The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-12-10
THE EVENING STORY
When Ben Came Home.
lBy Lester Rose.l


lBy Lester Rose.l
vesta sunk YEARLY upon a shoe box
and gazed forlornly about her. The
last of the packing was accomplished.
The last nail had been driven home into
| the shoe box, which contained the books
| that were to be kept out for the new
home. The rest of the beloved library
remained in the cases, gaps showing
| where the selections had been made.
The corner of the lower shelf had
been the resting place of the blue and
silver Pilgrims Progress ever since
Vesta could remember, a book to be
taken out Sunday afternoons and car
ried to the gentle mother, who patient
ly explained time after time the mean
ing of the fascinating wood cuts.
There was very large gap where
the encyclopedias had been. She had
bought those with the eggs and butter
money. AS her eyes roamed over the
partly filled cases she could fill every
gap from memory.
And as it was with the books, so was
it with the rest of the household De-
lodgings. Here and there a blank cor
ner reminded her of some familiar OBJ
ject now stacked in the woodshed.
Very little was to be shipped, for the
way was far and freight rates were
high. Tomorrow the neighbors would
gather and John Perwin would hang
out the red flag. BY nightfall the house
would be emptied and its contents
scattered through the farm houses Tor
miles around.
Tears came unbidden to Vesta's eyes
as she looked about. Her earliest mem
cries were of the homely living room
with it's rag carpet and the comforta-
BILE rocking chair on either SIDE OF the
stove in winter or standing In 'front.' OIL
the north windows In summer, Wnen
the double sashes were taken down and
the wind blew through the house, SOFT
ly scented by the blooms from the or
chard on the other side OF the we'll
kept fence.
It was the only home Vesta had ever
known. 1t seemed to the tired girl that
she could never learn to love another
half so we'll.
Until her mothers death Vesta had
been shielded from all troubles. After
she had come back from the little
burial ground on a hill, she had found
occupation and forgetfulness in her Ell
forts to make her father forget his loss.
She had even refused to marry Ben
Folsom because she had considered II
her duty to stay by her rather anu
comfort him in his sorrow.
Ben had gone West and she was left
more than ever alone. Then had come
that terrible day, a year and week
after her mothers death. when ner
father had driven into the yard with
Sadie Connors, who had been teaching
school over at the corners. and mad
announced his marriage.
gaunt busting woman, whose every
trait was the antithesis of the woman
whose place she took, but the new
Mrs. Brewster had repulsed every ad-
vance. She hated young persons; she
had married to be rid of them ana
she treated the step-daughter WIN
scant courtesy. -
The ways of the household were
amended to suit her radical tastes.
The old rockers were sent to the at
tic as too old-fashioned. and two up
holstered monstrosities had taken
their places. The other memorials OF
Vesta's mother quickly folloWed the
rockers to the garrett and the mouse
was completely changed in appear
ance. as were the occupants IN tneH
attitude toward each other
And now even the old homestead
was to be given up. The fertile tarm
was to be sold and the housenolo
goods to be auctioned off. MRS.
brewster had decided that the north
west offered greater opportunities Tor
her husband, and they were to move
to Manitoba and start afresh IN the
wheat belt. 49,. +ha
room "Come and eat some supper,
she commanded. Don't sit there
looking as though you were TOO wear
to walk. I've done twice as much as
YOU have today and l got the supper,
foo. but 1 don't look half as tired as
Won do. Stop incoming here in the
dark and come out and have cup OF
at don't feel like eating" answered
Vesta, the sobs rising IN her tnroa.c
To this woman the abandonment OF
the house meant nothing. she coulo
NOT understand what it meant to the
girl.
Mrs. Brewster turned away.
you'll be hungry by and by, sie
said sharply. "There'll be some cold
things in the pantry, but I'm not go
ing to make any more tea.
She hustled out and left Vesta TO
herself YEARLY the girl rose from
the box and left the house she couIo
with her step-mother. and the noise
of mirth fell extensively upon her
ears.
The dusk was deepening to dark
and the air was chill but Vesea T1e
not feel the need of shawl; She
wandered down the road, past the
white gate to the little bridge tnal
spanned the creek.
Here she loved to lean upon the ran
and watch the sunset over the fertile
fields. The sun had long since drop
ped below the hills, but the glris over
wrought Imagination could con1ure up
the scenes of the past. She leaned
upon the rail and looked out across
the fields now bristling with the FROST
kissed stubble. She could see again
the glories of the waning day. She
could almost hear voice whispering
in her ear.
Her hands clutched the rough bark
of the wood as in memory she lived
over that night when she had sent Ben
Folsom away because she thought 1t
her duty to remain with her father
and console him for his loss. She
thought of the sharp faced woman
who was sitting opposite him at the
kitchen table, discussing their new
home in the west and then she
thought of the gentle-faced woman
who still lived in her daughters heart, |