The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-09-27
-Eoening Story
When the Owl HoOts.


Lucille, don't you think this affair
with young Hazard has gone far
enough-in fact. too far?"
Lucile's rather pert face took on a
resentful, naughty expression.
NO, it HASN'T" she snapped, and
then modified her tone, for she was
addressing her father, apd Lucille had
not been brought up to snap at her
father Don't you understand. father,
that I care for Billy Hazard more than
anybody else in the whole world-sx-
cept- YOURSELF"
The lines of her fathers face-not
deep lines. but distinctly visible ones
gathered themselves into stern look.
Il have told you repeatedly" he
said, that I want the affair to end.
have no use for Billy or any of his
family. 1 repeat once more, ! want
this affair to end"
Lucille without replying. flounced
from thes,house. She was biting her
tears welled in her attractive gray
eyes. She followed a path into the
woods at the back of her home. and
when she was safe In the sanctuary of
the foliage the tears burst forth.
"All right, all right" she sobbed.
1.-THE affair will end-but not the way
you want it to. Just wait-wait till I
tell Billy, and that's going to be soon"
She continued on the path, wiping
away the tears with a handkerchief.
and presently came to a clearing,
where a bench stretched between two
trees. A young man. who at first
glance possessed Il very youthful face
but grew older as you looked at it.
was seated on the bench, in waiting
attitude.
Billy" cried Lucille, and he stood
up smiling: but the smile vanished
when he saw she had been crying.
whats the matter?" he asked
solicitouslly, and passed an arm around
her waist and led her to the bench,
where once more the floodgates were
broken down and with her head. on
Billy'e shoulder she cried without re-
straint.
ITS father" she said. finally gain
ing composure- Il just had a set-to
keep up this affair with you, as he
calls it. What'lI we>do?"
Billy looked ferocious.
81 just had the same experience
with mother" he said. She told me
father; does she. Lucile?"
Isn't it hard" observed Lucille.
"that just when we have come to
think so much of each other our par
ents should object? When we didn't
married they used to encourage us to
care. Isn't that the way things go.
tho? Parents are so unreasonable and
hard to manage. But what"l we do?"
eS, II nara, ne agreed Win an
air of resignation, which, however,
changed quickly to one of determine
ton. ''Wha'H we do. did you say?
I'll tell you what wen do"
His eyes were blazing.
It'll tell you what we'll do and
gradually his voice sank to a whis-
per. while he looked around the glen
as tho expecting to discern spies peep
ing from behind trees ''IH tell you
what we'll do. Well elope. that's
what"
Her eyes grew big.
'Lsten.' he went on. ITS all ar
ranged for me to go to Cincinnati to-
morrow night. You know that. have
a good job in an insurance office
there. What we'l1 do is leave tonight.
both of US Well get Seth Hanley to
drive US to,Teachout in his flivver, and
there we'll wake up some parson and
get married, and catch the train for
Cincinnati. Wen bring the affair to
an end. that's what
The startled expression on Lucile's
face had subsidized and one of enthusi-
asm had taken its place.
IAN right. it's 60" she said, then
never pass fathers room at night
without waking him."
Leave it to me-" he retorted con-
ddently. you be ready. and when
you hear an owl boot twice look out
your window. Just leave the details
to me-"
1t was u dark night
With stea1thy step a slim figure
slipped from the woods into the back
yard and looked about A twig
snapped and the figure started. then
stood uotionless- Presently it laughed
softly.
could things be more convenient7"