The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-04
THE EVENING STORY
Playing With Peterkin.
(By Frances TrumhuIl.

Fiayfng With Peterkin.
(By Frances Trumbull.)
Peterk1n drummed on the window
pane and frowned at the gray mist
that walled In the house from all the
world outside. He could not even
see across the yard to the carriage
mousse, nor watch for the occasionar
PEDESTRIAN OF vehicle on the street at
Of moisture. half fog, half mist,
seemed to press in from all sides.
Even the house was silent, for
most of the folks had gone to a mat
inee concert, and nurse had taken adj
vantage OF the fact to envelop her
self in macintosh and slip down
the street to where Dan Mccarthy
patroled his beat. Dan and nurse
We're to be married some day, and
Peterkin knew that in such cases
people liked to see a lot OF each 9TH
Then the sound OF a piano broke
the gravelike stiffness. and Peterkin
smiled brightly. Lefty must have
came downstairs. He had wanted
her SO much, but Lefty had a head
ache, nurse had said, and must not be
disturbed. Now he made for the mu-
sic room with eager feet. but paused a
moment in the doorway. Lefty turn
ed as the patter of footsteps ceased.
| What's the matter, dear?" she
asked, as she held out her arms ana
Peterkin sprang into them.
I'm lonesome" he announced as
he snuggled against her shoulder
Nurse went out, and I'm all alone,
and it's dreadful to have to stay In
the house whole days and days"
Letty's arms frightened about the
little form as he spoke, for Peterkin
had just come up out Of the Valley
OF the Shadow. and until the little
a prisoner IN the house. She had
supposed that the nurse was with
| him, and his lonesomeness appealed
to her.
Never mind. baby" she comfort
ed, as she kissed the sensitive little
| face. ''We'H have a fine time now.
What do you want to play?"
| Lets play I'm a bear he sug-
| gested. "I'll grow1 as loud as I can
and you can holler and run away.
Then I'll chase you and I'll eat you
up
Growing was bad for bears JUST
past pneumonia.
st think it would be nicer to be a
dancing bear" she suggested. I'll
| play the piano and you'll dance. Then
| If you are very good bear, you shall
have a piece of candy"
Peterkin approved the suggestion
and gravely performed a numbering
dance to the tune Of dreamy waltz,
formance, and sent the girl into a
terror of alarm. She had suggested
the dancing bear as the lesser of two
evils; but even this was too violent.
She caught the child up in her
arms again and his sobbing complaint
brought chill to her heart Vainly
she tried to comfort him, and she
was glad when the bell rang and a
deep voice from the hall told Of the
arrival Of DR.. Grantley.
| Peterlin checked his sobs to call
to the physician, and Grantley, slip
ping off his wet raincoat, came into
the room, bringing his own sunshine
with him.
There had been times during those
anxious vigils beside Peterkin's little
cot when the graveIy tender eyes had
been moist with pity, and Lefty had
felt her heart strangely moved, but
! she liked Grantley best as he looked
now, with the merry twinkle behind
the glance Of professional austerity.
She regretted that she was the child
OF a rich father.
GrantIey was a young practitioner
and far too proud to let 1t appear
that he had sought a marriage for
money.
More than once she had fancied that
deep down in the great depths of his
| eyes she had read suppressed passion.
but she told herself with a sigh that
| the Bronson money was barrier to
love that Grantley would not seek to
| surmount.
Now as the doctor came forward
Peterkin smiled his welcome. but
Lefty offered only the barest touch Of
her hand before she withdrew 1t and
i buried her face in Peterkin's curls to
| hide the telltale flush.
Grantley also sought to hide embar-
rassment and so he did not notice
| hers, as his fingers c1asped the baby
wen have you out in a few days, -
he declared gayly as he replaced his
watch. you are getting along IA
mously.''
And I can go out and play?" asked
Peterkin wistfully.
"Io be ~, SURE re- d. deG 1onsins Grantley'
Lefty was playing with me-" ex-
planned Peterkin politely. "She is very
nice, but I like to go outdoors"
TT is hard to find game that hat,o VIII !
not excite him to unT.se he e9nTbs
that dreadful cough. and I grow afraid
am at my wits end"
you play with me some" pleaded
Peterkin catching at aoo inc o tha r.
vitation and Grantley sank into
| chair.
Suppose that we turn the tables
and you be the doctor" -, he suggested t,e
He handed the timepiece to Peter
kin and taught the child how to catch
| the throb Of the pulse. Peterkin was
delighted and for ten minutes pre-
scribed outrageous remedies for all
sorts of imaginary complaints. But at
last the amusement pal1ed and he
slipped the watch back into Grantley's
| pocket
| Now I'll be a minister" he an
nounced, as he climbed upon a chair
| and strove to compose his laughing
mouth to the gravity he thought
| proper in a man Of the cloth.
"I'll pass the contribution box" vol
unteered Grantley, catching up the top
of the candy box. but Peterkin would
not have it so.
This isn't church where there's
preachin'," he explained. This Is go
| ing to be church where they marry