The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-08-22

cost at wholesale That smaller one
could go at fifty. I'll give. you the LOT
for $500"
Mrs Mapes tried to conceal the look
that must have indicated her despair
even at the thought of possessing that
much ready money. Then the inspira-
ton flashed thru her mind She gave
a startled look at her daughter-Lida
was seventeen then and just beginning
to exercise the elder daughters priv
ilege of disa approving of maternal rash
ness. Mrs. Mapes put Lida's hand in
hers as if thus to suppress any objec-
ton that the daughter might feel.
4 can't afford 10 pay you that
money for them she said. But feel
that 1 must have those rugs. How
would this scheme strike you? We.
have a large house here and we are
near the campus. l could take you in
and give you board and lodging for
two years in payment. You could eat
out the price of the rugs"
Ida was not able to suppress lit
tie gasp of surprise, and then, so far
plan, she clapped her hands with glee
at the prospect. She, too. had am
billions toward an Oriental-rugged
abode
Dustin was embarrassed, especially
because he knew that the golden
haired, blue-eyed girl was watching
him intently. He hated to- reject the
offer.
Il am afraid that wouldn't go very
far" he said, however. II had hoped
to make enough on these rugs to put
me thru college. You see, they were
left to me by my grandmother, who
who was missionary in-in Algeria
My grandmother was a missionary.
| too, cried Ida, again clasping her
hands, but this enthusiasm did not put
Dustin much more at his ease
Your offer is very kind, but 1 am
afraid
Mrs. Mapes. with her glasses on,
was inspecting the threads of the re-
weave suited her. well, then, make
it board and lodging for four years
Y ou can do little around the house
and garden to make up the differ
ence. and there will be chores to do
for the neighbors to pay for your
books and incidentaIs / am sure YOU
can get scholarship for your tuition
| And before giving the poor student
time to accept or reject this offer
Mrs Mapes was dragging the rugs
thru the long French windows that
opened between the veranda and the
drawing room of her old-fashioned
! house
So Dustin Lorrey went to board
with the Mapeses and SO the romance
! that was inevitable began between
Dustin and Ida. Ida was just the
sort of blue-eyed. golden haired lassie
that might have been a college-town
| belle, between the ages of seventeen
and twenty-three or So had it not
been for Dustin. But before year
| had passed she was never seen at a
college dance or game with any other
! student than Dustin. However, even
! Mrs. Mapes never heard of an en-
gagement between them, and when
Dustin became a senior with the flight
] of four years and other students were
1 emboldened to announce their engage
mepts to this pretty town girl or the
| other, Dustin and Ida had no an
nOuncement to make.
Then after commencement Dustin
went away, and then passed those two
years in which Mrs. Mapes had moth
! ing to show for her interest in the
poor student but the two Bokharas
and the Royal Baluchistan. Ida never
went to college events after that but
| If she ever heard from Dustin, who
/ had obviously won her heart it was
\ not by way. of the mail that came to
/ her mothers front door Perhaps
there were. other ways of receivin g
messages from the man, who had, ap-
parently to Jamestown gossips, de-
serted her. But if there were no one
! knew of it in jamestown but Ida
! Strangely enough, on that other day
in another August, Ida and her
! mother were again stringing beans for
dinner. Only Ida this time was TWEEN
/ ty-three and Mrs. Mapes had grown
, so used to owning oriental rugs that
!
those of her neighbors who possessed
none of their own. 1t was this feel
! ing. rather than any actual joy in her
own possession, that seemed t. recon-
pense her for her kindness TO the
! thankless student whom she had
! taken in.
| Mrs. Mapes had just gone in the
/ house with the beans amS Ida sat
| listlessly looking out thru the poplar
lined driveway. Perhaps she was
when she had first seen Dustin; per
haps she was actually expecting what
i soon happened. Thu man who pres
emily came up the driveway was the
same Dustin Lorley, but he certainly
had none of the stoop that he had had
on the other occasion. He was as
/ straight as an arrow and walked with
the sure, quick step that filled Ida S
heart with the assurance that the two
years of waiting had all been worth
| while.
She greeted him with outstretched
hands and they spoke in low mono
syllables.>
ITS all right then. at last?" she
whispered.
yes, it is better than had hoped.
I've got the job-$4.000 a year to start
with, and I have s400 in he bank. I
wouldn't come till j mad every cent OF
that Where's your mother? 1 want
to tell her right away.
And just then Mrs Mapes returned
with complaint on her lips.
/ 'Lida. why on earth don't you come
4 in and help
Then the words dropped on her lips
and she started back as sac saw Dus-
tin before her.
We'll, Dustin Lorrey. Its about
! time you come back she. said.
Yes. just time" he agreed. "A
week sooner would have been toe
soon. But I'm ready now, and I'm
going to make a confession. Ida
I knows it. You'll have to forgive us
for having kept our secret
Then before continuing Dustin in
duced Mrs. Mapes to be seated and he
drew a chair for himself and Ida
near to her.
i Sra.t Z b