The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-10-24
The EVENING STORY
AS Suggested by Norah.

plans ana Kettles and the cheerful
swish of psuds as Norah's dexterous
hands manipulated the dishcloth,
formed an enlivening accompaniment
TO the tender strains of kathleen Ma
voureen," or the rollicking melody of
Rory O'More."
But this morning no fresh young
Irish voice caroled forth through the
open window above her kitchen table,
and the corners of Norah's wide, red
mouth had pathetic droop, wholly
out of keeping with a nativity which
unequivocally proclaimed itself in ey-
cry feature.
Even the clatter and swish had a
subdued sound, as though the pots and
kettles and the soapsuds, realizing
that sorrow had invaded their domain,
| were thus rendering seemly acknowl-
edgment.
This explains how it came about
that another sound, also subdued and
likewise indicative of acquaintance
with sorrow, came floating in through
the window and fell suddenly on No
rah's ears
This was nothing more nor less than
muffled sob, and a single glance
through the window sufficed to show
that it had proceeded from the ham
mock swung in the shade of the big
crab-apple tree in the back yard.
This hammock, supposed to be No
rah's own particular retreat in her
hours of leisure, was now occupied by
tumbled heap of pink Bingham.
which lay with face forlornely buried
in a weather-beaten pillow.
Moran watched for a wondering mo-
! ment the ebullition of childish woe,
then dried her hands, wiped her eyes
with a corner of her apron and has
tened down the kitchen steps in the
direction of the hammock.
A deeper burrowing of the head into
the pillow louder and more soulful
sob and more vicious output of the
long, black leg, rewarded her initial in
quiry as to the cause of anguish so
acute.
But presently the story came out.
Aunt Beth had broken her promise.
Norah knew of the picnic this after
noon at Watson's grove.
Norah did, and futively wiped
away two fresh tears as she made
sad little sound in her throat indicative
of assent. For was there not 10 be
dance in the evening, and wasn't she
herself to have gone?
And now-well, now she wasn't go
ing, and something that she knew in
her heart would have been said tonight
| would never be said now!
Wei. after promising positively
| more than a week ago that she, the
aggrieved one, should go to this picnic
| in Uncle Larry's machine, along with
Uncle Larry and Aunt Beth herself,
| she, the aforementioned untrustworthy
Aunt Beth, had calmly announced not
and the aggrieved one were concerned,
there was to be not only no picnic, but
no Uncle Larry!
Now the aggrieved one knew that
"Uncle" had been, up to date, merely
an honorary title, and that not for
some months yet was Uncle Larry to
have come into full possession of the
aggrieved one as really and truly
| niece.
This had been a matter of minor i'm
port, since 1t hardly seemed possible
| that the emoluments ensuing from the
| possession of a truly uncle could be
greater than were those of one so priv
| LEGGED as to own an Uncle Larry in
prospectu.
Supplies of candy and motor rides
could scarcely in any case be more
steady. There hadn't as yet been any
picnics, for this was the first of the
| season. And now there wasn't ever
going to be any picnic-and no truly
| Uncle Larry
AS this edict of Aunt Beth's, with all
| its potential consequences came back
| to her afresh, the aggrieved one, emit
| tin a particularly VociferouS wall and
giving muscular vent to her despair in
| a final vicious kick, flung herself out
| of the hammock upon Norah's own
grief burdened breast
"Why, Norah. you're crying, tool"
| The aggrieved ones sobs under
| went a sudden cessation as she became
aware of this heretofore unheard-of
Iachrymal proceeding on the part of
! happy Norah.
ii can't help it, Miss; I'm $3.50
sorry-for Miss Beth" sobbed Norah,
making a futile attempt to stanch the
flow of tears on the corner of the long
suffering apron.
Sorry for Aunt BETH This was an
entirely new and rather absurd view OF
the situation.
''Why, Norah. what you sorry for
Aunt Beth for?'
"Because-oh, Miss. because she
don't name it, She don't liver in the
world name a word av it,
| More wonders, Not mean 1t! Why
if this were true, and Aunt Beth really
| didn't mean it, then there wasn't any
body 10 be sorry for. The aggrieved
ones voice had sudden joyful note OF
hope.
"Oh, do you think she didn't really
mean it. Norah? Then whatever made
her say it?''
"Och, belize twas jist a foolish
ouarrel-jist a foolish, foolish quarrel
an now she's like to ruin her whole
loife be not givin' in, That's the way
gurrls be-they'1l be dyin' to make
} COP, but it's die they will before they'll
give in.
they'll taxi her word for it an sthay
away. when if they had amy sinse al
all at all they'd know the poor gurr
} was givin' the lie to her own heart an
| tn6Y' max neT OWN OOP " L. OSAA
poor Miss Beth! All she wants is fol
. him to MAX her own oop-an' it's cry
, in her purity eyes out she is this min
! ute I'll be wagerinl"
J The aggrieved one slid to the ground
, and stared for moment in open-eyeo
amazement at the expanse of greer
Z Bingham flung in an abandon of mys
cry over Norah's bowed head TheI
she turned, scurried around ii the
: front and tiptoed softly up the stairs.
: 1t was indeed as Norah had predict
; ed Aunt Beth was crying her eye!
} out. A big brown eye. applied to th'
lkeyhole, corroborated the small ear