The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-04
TIE EVENING STORY
On WnlIe.s Account.
lBy Beatrice 80.

pick as many as he wanteds his bail
and books and little fire engine lay on
the porch beside him, and his collie
pup was begging him to come and
play, but Willie had no heart for any
of these attractions.
He was grieved. What was the use,
he reflected. of being the only child
if your father and mother go away for
two weeks and leave you at homer
What was the use of having d young
aunt stay at your house If she smut
herself 10 in her room and Wouldn I
came down stairs2 And what was
the use OF being alive at all when the
circus was coming to town IN three
days and nobody had invited you 70
go? Life was full of terrible prob
lens. He was just wondering II ne
hadn't better cry about II when ne
saw a friend coming down the street
and hastily changed his mind.
This friend was no less person
than Max Harwood. chief of the Vol
uunteer Fire Department OF Norwood,
commodore of the local yachting club
and hero in Wllie's eyes, By some
mysterious coincidence Commodore
Max appeared on the scene with great
promptneHs and frequency whenever
Willie,s aunt, Miss Marjory Dean,
came for a visit and as these visits
had been rather numerous during the
year just passed, While knew him
well enough to rummage through MS
pockets and to boast about their in
tinacy whenever any OF the other
boys needed a little wind taken out OF
their sails.
To Willie's surprise Max was pass
ing with merely a wave of the hand, so
the little boy Jumped up and ran after
him.
ssHello. Napoleon!" cheerily called
his hero. It was his fancy to call VIII
lie by the names of the worlds great
generals, one after another.
Good morning. Commodore; aren't
you coming IN to see us7"
ttGuess not, Hannibal; it's pretty
early for company.
you have been earlier than this,
said the child reproachfully.
We'll. erin kind of busy this
morning
WINE was turning away to hide the
hurt look In his eyes. Nobody wanted
to bother with him. Max saw this and
hastily added
but get your cap and come along.
Z m going down to fix up the boat
on can help me-
The delighted child raced back to
the house for his cap and then was
Off hand in hand with the commodore,
happy as a lark
They worked all the morning on the
boat and then the commodore took
Willie up the river for a sail
Are you going to the circus, Aga
memnon p inquired Max, by way of
conversation.
With a recurrent touch of gloom
Willie was forced to admit that he
didn't think he was.
well, I'd like to take somebody Of
just about your size" went on his
host, land I think that somebody IS
YOU What do you say. my hearty p
lriv,afss Willie
well, heave no, there. and we'll
splice the main brace. Keep out of
the lee scuppers while I hoist the
mafnsail. Hal Ulysses, what do you
think OF that2" And Max, who loved
to mix up nautical terms for Willie's
entertainment. made the cieanest kind
of a landing at his own pier.
did you ever shiver your timhers,
commodore?" asked Willie.
81 sots of times. Wellington. and still
live to tell the tale. Don't forget
about the Fourth-side shows. fat
lady, peanuts. elephants, pink lemon
ade=we'I see it ALL
Indeed I won'tI'' cried the child
wild with delight, as ne raced into the
house to tell his aunt
She was watching for him and-
ously.
'oh. Willie boy, where have you
been all the morning ?" she exclaimed,
He told her breathlessly and she
listened to his admiration OF the COM
modore with rising color.
isn't he perfectly splendid. Aunt
Marjorie? They say there ars ten ele-
plants and, the lions growl something
awful But I won't be afraid with
the commodore Only wish you were
coming. too. wouldn't you Ike II I
I'm sure he'd take you. too. Il you
asked him"
don't expect to see the conamodore
again: We've aren't friends any
ION. suntie." exclaimed Wine. in
genuine dismay. And he's 30 good
too"
Willie thought for = minute that his
Aunt Marjorie was going to cry, and
then he was surprised to hear her say
Hfn manner singular1y unlike her
usual eentleness. Maybe some peo-
pie think he is good. but I know his
| true character, and do not think you
ought to go around alone with him. .
This speech was rendered with all the
dignity that woman of the world
aged nineteen could muster.
stYou went with him alone to lots Of
places complained Willie. You went
last night"
not going again. If a man takes girl
to a dance and forgets her he will
certainly forget a little boy when he
takes him to the circus, and then what
would happen to your
really this was awful. WfIlie had
never seen his dear little aunt in such
a state, but she was very sweet to him
and took him out driving that after
noon. stopping in the village to buy
| him candy and lots of fireworks for
the Fourth. He didn't know what &c
/ think about his beloved Commodore
but saw him the next day and prompt
" repeated the whole conversation I
seemed to him the simplest way out OF
! the difficulty.
s.Did you forget. Commodore7'' hs
insisted.
"Creat Scott! Willie, maybe I did
she says so; but she wasn't lonesome, 2
he said grirnIy Girls are queer crea.
lures. wellington: you'll find that GU