The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-04

rough-hewn rocks from the neighbor-
hood around the spring SO that thirsty
folks might always quench their thirst
there. And there should be q drain
so that the water when it ran off
should not make a bed of mud around
the spring. Mr.. Pell may have had
some questions concerning this, but
he agreed, and. within few days he
and Lucy were meeting occasionally
in secluded woodland path to dis
cuss designs for the fountain and to
plan the presentation. And all the
time Lucy had visions of the big
writeup it was going to make for the
Sentinel and the surprise that peo-
pie would feel when they learned
Aabout it. And Francis Pell-well, he
stilI watched the eager working of
Luey's lips and the color as 1t game
quickly when she became especially
interested in the plans under way, and
sometimes he laughed at her, too, but
she had ceased to be nettled by that.
The eve of the day when the an
nouncemept OF the plans was to be
made came at last and Lucy had the
first big story ready to send to the
little Sentinel press. There was even
to be cut showing the design for
the fountain. And it had all been kept
secret between Mr.. Pell and Lucy,
tho people were beginning to won
der why there had been surveyors
and workmen on the old picnic
grounds OF late.
The Sentinel was just going to
press and Lucy was putting the last
flourishes on the great annoupcement
in the dingy little office long after
other good Pelltonites had retired for
the night. The owner-editor, an err
rand boy, the other reporter and a
handful of compositors and pressmen
constituted the entire staff. and they
were too preoccupied with their tasks
to notice the figure of Francis Pell
as it passed quickly across the floor
to Lucy's desk. He sat down be-
copy she was still working on. There
| is a hitch in our plans. l can't tell
| you now. But trust me. You mustn't
make the announcement now" Then
| he went on telling Lucy he would
| wait for her outside the little office
and tell her more as he escorted her
home as soon as she had finished her
work.
TITS this way" he began. Men
| from the water department have been
| feeling around lately. and today I got
a notice from headquarters. That
| spring isn't a spring at all. It's a leak
from the main. That water is just
the same water every one has piped
into their houses, and now they send
me formal word that in future I'll
it at regular rates. don't mind pay
| ing the few hundred dollars it would
| cost a year, but no one would care
about the fountain if it was plain city
water, and they'll like to have the
| joke on the old miser. So we'll have
to think of something else to do
They walked along in silence for a few
minutes, Lucy's pretty lips working
| overtime trying to hold back the tears
of disappointment. TWO or three times
Mr.. Pell tried to begin his next speech
before he succeeded.
/ hi MI inc he y sHv, 60
I've thought it for a long time-eyer
since a little while after you came to
me that first tme-that 1 couldn't
give the Pelltonites and the boys at
the front from Petition much more OF
a surprise than to get married. That
would be real piece of news, would
mt it?" -
| "Yes-but," and the lips worked
overtime, ct didn't know there was
any one you" Lucy couldn't get
any further.
There's you," said Mr.. Pell simply.
How'd that be for starting SOME
thing? We GOULD run off and be mar
| ried, and then when we come back
/ we can do the other things, the curb
around the town hall and the drink
ing fountain for stray dogs and cats
and the. picnic ground and anything
else you say"
Lucy's mind failed to revo1ve
around the interests of the Petition
Sentinel" and when she said that ii
would be perfectly wonderfuI' She
| was thinking only of her own selfish
| point of vieW