The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-06-18
THE EVENING STORY
Sally. 4. G.
(By w. f. Bryan.)


ivy-clad church. and in her baby days
she was called Sally. But from the |
day her Cupid's arch OF a mouth
learned to frame intelligent sentences
Jack Hardy had dubbed her the
Town Crier.''
The nickname was SO apt that it
stuck. being reduced for simplicity's
sake to T. c. Even during those
stern minutes in the library with her
father, he often dropped the sober
sarah" for the more universal T. c.
T. C.s nickname was due to her
genius for the dissemination of bits
seemed naturally to empty itself Of all
information. and young Hardy al
tered an old saw into What goes in
I. C's ear comes out of her mouth"
AS I. c. grew in understanding the
habit got her more firmly in its grip.
Instead OF learning to appreciate the
value OF reticence, her wider scope
OF knowledge served only the better to
equip her for the gathering of sundry
bits OF gossip which she would blurt
until not only her family, but their
friends came to regard her with an
affection that was not unmixed with
terror.
7. c. being sensitive little soul.
grteved in secret and made earnest
vOWS eAAdS SIG WOQAQ t<1IllS uO uuOI ..
She meant to mend her ways, but at
the hrst opportunity her store of
knowledge would roll out unchecked
and unrealized.
1t was to Jack Hardy that she al
ways went for sympathy and advice
when these revelations and their con-
sequences hung heavy over her head.
Though Jack had given her the odious
nickname he made partial atonement
by never employing it.
To him she was "Peterkin," and
though frequently he was a sufferer
from her disclosures, he was ever
ready with advice. sympathy or candy
as the occasion seemed to demand;
for he alone apparently realized that
her fault was temperamental and not
the result of righteousness.
T. c. fairly worshipped Hardy, yet
all the little intimate details of his
courtship of her sister Nell leaked out
along with the rest Of her chatter,
and there were times when Hardy's
forbearance was put to a hard test.
even the personal experience did not
abate his sympathy for T. c., not even
when he proposed to Nell and was
given a negative answer.
When Nell made hysterical refer
ence to another girl, he felt that he
office still was her haven of refuge
and she stoutly denied that she had
said anything about some other
woman.
Hardy'ss questions had to be dis
creetly framed If he did not wish the
fact Of his rejection to become COM,
mon talk, and he could not press the
investigation. Instead he sought
absorption in work, but the practice
Of country lawyer seldom proves
absorbing, and Hardy grew thin and
white while he waited and hoped for
a clearing up of the trouble.
He was sitting idly at his desk one
afternoon when 7. G. poked her head
into the doorway, and finding that he
was alone. entered boldly.
what is 1t, Peterkin?" he asked,
printing a kiss on the child's troubled
face. Have you been telling the
minister what your father said when
he was asked to contribute to the
chancel fund, or did you explain to
the guests at the party that the salad
Worse AN that" was the doleful
declaration as T. c. snuggled against
the broad shoulder. 1.-THE school
committee visited this afternoon. Mr..
Sprague asked us what love was, and
told him it was the way the princi-
all laughed but Miss Squires got red
in the face and I was expelled. It is
the truth" she added def1antly. HE
kisses her when he thinks no one can
see him, and she calls him Georgia
wouldn't call any man with
whiskers Georgia. like little boy"
"Wait until you grow up" adj
monished Hardy. but see here,
Peterkin, know Mr.. Torrance very
well. Perhaps. I can beg you of II
you promise to keep out Of his love
you just bet WILL" declared T.
c. with JUNCTION. Lovers are funny
people. There's Nell just crying her
eyes out because you carry some other
girls picture in your watch"
What do you know about that pic
ture?" asked Hardy tensely. ibid
you tell Nell about that?"
watch on the desk" explained T. c. II
that you had another girls picture in
your watch when Nell's new pictures are
so much prettier."
Hardy sprang up from his desk and set
T. c. upon her feet.
Look here, Peterkin," he proposed.
take this e dm ns and find nods
Better get two. Meantime. I'll slip over to
the news that you are expelled"
T. c. gurgled a delighted assent and
presently they EMERGED + from ,l the office
to the candy store. while Jack made for
the Westervelt home.
Nell was sitting on the shade piazza as
he came up the path; As she saw him
steps and caught her hand.
Don't go in" he pleaded. Lets sit
s.ShaiI I call father?' she asked HE
is in the library"
IT hope to see him before I CO." de-
clared Hardy, meaningly. But first
want to speak to you"
Nell flushed at the suggestion, but she
resumed her place in the rocker and Jack
drew a chair to her side
"When I asked you to marry me you
said something about another girl" he
heran. pIungfng directly into the subject.
! 1Hf the time I suspected that T. C.. might
be able to explain the allusion but did
not dare question her too closely lest 1
give forth more information than l OBJ
Famed She let it out today. Was 1t be-
cause of that other girl in my watch that
-, ,.efucad me Nell?"