The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-11-18
EVENING STORY
A Jewels Setting.
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An unwonted stir and hustle trans
formed the Champion place. And the
| stirriest and. most busting individual
Whereabouts was a little, seamy-Iaceo'
DANGEROUSLY laved. older son OF the SOIL.
| Ole Hen Champion.
cole Hen had a new dignity today.
His daughter, Jennie, prospective OLD
maid, had upset all the railbirds dope
and annexed unto herself rance
soon to be led to the altar Now, In
1 the light of the setting sun, appeared
1 over the crest of the hill the vanguard
! of the wedding guests. Automobiles,
buegtes, surveys, carry-alls and fresh
lily secured produce wagons, burdened
with the neighboring yeomanry ana
yeowomanry of the countryside. hove
into view in stately procession. and
hole Hen, transformed in a new sun
day-go-to-meeting, rushed forward.
with horny hands outstretched, to
greet his guests.
"Great afternoon for tn weddin',
"How's Jen?" 4
| Ole Hen, with a proud smile and
! satisfied smirk, vouchsafed the assur-
ance to all that Jen was fit as fid-
die"
4 The porch was already crowded
with a motley assemblage of chatty
SWANS and their beribboned sweet
! hearts, all save one engaged in gen.
eral chatter on matters of common in
terest. That one. who held -slightly
taloof from the rest, appearing, i'll at
I ease, was becomingly attired in a Palm
Beach suit. immaculate white shoes
land dazzling silk tie. giving him the
Il appearance of "city feller." which
he actually was.
Unable longer to stand their mixed
glances of curiosity and envy, he rose
from a rocker. yawned and sailed
forth on the lawn.
He took heart as Joe Ruggles. sta
ton agent down in the valley. rushed
shake and inquired solicitously as to
his folks
They're all WELL" he answered po-
litely, and then. grasping the others
arms, he pointed to a nearby group.
"Who-who's that girl. Mr.. Ruggles? ?"
Ruggles looked and turned reprov-
ingly to the inquirer.
. "Why, Dick Todd, don't We remem-
Der her? That's littls Marian Skill
man"
Dick whistled and stared at the girl
Dressed in simple blue frock, her
splendid, graceful figure. outlined
against the fresh green of the trees
and grass, presented a picture of ex-
Quisite charm and beauty. She seemed
. to sense his stare, for she turned two
din1pled cheeks, fair as the dawn, and
two brown eyes. alight with dancing
. fire. full upon him and then ran up
. to him.
I "Dick!" she cried. delightedly. and
then, for some unaccountable reason,
she checked herself. The same feeling
of restraint that marked the others at
titude toward him came over her, and
he noted the change in her tone, with
disappointment, as she added. what
brought you down from the city,"
| THE wedding" he answered, with a
grave smile, still holding her soft white
hand. II couldn't miss it. And
then, too. I was hungry for a sight OF
years. IS
: They stood and chaAted until move
ment aon the porch claimed their atten-
ton, and crying They're all ready
she fitted away and left him alone
| I Twenty minutes later. Dick, still
feeling lonesome detached himself
from the group about the newly-weds
and sought out Marian. As ever theiI
leader, he found her. now among 8
group of the younger folk. Introduc.
tons followed. and then he managed
to draw her away from the crowd
sensing their resentment as he did so
Down the hill they trudged. in alb.
stract silence. until they came to the
Champion and Sl1illman farms, where
six years before. he had awkward,
held her hand and said "good-by.'
Time and city life had wrought grea
changes in him since, but, as she sa
e herself, with grace, on the handker
chief he had spread for her on tn,
e grass. she still seemed the same littl,
Marian, whose tousled black name h,
had once pulled-more mature. mor'
3 beautiful-but the same Marian
carelessly over a big bowlder. h.
o caught the indefinable look in he
eyes he had noted at her first greet
: ing. With characteristic frankness. h.
: came right to the point. 49,
Whats the matter with me, Mar
!, ian?" he demanded, and she started
- ''Why-nothing, Dick" she STAN
= mered. guiltily.
Yes. there's something wrong" h
passer. You all make me feel it,"
I Dick" she demonstrated, gently.
| II mean it," he insisted, stubbornly
] Il don't seem to fit in. It's becaus
I'm from the city. I suppose" H
- paused. Tiff you people came>t
town, we'd treat you better than that.
"Dick. please don't quarrel sh
" begged him.
"rhen I'll quarrel on another sub
," ject," he retorted with a smile. "Yo1
told me you were coming to the cit
once to study music. Why didn'
your"
For two reasons" she answered
zone was the conditions home. Sine
mother died Dads been leaning on me
couldn't bear to leave him alone.
She wistfuIly pulled up several blade
of grass And. besides, 1. like you
would not fit in-in the city
Nonsense" he exclaimed. impa
tiently, then he patted her hand reas
suringly. They'd love you in the city
See here, Marian, / want you to visi
us for month. Your father coul
get along without you that long, an
a my mother Would be delighted to hav
q you. And I want you to meet m
=; friends. As for myself" leaning close
~ to her. II want you too. You've al
at want 70 have vo,, in the citx 70 CO..,
II pare you with our girls there. 1 kno'
!, n you'll fit in-there can be no doubt G
m that"
-. She shook her head, and a long ar
llI gument ensued. but in the end, as b