back.
She looked at the timorous small
they could swim If they had to-and
they'd have to if they were pitched
in here beside me, head over head"
Here they come! Catch" With |
ers shouted, wading out and Selling
the smallest youngster, to swing |
him deftly into the ''swimmin' hole" |
Down went the child-to come up |
spluttering. but laughing within a |
yard Of Mrs Elliot, who drew away, |.
saying firmly: Now for it Tommy! |
SWIM
Tommy swan - the plunge had
washed away his cowardice. He even |
patronized Ned, the next to be tossed /
Billy, who had bulldog jaw. wriggled |
and kicked so hard it took strength |
achieved his temper left him-he |
swan, too, and was so happy over |
it that ne howled when, half an hour |
later, he was ordered to land.
'No-these are not slum children
just tots she picks up and invites here |
for a month or fortnight" Withers |
explained. "Schoolboys, too-you see !
the big fellowsIand girls iss who are
afford it-she has a substantial in |
come besides the place. She doesn't |
squander it on charity she can't see |
or know about. Rather she puts her |
dollars, and plenty of them, where |
she knows they will do real good"
Mighty decent of her-if she is an |
accomplished firt," Davis returned |
his eyes fast upon the deserted cabin |
that served as bathhouse- Almost |
as he looked the small girls swarmed |
from one door of it. the lads and |
small boys from the other. And right
upon their heels came the lady OF the