The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-08-13
EVENING STORY
A Pnbiic-spirited citizen.
1By Helen Hedley.)

chorus of Nobody" answered him
crescendo, and ending in a sort of
groan.
Why on earth Emmett began.
! Lois, the eldest Ashton, took the word
from his lips, saying: Just what we
want to know-and can't find out. II
| is this way-dad says we shan't. and
there's an end OF it. Not the least lit
tie smidge of a reason why"
| Upon my word Emmett CALCULATED
then wheeling upon En-, the young
+, est of the trio, withal the wickedest
flirt Confess, miss. What have you
; been doing to make perfectly good
father act up this way
| Nothing at all. I've had no chance
| whatever" EN- pouted, but with the
ghost of a dimple playing about her
lips. Been over at Grandpa Beams
which is next thing to solitary confine-
ment. So lonesome I'd almost have
/ had heart failure even over you"
| Even me, Ingratitude, thy name
| is En- Ashton" Emmett cried, laying
! a hand distractedly to his forehead.
staid middle sister. Lois gasped be-
tween giggles: But l really believe
you're on the right trail, Emmett
| dad looks at En- so speculatively-as
| tho saying: What next?'"
| En- giggled harder than anybody.
why dad, usually the most tractable
of parents, was indeed acting up. The
why was man-as is usual in case
of a stern father and a distra ctingly
pretty girl. Squire Ashton disapproved
| of Barton Clay wholly-from the
| crown OF his handsome head to the
soles of his aristocratic feet. Add
| that the fair was, in effect, Barton
Clay-he was president of the associ-
alton, chief exhibitor and giver of
more than half the prizes-and the
mystery ceases to be mysterious For
at q, Clay was discredited with
plentiful crop OF wild oats, and had
been undeniably the principal in sew
eral love aHairS more less torrid.
one had even gone the length of
preach OF promise case-it had been
settled out of court by fond and for
giving mother. Barton had been for
hghting it to the end. Mrs. Clay had
Tor once withstood him and robbed
her neiShbors of much choice gossip
Odd, the way folk go scathless
meeting and parting all the days of
their lives, when all at once the hour
strikes for them and the mischief is
done 1t fell so with Barton and En-
ne mad known her ever since she was
born, but had hardly noticed her ex-
1stence betwixt the era of pistails
/ which he had delighted to tweak, and
the harvest dance less than six weeks
back. Then and there something
woke, passed from one to the other
thralled and bound them, but so quiet
ly that only three were conscious of
| 1.-THE pair themselves and Ennis
dragon-father who was truly dragon-
| wise with regard to his mother .ess
girls. Barton Clay was a great catch
so great, 1t was inconceiva BILE he mca mt
more than trifling with EN- country
bred and hardly more than child.
, Trifle he should not, vowed the squire.
: Hence Ems sequestration, hence also
the ban upon going to the fair.
, My respected uncle will surely get
/ MS come-uppance. 1 him now
with three old maids to torment his
extreme age Emmett commented
loftiiy. Betty amazed all by vigor-
; Gus head-shake and said: Make it
two, please: I'm going to marry--if
l have to propose myself, get the
| license and pay the parson.''
Betsy, L didn't know you could be
= so desperate" Emmett cried, trying to
pinch her cheek. "But cheer ut--if
the worst comes, I'll look you up a
susceptible widower-one so new in
, grief he don't know enough to run
away"
No need. 1 can always take YOU
at a pinch" Betty retorted-which
made Emmett blush beet-red and set
J the others laughing harder. Lois
and shook her head. saying: Betsy
may have you and welcome
EN-, how about you?" Emmett de-
: manded- She giggled again. Meth
ing doing" she said saucily "Ism.
Emmett; we'd get ourselves SO mixed
up we couldn't tell who to scold or
swear at, or aggravate. And reilly.
we are as much alike as our names"
No such thing. You flatter YOUR
, self wildly" Emmett returned. stick
ing out his chin. EN- looked at him
with a sly twinkle, saying plaintively:
wish l could believe you. Somebody
told me my only fault, ali that him
dered my being perfect, was my like
ness to you.''
, Name, I'll shoot the sooundrel
man, of course" Emmett cried. En-
, nodded. saying with shrewd laugh
"A real man-best looking one in the
county"
which his name it is Barton Clay
now | see all things" Emmett half
! chanted. "And the uncle of me is
! right to keep his flock of ewe-lam tJs
4 away from the wolf in sleeps cloth
ing
Cant you say anything else? That
Is worn so thin. Besides, al the wick
, ed wolf-men and the good stupid 9TH
ers wear sleeps clothing The differ
ence is some of it is in broadcloth or
, English tweeds and some other part
in homespun.". En- countered The
battle of wits ragged that those en-
gagged had no ears or eyes for any
, thing outside. Therefore a red car
halted at the portico steps, the hall
door yielded to impatient hand
, which had found knocking vain and
then Barton Clay was among them
nodding to the others. bit holding
Ems hands as tho he could not let
them go. and looking dow. INTO her
eyes What he read there glorified
his face With a soft .augh, hall
, blissful. half defiant. he bent and
kissed her, then gathered her in his
arms. Bear witness. I'm no kidnap-
per. / take my own from her fathers
house in the face of daylight and un-
der the eyes of her. family" he said
proudly-then to En-: You got my
note? Are you ready to so without
: waiting for the fair2
/ m ready, but I don't know any
, | thing about ANY mt E,r1a a nsruare1