The Topeka state journal., 1905-11-27


Il am afraid am 3 little early" he
you are she admitted frankly.
Mother said she told you to come
at 2"
Il am afraid I am very great
nuisance he said apologetically as he
followed her into the parior.
.'Oh, no" she answered we are
very glad to have company. Mother
has often spoken Of how lonesome you
must be down stairs"
I am dreadfully lonesome he con-
hrued, promptly
Indeed" She was politely surprised.
II told mother that # you were lone
some you would probably go and board
Did YOU ever board?'' he demanded.
She shook her head Then you Will
never understand why I would rather
be lonesome in a fat than 60 to board
ing Besides, I love my home, even II
It is only a fat. When that turkey came
Tuesday evening it just seemed as II
must have q Thanksgiving dinner some
where. Then I thought your mother
would take pity on me and came up
1T must be nice to have a relative to
send you a really good turkey" she
said earelessly.
INDEED It is was the eager assent
fsOf course, unless you have no one TO
cook it for you. Then It only serves TO
make vou. more homesick for the coun-
tr-v suppose my cousin thought
kent a servant I used to have a zap
bov hut he went home to fight. think
I must have forgotten to tel COUSIN
Edith about that"
Il thought you said that your uncle
sent them That is what mother tola
me-
"Certafnlv.' he agreed. Uncle Jim
raises the fowls, but It must nave peeA
his daughter who sent It to me. Oi7els So
Jim isn't much of a business man 5lla 1
looks after the selling and shipping te
wished the cross-examinatio ware nos
so persistent; but still she was mercy
irving to make conversation .s.
ssT)0es YOUR cousin ever come TO Vlslk
vou7s' she asked interestedly-
Parker shook his head You see CncIa
lin is a uretty old man and Edith does
not like to leave him. Then oesloss
have no place for her IN my nat a
you must let her come down ana speIlo
n week with us" she cried lnpeLuously-
Never he said little sadly lnteiess
in Edith might form common oolie -
sympathy between them m sure Re- go go
would like to come If II would not De zoo
mot in the least" was the prompt re-
suonse 'tCsive me her address.
tParl-er Dal1sed, Fer the life OF him he
could not remember the name q a stlls-s
town in Rhode Island, ana ne rene FL
ed telling that the family lived there re
took out pencil and purposely broke me
point With an exclamation OF regreL ne
Slipped the pencil back into MS pocket
ssTFT bring tlp the address tomorrow eN-
euinsr'i he said cheerfully- Then his heart
sank as the girl came forward with =
s''sf'r "Tm = an 9ssrti artist, you know she saia
with a little laugh. Ihere IS never 4
percil famine in this house
with a grin he took the pointed penel
and scrubbed on a card: Edith Parker
Sl5g Sa+er[-i1Ie ~ r He felt that Center
vile was a safe guess There must al
ways be a Centervile somewhere IN a
state. go - --,,-
Yes YES was the prompt response I'm
Gle Jim was mother faVorlte 1lotneIr
and he's always been like a second latiiel
Your mothers brother, rs. she asked asked
curious1y. He remembered taat untoftu-
nate Parker, but rallied. ..- s..,,.,..
neorie came from Maine. Funny both
/ father and mother should have the
same name and yet not be related. Iie
Rhode Island Parkers are the Oldest fam
afrs. Ainsley's voice sounded like a re-
prieve as she announced dinner "a.
Parker gasPed as he entered s 1th tng on III
duisite taste though nothing OF great
value was displayed. 1t was more -
beautiful than mere display. and MS un-
conscious admiration brought sIlliAe OF
pleasure to the girls face
Mrs Ainsleys voice reused him. Inefs
is your place, Mr.. Parker she announc-
ed. I'VE are going to let you carve
He sank into his place At the head OF
the table and picked up the menu card
saThere are not many fashionable Iolk
/ "
added conplacently- i think ours az
as pretty as any Nina painted thougn
Tn sure I can't see that the pictures % oIl
the back of yours are 50 Iunny, II % .Slua
did laugh when she painted them Even
back in Centerville, Rhode Island, shs
used to paint on cards
were a number of spirited little pen
sketches on the back The border vas
composed of a series in which Parker
recognized, with a groan, reproductlons
Of himself bringing home the. unfortun-
ate turkey. Every one Of his mishaps
was reproduced with a fidelity that told
Parker she must have been on the street
at the time. The upper corner pieces
were a man stealing package from q
demb waiter and later handing It IN p
door. and the episode of the kitten was
shown in two lower corners, in the first
of which he was cOaxing the kitten down
stairs with a jar Of cream
In the center a girl with a huge oaase
friendly hand to a young man whose back
alone showed.
tion Of Loneliness, she explained Win
a laugh Perhaps you can read the le5-
son on the margin better than motneF
can. 7 would not tell her.
''I think" said Parker, gravely, that
you will have to share the secret with
It was late before they broke up and
Parker wiped the dishes with Ieeling
that there were many joys he never had
ways seemed to be a nuisance to have %
wash the cup and saucer and ptate "nicn
usually formed his breakfast outfit
It was Nina who saw him to the door
1--WE shall be glad to have you come up
again. she. said softly. 7 think I un-
derstand why you nesorted to the ez-
pedient of a turkey
IF you do ne said. ''you will change
NJ ssT4nw is thatq' she asked curiously.
MAKE it S. p. P. L.: Society for the
PERPETUAL Prevention OF Loneliness Is
Perhaps She whispered as she closed
the door.
f,=-=-
HUMOR OF TIE Day