The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-13
7HE EVENING STORY
The Girl Who Came Back.
(By Temple Bailey.)


The little mother sat and sewed
There was the party dress for Emily
She knew she wasn't making IL we'll
Il needed the more artistic finish If
one who kept in touch with styles. The
little mother was too busy to 90 ont
into the world and see things. Since
Jean had left there had been so many
things to do.
She shipped off thread and sur
eyed the garment. Jean could have
tled the bows differently. But she
must not wish her back when she was
20 happy in her life IN the city. In
eie STORE where Jean worked people
came TO be fitted and tried on. and
lEere was always life and excitement
and plenty of money.
she is very happy" the little
.roene r. had had told Andy Wentworth
Andy had said, thoughtfuliy, II hone
so, and had stared into the fire.
me little mother wished that Jean
might have cared for Andy The big
p Sonpi e, house on the hill would have
on one side. and Emily and her mother
on the other. And in the spring they
would have looked out on the blos-
SEEMING dogwood and would have
card the birds sing, and in the fall
mere would have been the flame of
the trees and the sunsets over the
lake. '''
There was no view of sunset from
the little mothers window. Only the
squalid streets of the mining town and
4 bit of bleak north sky.
When the lamps were lighted it was
better, and the little mother sewed in
2 circle of light until Emily came
Emfly's hair was like spur gold, and
she looked like a rose. But the little
mother didn't think of that She was
worried about the fit. Emily's figure
seemed to bulge out in the wrong
places or else the dress did
Emily's face showed her dissatis-
action It's wrong" she said. down
heartedly, "and I'm not blaming YOU,
mother, only you and 1 haven't the
knack of getting things right, as Jean
IF Jean were only here" sighed the
little mother, and then, taking it back
quickly, of course I ought not to wish
i if she is happy"
Well, I wish she would ask me to
come and see her. Emily sighed. ST
cont think it is fair that she should
rave all the fun, do you, mother?"
She works for it, the mother ex-
eUsed, land of course she's away all
cay"
yes" Emily agreed, "but we could
go places in the evenings, and she
nows so many men,
Yes" the little mother agreed. alb
s'rdcteoiy. she was ripping out the
sleeves in EmiIy's dress With a view to
making them shorter.
think that's why Andy Went
worth didn't want her to go te the
ety." Emily said. HE was jealous. =
Well. Jean never would have been
the mother said. "You can try this
on again, Emily
When Emily had eaten her supper
and had gone to bed so that she might
be wide awake on the night of the
canoe, the little mother worked late.
And all the time her thoughts were
With Jean-Jean, who was working in
the city.
Suddenly she stopped and raised her
head-in the midst of the wind and
storm she had heard CALL
She went to the door and looked out.
The lamp1ight shining on the path
showed a dark figure.
Mother" said voice. TREMENDOUSLY.
Jean!' In another moment the
little mother had her in and before
the fire. She took off the velvet wrap
and handled the plumed hat with rev.
erence, revealing thereby jeans slen-
DER figure clothed in modish black, her
"How pretty you are said the lit
lie mother rapturously. Its such a
joy to have you, JEAN
II had to come" Jean began. then
stopped and laughed a little. st am
l. =
cookies in the little stone jar. You al
ways have them, you know
So Jean sat and ate cookies and
talked in her gay, light way of every
hing except the reason why she came
Lack.
She examined Emily's dress and Of
fered to fix it, 'TlI run in the bed
room and take off this gown and be
omfy.'
When she came back she wore a pale
.fNow you look like my own little
Tean," her mother said brightly, and
ruddenly Jean chung to her, sobbing.
.'Oh. mother. MOTHER she said, 81
have come back to be your own little
Jean-a1ways."
Then you are not going back to the
c:ty?'' her mother asked.
"No-let me tell you why
1t was a simple little tale of the
fort to preserve high ideal amid
Sordid surroundings. "A1l of the girls
wanted pretty clothes. and we would
10 almost anything to get them. We
lived in poor little rooms and cooked
! Ut sausages and ham and eggs over
gas Jet-and we bought silk stockings
and puffs with the money we saved.
We didn't have enough to eat some
times, but we could sweep the length
of our silk petticoats across the floor,
"But you wrote that you were
"At first 1 was" Jean said. 81 was
lust silly enough to think that looking
we'll would make uD for it all. But
a. ter a while it seemed to me that I
should die if I didn't see the fields and
the lambs in bunch by the gate, and
hear the birds-oh, you don't know
how I wanted to run right out to
Andy's farm, mother"
ct thought you hated the farm
st did--because I didn't know"
She came over and knelt by her
-notfer's side. There was a man in
the city-he was rich and generous.
and he took me out to suppers when
was hungry-and to ride in his motor
car when was tired. At last he asked
ne to marry him and I said yes
But I didn't tell you. because some
how couldn't see you welcoming him
to this shabby little home Not because
he was too fine for it. but because you