The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-09-27

Leone is a great little girl. When
Will she be here?"
This evening at if it's convenient,
she says. We must wire her at once
to come right along"
Sure" said George. laying aside his
napkin and rising. III telephone the
message in now
Leone is the dearest of girls" said
Betty to Robert. SO breezy and
charming to have about. We're quite
crazy about her.
Robert refrained from putting into
words his dispieasure at the prospect
or feminine guest described as
breezy. but he did not wholly conceal
that displeasure from obseryant Betty.
whose dark eyes were serious when
she babe her husband goodby at the
side porch a little later
Dear, I'm afraid Bob isn't going to
take bit kindly to Leone" she wills
pered,
Just wait until he's had a week
of her society; it's just what he needs
most" said George reassuringly.
That evening when Robert was I'M
willingly dressing for dinner he heard
voices and laughter in the lower hall
which told him that George and Betty
were welcoming their guest The many
peals or laughter particularly irrita I ed
him. There was no reason whv he
should monopolize all guest privileges
OF that household. and he knew if
yet he resented the advent of this
other guest, whom he mentally termed
representative OF the frivolous type.
Hair an hour later, he went down
stairs ha1tingly and was relieved upon
entering the drawing room to find it
free OF the presence of any frivolous
one. Thru the open French window
that LED to the porch he felt the milo
q
the moon thru the trees Betty and
George were C ming down the stairs
and when Robert heard Betty softly
Gaining her guest, he was seized with
desire to delay his Introduction to
tnat guest as long as possible.
In quick strides he made for the
French window that stood open.
glancing back over his shoulder to
make sure that his flight was not
observed The next instant, a dizzy
sense or disaster struck him as he
colllded forcibly with some one who
was trying to enter the window The
some one was small and wore a white
gown, and she chung to his shoulders
10 keep the sudden contact from
throwing her backward One won
orously sort hand touched his face for
an instant and he was pleasantly con-
scfous of very faint perfume In
the same instant that all this ham
pened. Robert realized that he was
Summing PLAINLY in view of George and
Betty when they should reach the
drawing room door. In desperation
ne put an arm around the frivolous
one and swung her gently around so
that both of them were out of the
light from the open window.
m terribly sorry" he Whispered.
Didn't know you were here" He felt
convulsive gigSle shaking the girl
and realized that his arm was still
about her. His arm dropped Instantly
and ne backed away. The girl ad-
vanced very near to him and lifted a
face that was pretty even in the
darkness.
Don't be so scared" she said. in
dramatic whisper. IT won't tell
Then the little whitehead figure van
ished thru the window into the draw
ing room and Robert stood there try
ing TO realize that he was sharing a
secret with girl whose coming he
had resented. But not until he met
their guest little later in the bright
ly lighted dining-room did he begin
to realize that he was more pleased
than provoked at having such a secret
| to share with her
My brother" said George, in his
/ hearty way. as the dinner progressed.
l"has nothing to do just now but to be