The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-09
THE EVENING STORY
On the Siding.
(By Cecily Allen.)

tie, as far as his youth would permit,
idolized both Aunt Helen and Henry
Strong. That was why he felt vague
ly aggrieved that he saw so little OF
Mr. Henry these days, and had he
known that in his small person he per-
sonified Duty and stood between the
two objects of his alteration, he Wouio
have felt doubly aggrieved.
What he did know was that MI.
Henry had taken to walking on the
other side of the street and evadlng
pressing invitations to come over ana
Helen avoided all conversation bearing
on Mr.. Henry, also that she had de-
veloped a tendency to red eyes ana
absent-minded conduct which annoyed
BERTHE, particularly when she stopped
in the midst of a fairy story and
stared out the window without speak
ing.
The neighbors might have enlight.
affairs. They all said it was too
foolish for Helen Bertram to act SO
over a child. There was such thing
as carrying ones ideas of duty too
far, and one owed some duty to the
living as well as the dead.
1t was the most joyous of early
spring weather when every one
should feel happy, but BERTHE felt the
depression which seemed to have set
tied down on the pretty cottage which
with the servants ever since his
fathers death. He slipped quietly
from the sitting room, where Aunt
Helen was writing at her desk. Jumped
noiselessly from the porch to the soft
lawn which was taking on just pale
tint of green, and ran out to the curb
ing which marked the limit of his
straying. save by special permission.
He knew that very soon Mr. Henry
would be coming home from his office,
on the other side of the street no
doubt. but still within hailing distance.
Mr.. Henry certainly must inspect Ber
ties new trousers before the laddie
could feel quite satisfied that they
were all things desirable. They were
a new sort of trousers. baggy at the
knees, and if they had been held in
place with piece Of elastic instead
of cloth strap and buttons, they
would have been equal to an extra
set of pockets. Marbles, Irvine, apples,
almost any small article could be hid
den in their spacious folds. Person.
ally. BERTHE considered them a great
improvement over the diminutive, |
skin-tight knickerbockers he had worn
heretofore, but they needed the cache
of Mr.. Henry's approval.
Ten minutes passed. Aunt Helen's |
pen went scratch, scratch in the sit |
ting room and Berries boot heels |
went tap. tap against the stone curb !
ing. Then he spied familiar. broad |
shouldered figure swinging down the |
street-on the other side. He waited /
until Mr.. Henry was directly opposite, /
then:
"Hello Mr. Henry Can't you come
over and see my new pants ?"
Mr.. Henry paused uncertainty and |
waved his hand in friendly fashion.
I'D come over and show 'em to you,
only Aunt Helen won't give me Jam
for supper when leave the yard"
Listen to the poor dear" exclaimed |
Mrs. johnson, Aunt Helen's next door
who happened to be setting
out some new rose bushes at the time.
"The very idea of an old maid like
Helen Bertram trying to train a boy"
Mr.. Henry crossed the street. He |
had seen Mrs. Johnson watching him
from the corner of her eye and he |
knew that BERTHE was terribly in
ers in deliberate, critical fashion and !
pronounced them good. Then he pat |
ted BERTHE on the head and started |
away.
asked Rertie. with an odd break in
his voice and troubled look on his |
face.
lawfully sorry. old man. replied
"but I have a dinner engagement and
I must run along and dress. See you
later"
But BERTHE chung to his hand.
Maggie made some sponge cakes
with icing. I know licked the icing
bowl"
GOOD for you" said Mr.. Henry,
still drawing away from the clinging
moist hand. You eat one for me,
won't YOU
And then he was gone. He plunged
across the street and cut
straight across the tidy lawn of his
sisters home and dashed through the
front door. His face was drawn and
white and he paused just a moment
beside his sister who came to the door
at the sound of his step.
ITS no use, Nell, I'veSgot to get
out of this. I believe I'll run on to
New York for a week or So
And leave George to claim the vic
tory of the Hardman case after you've
worked hard on it for months. oh,
Henry, think it is a shame that you
will let silly girl ruin your whole
life. The very idea
you don't understand her. She
thinks she is right. and what she
thinks is right she must do. no mat
ter at what cost to herself
cor Others" interrupted his sister
For a foolish conception of
duty to the child of her dead sister,
she will wreck your life"
"She thinks she cannot divide her
owe and her interest-it must all go
20 him"
"Fanaticism, pure and simple" ejac-
llated his sister.
.eWhatever it is love her. was
he simple reply, land I cannot live
so near and yet so far from her. Per-
1aps when I come back" he mounted ,
he stairs and closed the door of his
DOM. II
With a sigh his sister went back to
Ter embroidery.
In the meantime, BERTHE. with
mick glance over his shoulder had de-
iberately turned his back on home and
ong instilled obedience. If Mr.. Henry
vas not going to share the pleasures ,
If tea, sponge cake and new trous-
RS what was the use of having them
Il all? And over there. beyond the !,
abroad track, lived a little boy who
lad three big brothers and a jolly