The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-09
EDening Story
MabePs Trust.
BY NJ. McCUE.oCH-wILLi

By M. McCOL8zOCH-W ilIlSlAMa
Come. Tommy Tucker, sing for
your supper = breakfast, rather"
Mabel said, leaning from her open
window to throw a handful of flies,
freshly swatted, upon *he window
ledge lower down. Tommy Tucker,
being a mocker, in full flood of May
morning song, yet needed her call,
/ came to the ledge, gobbled a fly or so,
, then filled his beak and flew away
to his mate brooding precious eggs
in the honesuckle arbor beyond the
garden gate
He knew Mabel for a friend. Now
| for three years he had had the free
dom of the Weir place. and the pro-
lection of its human occupants Cats
were taboo there-Snip, the alert black
and tan terrier, accounted for any rat
| bold enough to intrude- Snip was as
friendly as his owners-even If a nest
| ling fluttered prematurely from the
nest, he merely watched them gravely.
never offering them harm. Mabel hu-
mored the birds shamefully, not
grudging them the first and best
strawberries, nor forgetting treats OF
hardboiled eggyolk when the babies
were very new. Liberal. too, in the
matter of crumbs and snippets of fat.
Indeed, il is rather a wonder that the
Knockers did not come to depend
wholly upon her largesse.
In return for it she had floods Of
silver melody turnout the day. Aunt
Persis grumb1ed sourly-the bird she
was sure gave her bad dreams-she
never had them except when he was
so loud. But Mabel only laughed at
her-aS she laughed at everything
now that she was SO happy. Joy had
come with spring mornings after
dreary winter of waiting, of agoniZed
suspense.
Existence had been reasonably sun
shiny-indeed she had called herself
fortunate and happy before she knew.
Now all the years behind seemed but
agreeably drab, beside the glorious
rainbow shining of the new present.
CLEAN betwiXt storm clouds-there
had been no word. no sign, only those
things eyes may speak to eyes, to feed
her hungry heart thru the years of
years of unbroken siIence-then the
| letter, all too brief, saying Il have
slain the lions in my path, and am
coming to claim my own"
Three days more of waiting2 She
was not impatient-they would run on
racing feet. And they would be so
full--all the place must be in festival
array. The happiness OF making it so
should Approximately she refused
to think anything could. Looking
after her winged pensioner, she gave
thanks-he had helped her to wake
thru the brief night, filled every Sec
ond with thrilling joy. She had put
by all thought of the lions knowing
wen they must have been savage and
fearful to make Peyton hesitate in
claiming her. Enough that he loved
her, was coming to her-whether for
an hour or forever did not greatly
matter He had but to say Follow
me-" and she would so with him to
the worlds end, forsaking all things
else in cleaving only to him.
The wide house stood open to sweet
morning airs as she ran down the
great stairway. Aunt Persis was COM
ing up the gray stone steps, her flat
basket heaped with royal red roses
gemmed with dew. Her mood was not
however rosy. She dropped her bas-
ket. saying fretfully: II do wish
there were no telephones-then we
needn't know Of troubles until they
came"
who's troubling who this heavenly
morning?" Mabel asked gayly. Her
aunt looked down, answering in a hard
voice: Long distance has just told
me John Bassett is coming the same
day. likely on the same train, as Royal
Peyton."
II can't be glad to see him.. Mabel
shot back truthfully. ANY. outsider
must be unwelcome just then. Did
you tell John why he had better stay
away-at least until after"
mo need-when I said Roy was
coming he growled: L know it-that is
what's bringing me- And rung off
right there-not telling me where 1
SOulO IedCh IliIIl-yOu KNOW ne is most
always some place he ought not to be-"
Aunt Persis interrupted. Mabel turned
away, with a faint shudder-John Bas-
sett was, she knew, another name for
trouble. Nephew and heir to the
Gardner. who had been Aunt Persists
husband, that ladys plan and hope
had been to see him MabePs husband.
He was college-bred. rich, fair looking
and dominant. You are the only
thing want and have not been able
hn hn \ Il -
third refusal. six months back. But
don't think I'm giving you up-you'n
wake up in your right senses by and
by"
Recalling his set mouth. his burning
eyes, MabeIS heart Sank-almoSt in
stantly it rebounded, singing for joy.
She was alone, her own mistress. free
of everything but the love bond, a
chain that not even the hottest fires
could melt. With soft smile she led
her aunt into breakfast, saying clear
ly: Il don't hate the 'phone-but for
it how should I ever manage to have
enough for two hungry men rather
than one?"
Royal Peyton did not come by train
Instead in a swift motor, with a rae
ing driver at the wheel, a minister
snug inside, and for luggage only a
brief case, and box after box of the
costliest flowers. He began at once.
setting them here, there. everywhere.
" must De married IN Two hours,
he said, smiling down at Mabel, whom
he had taken openly in his arms upon
the steps. You will not ask explana-
tions-l read that in your eyes. We
want no crowd-only witnesses and
two or three guests. Send for them
whoever you choose. My chauffeur is
a wizard at finding places and people.
They must make haste; we shall go
straight back to the port. A yacht
waits there for us-the good ship
Mabel, soon to be doubly mine"
AS in a dream Mabel obeyed him.
She had never any clear memory OF
what came to pass before she stood
beside Peyton with the minister front
ing them book in hand Aunt Pers-s,
snifflfne audibly under the family por-