The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-02-08
The Evening Story
White Acres.
(By Edwina FaXon.)

COdI tiitAAl IiAlS DAuS SCI sc SuAt
never was any too warm, and since the
nap has worn off there isn't much left |
Lut the name"
A sense of humor did much to take
the edge off a singing wind. but in
spite of her bravery tears welled up in
her eyes. She had turned corner and
come in sight of the old house. desc
late and deserted in the midst of a |
dreary late November landscape, and |
the house brought back recollections !
that were hard to bear. How her life |
had changed in the last year,
She looked around for some sign of
another arrival, a car of some sort, |
or footprints in the light snow, but |
there was no sign of life about the |
place. Kathleen turned a key in the |
front door and pushed it open. The /
furniture had been removed and the
carpetless, curtainless rooms seemed |
like sepulchres of good times that were
gone.
Il believe I'll wait outside after ALL"
she faltered. He ought to be here
soon and the house is unbearable.
There! I believe L hear "a machine
nOw,"
A touring car stopped at the gate
and a man got out. Miss Lowell. 1
believe" he said, lifting his hat as
he came near. If this were the cor
warmly but exceedingly well dressed
and good looking besides. But kath-
leen steeled her heart.
'Yes!" she answered abruptly.
He came up on to the veranda be-
side her. Il am Horace Davidson. and
I represent the Burlington & Harwell
road. But I've no doubt you have
already guessed my identity. I'm sorry
4 if kept you waiting. We had blow
/ out. Deucedly cold, isn't it? Shall we
/ go inside?''
/ ut is colder in there. Besides, our
4 business is outside, 1 believe"
! The wind was screaming so he had
ITO stand quite close to catch her
words. can uncommonly pretty girl,
1 by Jove," he said to himself. Not
what 1 was expecting quite. This is no
meek little milk-and-water country
girl I have to deal with. Her wits
promise to be as good as her looks
What color, And what hair,''
A shrill whistle sounded in the dis
+ lance, and both turned quickly. A big
/ iiIterurban trolly car appeared around
the curve of the road and sped on a
/ .rfised track across the open space be-
| l}w them. Both were silent until it
| disappeared.
1.-The suit comes up next week, 1 be-
lieve," began Kathleen.
Unless you change your mind and
| have it withdrawn
''Why should 2"
ITO begin with, I don't think you
! have much chance"
rs there no justice in the world,
/ then? What are courts for?'
Justice" he answered. NO judge
can see why strip of track should do
| any damage to a farm"
/ Perhaps he can see if it is explain
/ ed to him that the road got its right of
way under false pretence, that the
4 track cut my fathers farm in two to
| begin with, and that the raising of it
made it impossible to pasture herd
/ of cows on one side with the barn on
the other. A culvert would have cost
US two thousand dollars, and the COM
pany wouldn't pay it. Further-when
he saw in despair that his bog dairy
farm was ruined-began to have Wis
ions of a summer hotel and petitioned
the company for a station But that
was refused, too. He was ruined
financially and in health. He was too
old to stand the blow, and he died.
Horace Davidson was silent awhile.
Then, why don't you sell the placer
Il would if 1 could. No one will
have it with that ugly raised track in
He saw that she was shaking with
emotion and cold. Miss Lowell he
said more kindly after all it was
foolish of me to ask you to meet me
out here. We can talk better in my
office in town. What 1 really want is
to get a survey of the land, and l sent
for Dawson to meet me here. L think
he may have come on that last car, so
/, III go over and meet him. There is
really no need for your staying, and If
you will permit me shall be delighted
to take you to the station"
kathleen accepted his offer and
they rode away in silence.
Thank you, Mr.. Davidson." she
said as she got out of his car. "Of
course, it is your duty to the people
whose interests you represent to fight
my case in court. But I cannot help
believe that personally you see the
Justice of my claim for damages. I
don't care about myself-but really
my brother is so little and it's for
him that I oh, there. I'm not 60
ing to talk about my troubles any
more. I think Mr.. Grayson had better
do my talking for me. 1 hate law and
courts and"
, , mot lawyers, I hope." put in
Horace quickly.
''They are a necessary evil answer
ed Kathleen evasively. Thank you
and goodbye
: The next evening, Horace Davidson
was having trouble about a button
which had disappeared from his over
coat.
Evelyn" he begged his married
sister, will you sew a button on my
overcoat if you happen to have any
thing at all that will match? %
such shiftlessnessl Where's your
I tailor? Take it up to the sewing
room, the proper place for such oper-
: ations You'll find some one there"
So Horace went up stairs and along
a hall to a remote corner of the great
house where he had vague idea the
sewing room was. An open door
: through which a light shone and the
faint whir of a machine We're his
guides. and he soon found himself
watching a girl, her head and Shout
ders bent over the machine, dark
island in pillows upon pillows of
} snowy white stuff
, Il beg your pardon" said Horace
The whir stopped and the girl look
ed around. 1t was Kathleen Lowell
She sprang up, instantly recognizing
him. Mr. Davidson! How you
} startled me- We are not used to men
: here. you see. Won't you sit down %
2 Thank you. Miss Lowell We seem
destined to meet in white acres, al