The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-05-18
EVENING STORY
The End of the Tradition.
BY VINCENT G. PERRY.

the seventh generatlOH anu sue AoA
made up her mind that she was going
to get married, but apparently Aunt
Priscilla, with whom she lived, nao
made up her mind that Harriet
wasn't That was how it seemed to
Harriet, anyway. for Aunt Priscilia
had put a ban on young men visitors,
and the only one who had ever dared
to break that ban had been threatened
with arrest if he ever came within
half mile of the Winchester nome
stead Arrest had no fears Tor Bev-
erly Porteous. tho. and there was
hardly a week that he didn't manage
to have at least two or three meetings
with Harriet.
There is nothing else for it. Har-
riet; we'll have to efope," he told her
one day after he had spent most of
the clandestine visit making friends
with a supposed-to-be vicious oog
that Aunt Priscilla had purchased for
a further precaution.
pie that eIope," Harried said mourn
fully. Just look what happened to
the girl in that movie we saw.
But she eloped with the villain-a
man who didn't love her." Beverly ar
gued. Those things only happen in
movies
Harriet was convinced at last. '1
hate to elope like thief in the night"
she said. What If the dog should bite
your"
I'VE won't elope in the night" he
replied. People that elope in the
night have automobiles. We won't be
able to get a car for a few years yet.
but I've got enough to furnish nice
little home. My income is steady and
I'll be promoted to manager next. The
bank gives me an extra allowance
when I get married"
1t sounded aliuring to Harriet They
had just completed their plans when
Aunt Priscilla came on the scene.
They thought at first that she had
overheard them, but If she had she did
not say so. In fact, she said hardly
anything. She pointed to the gate and
made a motion to secure rake ham
die that was handy. Bev. wasn't going
to risk being struck and not be able to
strike back, SO he beat a retreat. He
didn't even stop to tell her what he
best unsaid.
After that it was harder than ever
| to get an opportunity to see one an
other, but when the day arrived for
the planned elopement good luck sent
Aunt Priscilla to bed with headache.
and Harriet was able to steal out with
her suitcase. Bev. was waiting for
her at the bank. She left her suit
case there and they hurried to the
minister's
II am sorry,' the minister apollo
gized, when Bev. displayed the Ii
cense, but Miss Priscilla Winchester
has warned me never to marry her
niece, unless with her consent. Miss
| Winchester is one of the main sup
porters of my church. so fear must
refuse to marry you until I gain the
lady's consent"
| Harriet burst into tears. but Bev.
only muttered: Hang Aunt Pr1sc1tta!
| | 1 show her!"
| There was only the one minister in
the village, but there was Justice of
the peace who could perform the cere-
| mony. He lived at the outskirts, but
| after they got started the walk didn't
seem to be long one.
II feel that something dreadful is
going to happen" Harriet said dole
| fully as they walked along. What If
som ebody sees us?"
! Something dreadful is going to
| happen to your aunt if she puts any
more obstacles in our way. I'll never
allow her to enter my home.
But she's my aunt Harriet said
Loyalty. I'VE must have her. Just
think of how good she has been to me
all my life
| "Oh, she's been grand to you.' came
sarcastically from Bev.
Harriet stopped still on the side
walk. I'll not go another step unless
1 y
toward aunt she said. "She thinks
| she is doing everything for my own
| good She feels that it would end
| what has become a family tradition II
1 should marry. Perhaps she was pre-
vented from being married in the same
way
| IF she had been she wouldn't act
this way with you. Who would have
married her? Come back here!
! Where are you gofng? Harriet nad
turned back.
"Im going back to my aunt" she
| called back over her shoulder.
.She can visit u.s." Bev pleaded.
Harriet joined him again, Modified.
i Their hearts beat rapidly while they
waited for the door to be opened in
| answer to their ring at the Justices
Hes on fishing expedition and
/ won't be back until tomorrow, his
! wife answered to their inquiry.
After she had closed the door on
What shall we do?" Harriet asked
chokingly.
i Postpone it until tomorrow"
Aunt will be sure to find out The
| minister will tell her, or she'll have
missed me and my clothes"
| They were doleful couple that
started on the homeward journey.
They couldn't figure out what was the
best thing to do. A big touring car
with no one IN IL. DuI the cHduhicuT
came around a bend toward them.
Struck with a sudden thought. Bev
hailed the driver.
Take us to the city?" Bev request
ed 81 don't care what it costs"
| Jump in." the chauffeur said !;
that's where I'm making for. Well
be there in thirty minutes"
Il An hour later Mr.. and Mrs. Beverly
Porteous left the rectory of promi-
nent city church, the happiest couple
in the world. The chauffeur was wait
ing for them with his car at the curb.
1 I'll take you back home now" he
said But first, here is letter that
L think belongs to you" He handed