The Topeka state journal., 1916-11-25
EVENING STORY


ag inst the cool of the night, passed
like shadow from column to column
of the terrace, passed tall flower-filled
urns. fountain and statues glistening
white in the moonlight. At the top of
the broad steps that led down to the
ri er, she paused under a spread
ing tree.
Sounds of music came family from
the house, white and palatial with
lights in all of it's hundred windows.
1t stood against the black background
of the hill. and with the moon illum-
mating the beautiful valley and river
below, the whole scene Was magical.
"It is magic,'' the girl breathed,
land life is wonderful if we don't ruin
it, poor silly mortals that we are
She he-.tated, then started down the
steps, cautiously keeping in the shad-
ow of the high stone rail.
At the foot of the flight, boat
house snuggled against the slope and
beside it lay a yacht pointing seaward
like a great white bird ready for
flight. She remembered With relief
that the captain and crew We're in the
house, having share in the festlvltles
of the wedding rehearsal.
The groom was to arrive that e
ming and the bridal party was assem-
bled and guests were invited to re-
ceive the wonderful person of title
who was to wed the family fortune III
exchange for a cOrOnet.
She passed on, spurning launches
and motor boats OF various klnos, ano
chose a rOWbOat rocking gently Oh tAe
| easy swell of the water.
Gathering her skirts close, she got
| in and pulled a long, easy stroke up
the river Two miles away was ia
vorite haunt of hers, a flat, grassy
| dell where willows hung over a clear
| little stream that lost it's identity here
with the big river. Violets purpled 1t
| in the spring and under the trees grew
arbutus and trilliums.
The little boat swung into the haven
as she rested one oar, and slid IN uri-
der the willows. Moonlight filterinS
| thru the tiny leaves made wonder
| full Iacework of shadow on the water.
"It is fairyland." breathed the girl
softly. and the place caught the echo
and sent it back to her.
1T is heaveni" said the echo and,
10. the voice was masculinei
She looked around surprised, and
not displeased, for the voice had
thrilled her.
heaven is yet to come" she answered.
"Fairyland. then, and you are III
tania''
yes am Titania. And who are
you, mysterious stranger?
"Oberon! Didn't you guess %
Stupid of me, good king of the
fairiesl Won't you come outs where
1 can see you, or are you living up to
your promise never to meet me in the
moonlight %
1 forgot that Titania and Oberon were
| only invisible to each other when they
quarreled. But before 1 come out of
| my hiding place can you tell me any
thing of the whereabouts of PUCK,
| or Robin Goodfellow, as he is called,
who knows where the flower grows
called Love in Idleness?' would
commission him to lay some of its
magical juice on your eyelids so that
you would fall in love with the first
person you look upon
But 1 don't care to fall in love with
any one she laughed. II don't think
1 shall call you Oberon, either. He
was mischief maker, and led Titania
a terrible life. Remember how he put
| the ASS head on the clown and caused
her to fall in love with him?'
That isn't a fairy trait. It's very
human Many people love as they
are told-and marry also
An odd look crossed her face. Come
| out, kind stranger Be you Oberon,
Puck or the donkey-headed clown, 1
should like to see you," she coaxed.
Very well. Since you ask the ia
vor I'll come
And then the branches rustled and a
canoe slid out of the willows quite
close to her. The girl saw how erect
he sat and his strong, clear features.
| Susceptible to his smile and voice, she
felt her heart beating strangely. Her
answer was irrelevant. Isn't this a
truly wonderful night?''
1T is-because you are here,'
And aren't people foolish to stay
indoors?"
They are-when you are outside!"
And why do people have stupid
weddings?"
Because two people are in love!"
mo. Not always! Do you know.
I've just run away from a wedding,
or rather the preliminaries. The real
wedding is tomorrow"
He was instantly interested. You
don't say so! And who. pray, is the
| bride %
She told him.
"Ah. And you?' he asked. What
have you to do with it alp
IT. she said, II am in the bridal
party
'I am going to confess, too" he
added. "I am in the bridal party also"
What You!"
Yes. And drawn by the beauty of
the night I ran off just as you did.
We're both in the same boat
She laughed delightedly. My sin is
less heinous now she said. ''Since 1
| have company"
And we are not in the same boat.
either. are we?" he broke in. But 1
would like to be if you allow. We
could have little journey of our own
up this wonderful river
I'D love it," she said. ''And I'll
show you how substantial 1 am when
it tits She stood up and held out
her hand, and as he took it she sprang
lightly from one rocking boat to the
other and settled herself in the low
seat facing him.
i Where to?" he asked.
Lets go out on the river and"
Never come back?" he said impet-
uously.
Never come backi" she breathed.
A spell was over her-strong, real, en-
during. She wanted to drift on any
where, forever and always with this
| stranger who had taken her heart by
| storm.
Let US forget the world" he went
on earnestly Forget alliances made
by families whose allegiance to their
country would sacrifice love on the al