The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-11-21
THE EVENING STORY
Identify of Tommy.
(By Addie f. Mitchell. }


sigh. Her daughter Madge looked up
from the step.
What's the matter, mother? You
look as if you had been reading your
death warrant"
Il have-the death warrant of our
summers peace. Aunt Mary North
writes to ask If we won't keep her Tom
while she and Mr.. North go abroad for
the summer
who's her Tom?" asked Madge,
succinctly
Her stepson. I've not seen Aurt
Mary since she married Mr.. North. and
l know next to nothing of the North
family. But Mrs. Wilson knew Mr..
North when they were living in Chi
cago (that was in the time of the first
Mrs. North), and she said there were
two girls and a boy-the boy was in
kits then, and that was five years ago.
So he must be about eight or nine
years old. Aunt Mary says he has been
III with typhoid and that she remem-
bers with hope for his health that the
air at Pinecroft is healing"
But we can't have him mother.
Think of having an eight-year-old boy
On our hands the whole summer. We
can never get enough cooked for him
to eat, and he'll be drowned regularly
once week and break all his arms and
legs on the other days. And wanted
q quiet, heavenly rest this summer be-
lore have to go back to that awful
office. And it will be-weH, the other
kind of time with a Tommy around,
that is certain
But. Madge, I can't refuse Aunt
Mary She was your fathers favorite
aunt, and always so good to him. No.
Tommy will have to come, whether we
want him or not
We'll, tn en-when 2"
The letter says next Tuesday unless
they hear from us that it is not con-
venient.''
Tell Aunt Mary have the smallpox
or that l died suddenly at the news
anything. Please, mother?"
was wondering" said her mother,
Whether an eight-year-old boy would
pc AFRAID to sleep in a room by himself
snail we put bed in the alcove off my
room or fix up the south chamber?
All the boys I've ever SEEM" an
sWered Madge, were afraid neither of
the things under the earth nor of those
upon 1t. Give him room to himself
ana then you'll be saved the everlast-
ing clatter of fishing tackle and knives
and toads and things in your room"
Still grumbling, Madge helped her
mother get ready the south chamber
AS she worked she grew interested, and
even took from the walls of her own
room some interesting prints which she
thought would be suitable for a boys
room.
Il can't see, though, why Aunt Mary
didn't take the little wretch abroad
with her-the sea air would do him
good. Take out all the fancy things,
you value
IF you only understood big boys as
well as you seem to understand the
small ones, you would not be twenty
four and still SINGLE leased her
'I do, mother" said Madge vehement
1y. ''I understand them altogether too
welEand that's the very reason I am
still single"
There was no immediate reply to this,
and Mrs. Vaughn turned her attention
to the room.
Get all your old picture books and
put them on that shelf, Madge-and 1
think I'll bring Jim's old hobby-horse
down from the attic. He may despise
it-but you never can tell"
II suppose I could make him some
kites said Madge. There's all that
red and blue paper-and miles of yell
low string. Perhaps if make big one
he'll get fastened to it and fly off to
Mars. And while I'm up in the attic
I'm going to bring down some of Jim's
old overalls."
Arrangements were finally completed
and Madge rather looked forward to
the coming of the little boy, so that
when Tuesday came she willingly drove
to the station for him, though she pro-
tested that st. Lawrence and his grid
iron were as nothing to the torment she
was undergoing She took along bag
Of cookies, Just to stop up his mouth
so he can't ask questions she ex-
planned.
The train was late-and Madge got a
little cross as she waited in the open
trap with the hot sun beating down
upon her. The pony was restless and
she dared not leave him to go inside of
he station. When the train finally
steamed in, however, she gave the reinS
20 a porter and went to find her young
charge. She watched the few who
came out Of the coaches nervously-
With one eye on the dancing pony, but
as far as she could see, no small boy
vas on the train. Fearing that he had
not heard the name of the station call
I'd, she spoke to the conductor, who
old her that no such person was on
he train.
''Well," she thought, ct suppose I
should be glad of it, and was going
pack to the trap-when it occurred to
Ter that he might some way have gotten
,ast her into the station and might be
No one was there but very tall young |
nan. who was leaning back rather |
imply against the seat-pale as from |
| recent illness! Madge gave him more |
han a passing glance; because she won.
Tered who he might be-young men at
oinecroft at this season were a rarity. |
Looks sick" she muttered-"or a lit |
lie daffy." She was getting into the |
art when quiet II beg your pardon"
aused her to wheel around. The |
TRANCE young man. hat in hand, was
ertainly speaking to her. She merely
BOXED her surprise.
Are you not Miss Vaughn-and |
7eren't you expecting me?'' Her blue
yes widened into, a positive stare of
II am Madge Vaughn,
ut you-you must be mistaken"
"I am DR.. North-Tom North-my
1other wrote he was blushine q
tile at the queerness of her reception.
"You-you are little Tommy? Why"
he began to laugh merrily, and the
Dung man laughed, too, a bit stiffly,
Or he did not understand the joke.
You have the advantage of me-" he
aid.
NADIA snherad at his tone and realfz-