The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-05-30
-Euening Story
Where Washington Stopped.
BY JANE OSBORN.


Jones. She wore some sort OF cool.
crisp pink frock that first attracted
the eye of Robert Dawes as he mo-
tored slowly along Cedar street In
search of sights to see-
Then he noticed that the house
seemed very old He stopped his aged
roadster and stood before LYDIA Jones
LYDIA knew in minute that he was a
college student Sand at sixteen Lyda
dreamed of nothing more thrilling
than to be noticed by a student. He
made it clear, however, that it was
the house that had attracted him.
EXCUSE me-" he said. but I'm
looking over the land for a. new line
of sightseeing buses. I'm to be the
speeler for this route. The idea is to
go out - the battle grounds beyond
and We want to find some points OF
interest to make the passengers think
they are getting their moneys worth
on the way. I heard that there was
house along here somewhere that
was once the headquarters OF WASH
ington or lafayette or some one 1t
may be on the next road. But this
house looks as if it was colonial This
road is much better than the one be-
yond so I'd like to come down this
way You don't happen to know if
Washington ever did stop at this
house, or Lafayette or any one?"
LYDIA was fascinated with the way
the young man spoke. His speech
was decidedly more cultivated than
that of Aunt Chloe Jones or any of
her neighbors that formed the world
in which LYDIA Jones lived AS speeler
of the new line Of sightseeing buses
the young stranger would perhaps
pass by her house two or three times
a week. If he decided that it was not
worth while perhaps she would never
see him again. She did not answer
his question directly.
IF it is the house-if some one in
teresting did once stay here, you'd
come by often-two or three times a
week." she-said.
yes" and Robert Dawes found
himself looking intently into the puz-
cling depths of Lyda's blue eyes II
am student, but I shall have time
to take the tour two or three after
they will need to run it. They have
sent me out now to work UP the in
formation for my lecture"
Il see,'' said LYDIA. slowly, and. she.
too, was surprised and ashamed of her
self when she realized how intently
she was studying the shadowy depths
of the young mans gray eyes ''Well.
I think this is the house, wouldn't
be at all surprised if it was. 1t GER
tainly looks like that sort of house,
doesn't it? You never saw such sag
ging floors or such crooked windows.
and my. how the hinges creek! Yes,
think-Im almost certain that
Washington and Lafayette and-and
and Paul Revere and lots of other
people used to stop here quite often.
In fact, know the room where Paul
Revere used to Sleep LYDIA Jones
paused to see how the stranger was
taking her story She did not explain
that old Aunt Chloe had once had a
dog named Paul Revere who used to
take long Winters maps in the back
parlor. Now you'll come by, won't
you?"
And that is how it happened that
whenever the sightseeing BUSES went
out to the famous battle-ground they
made turn up Cedar street and
stopped for a full two or three minutes
to gaze upon the dilapidated old house
where Lafayette and Washington had
once stopped to talk to Paul Revere.
That is the tradition" Robert Dawes
would add, and there was sure to be
some one in the party to rave over the
adorable carved doorway or the
quaint little dormer windows" and
quite often some one of the passengers
would say, What a pretty girl that is
out there sweeping the porch"
1t did not take Aunt Chloe Jones
long to observe that the sightseeing
bus always stopped before her door.
You might think this was Bunker
Hill monument or Old South church
or something to see the way that bus
sakes is there to rubber at? I'm going
to step out and tell that impertinent
looking young man to move on some
one of these days
LYDIA
What do you know about him ?"
back the indignant aunt. And
LYDIA said something about Simply
he looked like one as a matter
OF eh-defense. A few days later
Chole had more to say. on the same
subject.
do you know what that young
vhippersnapper says about this
house?'' she demanded. at heard down
that had been on the ride, and she said
that that young fellow said that this
house had been Washington's head
quarters, or something like that. Such
impudence. It's old enough, dare say,
but guess none of the Joneses would
have wanted to let a lot of common
soldiers into their house, giving them
selves a lot of notoriety like any COM
mon folk
Aunt Chloe sputtered from time to
time and made remarks about the i'm
pertinent young man who 1ectured on
the sightseeing bus, but she was un-
successful In keeping her pretty niece
from appearing three times in the
week in front of the house when the
BUS stopped Always the impertinent
young man lifted his hat politely when |
he saw her. Once in a while when !
Aunt Chloe wasn't home LYDIA ac- |
,epted the young mans invitation to |
get into the car and ride as far as the |
and back It was only |
4 matter of half an hour. And tho |
Robert Dawes had to go on with his /
lecture and had little time to speak to /
the pretty girl beside him in the bus. /
It was quite plain that these two young /
folk were very happy to be in each !!
others company One rainy day when |
here were no passengers for the sight /
seeing ride. Robert Dawes. dispensing |
with the chauffeur, ran the big bus out /
lust the same
ran out of the house calling to Aunt /
Chloe that she would be back before 1
ong Then the two. LYDIA and Robert |
Dawes, rode on together to the old /
battle ground
As soon as they were out of sight /