The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-09-29
EOening Story
ROmaHy Inn.
BY JANE OSBORN

BY JANE OSBORN
A high-powered but dusty automo-
bile slowed down on the main street
of the little village of Brompton. The
owner and driver deliberately removed
his goggles and halted the only citf-
zen who happened to be in sight, Bob
Thorold.
what sort of a place is it out there
on the turnpike? Can you get a
decent meal, hey?"
ION the turnpike?" queried Bob
Thorold. ITO tell you the truth.
didn't know there was a-decent place
lists usually go on to Burton"
The driver-owner consulted the
guide book that had been thrust at
him by one of the occupants of the
tonneau. White house at first turn
to right>on Romilly turnpike after
leaving Brompton,' he read slowly.
why, that would be the Ronilly
house. Are you sure that lis what the
book says"
Those are the words"
That's surprising" murmured
Thorold. 'It can't be right"
tonneau. II guess the young teller
hasn't woke up yet Look the place
over and if it looks o. K. we'll try"
And the man at the wheel obeyed,
leaving Bob Thorold still murmuring
that something must be wrong some
where.
Bob Thoroid. who kept up his an
cestral home in Brompton and spent
his vacations there. walked on and
presently encountered Mr.. Jenkins,
postmaster OF BFompton.
Funny thing" said Bob; st met
some people who spoke about having
meals at a white house at the first
turn to the right on RomiIly turnpike
after leaving Brompton. That's the
Romillys, isn't it?''
"Cartain sure" quoth the postmas-
ter. "Cartain sure. You've heard
how it's. han't you?"
''They haven't sold the place, have
they?" inquired Bob. ct thought Miss
Susan had vowed never to leave the
old place. she isn't dead, is she?"
Dead. nothing, The how and the
wherefore is. so folks say, that they've
lost their money-eyery burned cent
of 1t, and Miss Jane had to open up
the. place as a kind Of roadhouss for
motorists. Ought to make a good
thing out Of it, seems to me, being as
there's no other SIGH place ferea bouts
and the autos are as thick as spatter
along the turnpike. It's kinder too
bad, tho. losing all their pile. I ex-
poet it was fool investment. I'll tell
you. Mr.. Robert Thorold, what them
ladies need and needed a long time
ago was a good business man in the
family, Ell ?'
Bob Thorold was annoyed at the
postmastsr's rather faeetious left
handed allusion to the affair, now
ten years past. between Jane Romilly
and himself, but greater than his ans
noyance at this was his concern over
the loss of the Romilly fortune that
had made it necessary for Jane Rom
lily, proud daughter of the always
proud Romillys, to turn her house in
to roaGhouse and to spend her
strength supervising meals for motor
ists-rude, uncooth, parvenues,
thought Bob Thoreid, like the one he
had just encountered.
Bob ThoFold spent the afternoon in
long slow raInble thru the woods
around Brompten. He was not much
given to solitary ramblings and when
he did indulge in one it was when he
had mush thinking to do. Toward
the close of the afternoon he turned
his steps toward the Romilly turn
pike, down the first turn to the right
and up the pathway that led to the
imposing white house built by the
Romillys four generations ago, The
door stood open and the screen was
unlocked. Within he could see that
small tables had been arranged in the
front and back drawing rooms-ten
or fifteen in all, OF these five were
occupied-five cars were parked in
the spacious driveway that circled
around the house.
a small table. Presently a white clad
waitress approached him with a list
of dishes offered for that days din
ner. Bob took it with a queer thrill
it was Enthusiastically written by
Jane Remilly. The solitary meal fol-
lowed, but Jane Ronilly did not APP
pear. After it was over Bob offered
his card TO the maid, and asked her
to take 1t to Miss Romilly. He
wished to- see her.
The answer was that Miss Romilly
would see him in the old dining room
across the hall She never appeared
before the regular diners, said the
| maid and her aunt remained in her
room.l This, thought Bob, was quite
in keeping with the proud spirit OF
the Romillys even in the hour of their
misfortune.
Jane was alone in the old dining
room, and she rose from her desk at
one side of the room and came swiftly
to him with outstretched hand.
How amazingly well you are look
ing" Bob could not refrain from say
Eyes" laughed Jane. 'The work
seems to agree with me. doesn't it?''
But why didn't you tell me?
might have helped you. You know
once got you to promise that if you
ever heeded help you'Q forget old
prejudices and send for me-"
ooh, but it was too late by the time
found out" said Jane quite cheer
fully. 1.-The harm was done and the
only thing I could do was to face the
music, Besides, it's been a wonderful
experience. Aunt is very feeble, now.
She keeps to her room with her at
tendant and really doesn't know. And
the work and the people keep me from
loneliness. 1 really don't know how IL
will all end"
Bob Thorold shuddered. 1t was out
rageous to think of Jane Romilly
spending the years Of her life feeding
hungry motorists.
He sat beside her in the dusk and
while she talked cheerfully0 of the
weather and garden crops, Bob sat
with his head bowed.
Don't talk about such things" he
burst out. Jane, Jane-if this had