The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-02-09
TIE EVENING STORY
AIary's' Home Coming.
(By Dorothy Carlton

He knows" remarked Josiah Wayne to
his wife. the morning set apart for
gratitude for the years blessings.
We've got each other, 'Siah. and
that's a heap" she replied softly.
| That's right, Martha, we're spared
by Gods grace, but will Banker Hall
spare US when the mortgage comes
| due next month";" and he shook his
head obviously.
Deacon Hall is mighty close-f1sted,
pa, and he likes to get good farms
cheap. If he don't get ours, it will be
divine answer to prayers; it'll be
miracle declared his wife.
| THE book says the Lord takes care
Of His children, Martha. Well put our
trust in Him. and the careworn, toll
tired farmer rose and went out of the
| house.
eff Mary was only here" sighed
Mrs Wayne, land seeing as she amt,
| 1t would be powerful comforting to
talk about her, but 'Siah is set IN ms
ways. Seemed as If I knew she was
happy, I'd be thankful in spite of the
mortgage she said to herself, as she
hastily wiped away the starting tears
Ten months before Mary Wayne had
eloped with man who passed three
weeks vacation at the farm the sum-
mef previous
| John Mott had been delighted with
| the weatherbeaten old farmhouse, and
its surroundings when he first glimps-
| ed it; not that it stirred an artistic
soul, but because it recalled gone boy
hood days and the home he had left,
an orphaned youth, to make fortune
in the metropolis of the west.
Almost like a dream come true,
he thought, and he lived again the
years when he was blood brother to
the woods and its people. His finan-
cial success and business standing in
the city were nothing to him in the
country.
He was just an eager boy, who was
restless to go fishing and swimming
and club tree limbs for chestnuts,
though 1t was August, all az once, and
his only discomfort was because all his
desires could not have simultaneous
qualification.
Then came Mary. She was away
when he first arrived and he had be-
gun to hunger for companionship of
young people when she returned. In
candor the girl could not be called
beautiful, but there was that in her
face to make her good to look upon.
Her features were not regular, but the
ensemble showed strength of purpose.
Painters would not have raved over
her eyes, but discerning poets could
have found in their depths that tender
sympathy which makes some women
akin to angels.
She had taught school the term be-
fore to aid in lifting the blanket of OBJ
legation that haunted the old people
in the evening of their lives.
She was the only child and her one
aim was to make their last days COM
Portable, but the hope seemed far
from fulfllment, for her savings were
small, the mortgage doomed large, and
the banker, grasping, inexorab1e
Shylock.
Still, the year and more that in
tervened before the blow would fall
might bring many things, so Mary
worked and prayed.
To Mott the girl was a revelation
He had known girls in the city, but
they lived in world apart from Mary
- e-;,a
frankness that came from the heart,
not the mind.
The difference in types appealed to
him, charmed first and then held his
affections When he said goodby at
the end of his stay he knew he had
found the one woman he needed and
he hoped to win her
In the autumn she resumed her
school duties in a town several miles
distant from home, and it became a
fixed engagement that Mott should
spend Sundays with her. She rarely
went to the farm at week-ends, the
trip involving expenditures she did not
feel justified in making.
Motifs visits were comforting from
the beginning; gradually she realized
that they were dear to her in antici-
Der night she found herself and knew
they were necessary to her happiness.
Motifs next call was eventful. He
was sure of his love for her; because
ton he experienced unrest and sought
to learn his fate. Mary loved him. !
and when he proposed, told him so. |
Then he journeyed to the farmhouse |
home of his sweetheart's parents
You may write to any one in the |
city you know as to my character and !
ability to care for Mary" he told them |
Young man, cities are wicked |
believe in God?'' he asked abruptly. |
''Why-er-of course, Mr.. Wayne |
he replied, abashed at the text of the |
query.
DO. you belong to a church," the
stern inquisitor continued.
well, Mr.. Wayne, you see 1 am
Mott.
You are not Christian. You are
a money changer in the tempIei''
Numbered the old man. "I know your
city ways; you forsake all paths ex-
cept those that lead to fortune. You
are hypocrites and deceivers!" he
shouted in concluding the denuncia-
ton.
-.Then - began the young man.
Never see my daughter again, sir.
Good by
81 love her dearly, Mr.. Wayne. and
she loves me. I'll not promise never
to see her again." and he left with a
heavy heart.
1t took many, many days to decide
to go where her heart led or
obey her Puritan parent. In the end
love won and in January they were
in Chicago.
Farmer Wayne received one letter
from his daughter that he read 1t
nissives were returned unopened and
he forbade his wife to mention her
child's name to him.
Thanksgiving day held little cheer
for the occupants of the old farm
house. There would be just two lone
~ old people at the table, who ex-