The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-23
THE EVENING STORY


Trouble in the House.
A week, viewed in the abstract, is not
long vacation, but Mrs. Granville had
been gone only one day, and the solemn
looking man at the head of the dinner
table felt as if he had been sole guardi-
an of an orphan asylum for a term of
years.
Among other things he had suddenly
discovered that his daughter Helen was
eating the wrong things To be sure,
she seemed well, but that was no sign
she was not undermining her health.
Now that he found himself brought into
closer relations with his offspring,
great burden of responsibility settled
upon him. He must institute health
diet for his family at once, and he said
so, only to find himself surrounded by
set of mutineers.
But, you see, don't care for plain
things, papa" remarked Helen calmly,
as she ladled another spoonful of peach
preserves on her ice cream.
It's me to the corner restaurant till
mother gets back, If you do that, father,
declared Edwin, with the air of man
Then little Caroline made her fathers
hair stand on end by piping, "Goodyi
I'm with you Ned"
In solemn displeasure Granville LETT
the table and not even the fact that the
him, laughingly begging forgiveness,
could induce him to go back for dessert.
Somewhat subdued by his attitude,
the youngsters finished their dinner
and settled themselves quietly in the
sitting room. but they were scarcely
seated when their father awoke to the
fact that they were making habit OF
staying UP too late. He launched into
dissertation on the subject, the only
fitting climax for which was bust
nesslike dismissal to bed; SO off they
went with rueful faces.
1t was little earlier than Granville
had supposed--as he realized after
himself with the reflection that the
| extra sleep would do them good. So,
taking up a book, he proceeded to
read until midnight stopping every
page or so to wonder how a mother S
heart and conscience could let her go
away and leave her family anyway.
Then he followed the children up
stairs, but he was long in getting to
sleep. 1t seemed to him that he had
just dropped off at last. when sound
from the childrens room partially
reused him.
'Helens voice was calling, in unmis-
taxable distress. though very softly
| Della, come quick and help me-.
ooh, yes, Delia's there. She'll at
tend to them,' he said to himself in
drowsy relief. The next instant, com
fOrtably dependent on the faltnrul
maid, he was sound asleep.
| When he opened his eyes again the
gray of early morning was in the sky
All was quiet in the other room, but
his first thought was of his own selfish
obliviousness in regard to Helen's sick
ness i'll the night
| Poor youngster! With no mother
to look after herl'' he said to himself
II told her that second dish of ice
cream at dinner was too much"
1 VIC - l. -, II fra1r n h
was the day of the Sunday school pic
mic and that Helen's intense little heart
was unshakably set on going.
| Popcorn, peanuts, lemonade, ice
| cream, cakei' enumerated the anxious
father. by the time that picnic's
done I'll have to get a doctor And
her mother away!"
Granville is not noted as disciple
marian. During the next half hour he
discarded as hopeless a half dozen
plans for buying Helen off from the
picnic. At the end of that time. with
stern resolution, he rose and prepared
a large tumblerful of bicarbonate OF
soda in warm water. Then his bed
room slippers tapped on the hall floor
and he entered the room where, in
two white beds. side by side, his little
daughters were sleeping.
| A sense of thankfulnesS possessed
| him as he noticed S-year-old Caroline's
| appearance of peaceful health. but he
shook his head over Helen, the Older
sister, who seemed pale and restless
Without waiting to dwell on the strug-
gle that always ensues when Mrs
Granville tries to give medicine tc
Helen, he took her by the shoulder
and said: Helen, sit up and drink
every drop of this. or there's no pic
mic for you today"
The blue eyes opened drowsily
| What, papa ?"
He repeated the command, giving hel
a little shake. Half dazed. the child sal
up and meekIly began to swallow tht
nauseous draft Part way down the
tumbler she hesitated.
Every drop or no picnicv' threatened
her father, and down it went.
| But by that time she was wide awake
Papa, what's that for?' she demand
ITS the proper treatment after such
| a time as you've been having last
night he informed her. 81 told yol
that last ice cream was too much, my
child"
| At these words triumphant hoo
sounded from the other bed. Caroline
| whose big, brown eyes had silently I'M
closed some time earlier, threw discre-
ton to the winds and sal. up, gleeful
while Helena small tragedy queer
with fiaxen braids-pointed accusing
finger at her little sister and announc.
ed, Papa Granville, there's your sicl
| oner'
The laugh that he gave then was the
last straw Overcome by a sense of hel
| injuries. Helen dropped her face into
her hands and sobbed out: "Oh, you car
| laugh! But 1 tried to be nice, the way
mother said-an' not let 'em disturb
you-an' I comforted Caroline so she
wouldn't miss mother. But ! miss hel
| rnyself-I dor
$50 do 1, Helen echoed her crest
fallen father, the laugh dying on his
IIips.-Chicago News.
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