The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-20
The EUening Story
A Wind of Destiny.


had said "a wind of destiny when a
frisky breeze whipped half a letter
from his loosely-clasped fingers and
sent it sailing high over the treetops.
A rain squalI was breaking-big,
| bright drops hurtled down SO fiercely
it would have been senseless to pur-
sue the Grant script. Yet as he closed
the window he frowned. recalling that
the missing sheet was addressed to
him in a flowing hand, but so clear,
so unmistakable, that it would be rec
ognizable, however sodden.
He had the comfort, though, of
knowing there were long chances
| against anybody seeing the paper-it
would fall and be buried, or washed
down with the storm waters to the
safe hiding of the mill pond.
Certainly it would never fall under
Juliet RavenePs eye. Any other he
could flout or BATTLE, but hers, sharp
ened by an acutely sensitive jealousy,
| would read not only what was in the
lines. but between them.
| Carolyn should have known better
than to write so, he reflected irritably.
| Yet he had been unreasonably angered
to find no touch of sentiment-only
gay and apparently genuine CANA
raderie-when he had been assuring
| himself that he had broken her heart.
He had even had twinges of conscience
over it-but what VIII not one do who
| has all the good gifts save wealth.
youth, strength, brains ambition
when he sees the highest things with
in his grasp-even money?
| Public life allured him. He pinned to
| be leader, a stainless one, wearing no
mans collar, bound by nothing save
| honor and conscience. Already he
hadspu away from him most tempt
| ing opportunity because to take it
meant wearing collar. How Carolyn
had glowed when she came to know
of it. The worldly-wide trickster who
had sought to advance him had said.
with a cynical smile: go on your
way, lad! She's worth it-almost-
the girl for whom you are turning me
down. But-take it from me, son-if
you marry her and try to keep on liv-
| ing up to her you'll be a failure it will
break her heart to see."
| The words had stuck. although
| Esmay had tried to laugh them away.
Then after two years of struggle Fate
had thrown Juliet and her millions in
his path.
She was thin and dark, piteously
alone, just turned thirty and so rather
| older than he. She was narrowly Sus-
picious of men and their motives and
well she might be-scores had tried to
marry her on the strength of her ex-
| pectationS. She had had only an an
nuity until she reached thirty. but
now the money was hers undisputedly
so long as she lived. Failing marriage
and children, it was TO go in the end
to establish great foundation for the
glory of the Ravenal name.
Prospective trustees had unwisel3
so affronted her by assuming they
would inevitably come into possession
| of the millions that she had made UP
her mind to marry out of hand.
Just then came Norbert Esmay to
captivate her utterly and thereby
make her look at life from a differ
ent viewpoint. Yet she could not trust
! him fllly, much asSshe yearned to do
| it. AS penance for her lack of i'm
plicit faith, she had shown herself
! how delicately that with herself she
gave him all-that there would never
be a divided purse or any question of
settlements between them.
Naturally. Ehmay had been touched
deeply. He had acted honorabIy,
and bidding her decide it for him.
| She had answered him in single SEN
| tence: UNLESS 1 babe you take the
goods the gods provide 1 could not
sign myself, as 1 do, always faithfully
| your friend, Carolyn Dare
| He had accepted her verdict and
now the wedding was only just a week
ahead.
The letter which had been the sport
of the wind was Carolyns answer to
the announcement the GATE, a gen.
| tlewoman's letter throughout and rea-
sonably brief, yet-maybe it was his
conscience-he had felt deeply the
things it did not say.
Juliet, likewise, would feel them
| should her eyes ever fall upon that
letter. His acquaintance with her
had begun through Carolyn and there
was strong friendship between the
Dares and the Ravenels. Juliet had
even heard faint whispers of the one
time close friendship between Carolyn
and Esmay.
The storm was over, the afternoon
low sun struggling through the fast
moving clouds. Esmay threw the
windows wide and looked out upon the
rain-washed world. At that moment
a car came swiftly up the drive
Juliet" his startled consciousness
told him more certainly than words
Before he could rush down the two
flights to the hall he heard the woody
thud of the knocker against the door
panel, and he reached the foot of
the stairs, Black Sam already stood in
the open door and Juliet's voice de-
manded peremptorily: Where is Mr.
Esmay? 1 want him-at once"
Right kerc in person!'' Esmay an
swered, coming forward with arms
outstretched in welcome. He tried to
speak naturally, but his heart mis-
gave hinn-as we'll it might.
Juliet had come in the company of
old Judge Nixon, the widest of the dis
appointed prospective trustees who
had held and managed the Ravenel
estate until time had compelled them
to give it over to its legal owner. From,
the first he had protested vehement
ly against any marriage settlements
tying up the estate at least in part
On the way to make a final appeal
to his strong-willed ward the wind OF
destiny had dropped Carolyn's letter
plump into his lap.
Regarding it as a providentiaI inter-
position in his favor. Judge Nixon had
taken it straight to Juliet, bidding her
read it-and be cautious. He thought
he knew her. but was amazed to see
the flame of her wrath as she read
the fragment
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