The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-07-05
THE EVENING STORY
ReconclIed by Accident.
CIV Clara Louise Otis.l

everything"
caroled a masculine voice
The woman in the kitchen smiled
she murmqred,, happily. so much
a tall young man of twenty-four, just
entering the kitchen: you're early
tonight, dear. Supper won't be ready
| for ten minutes
"Oh, that's all right" John Will
liams gave his mother a vigorous hug.
How is mother 2"
We'll And john"
Fine. Zine. Say; mother!"
How would you like daughter
Mary williams set down the frying
pan and faced her son with a dazed
expression. "A daughter-in-law ?" she
repeated, blankly. A binding rush of
room seemed to be whirling around.
"Oh, John!" was all she said. but the
/ bitter disappointment of those two
words was not lost on the young man.
I'm sorry" he said briefly, and
left the room.
Memories one after the other crowd
ed fast before her. Her husband had
died when John was three-and they
had been so happy And since John
had grown to manhood, how happy he
had made her. Yet-yet he was go
ing to bring another woman there
another womani The odor of scorch-
ing meat made her start.
"Come-Supper's ready she called
in what was intended to be her natur-
al voice.
Tell me about it." faltered Mary,
after they had sat in silence for some
minutes.
Not if you don't want to hear,
mother"
The hurt, proud tones brought con-
triton to her heart.
"I do want to hear" The words
were true in more ways than one.
LIny- L. No. ~,
ooh, mother, mother, I've wanted
to tell you so! Are you sure you want
yes, yes!" she flashed out the
words lest John should divine her
sinking heart. She smiled, too.
Seeing only his mothers smile, John
launched into the dear topic. SHE
I didn't tell you because-weH, to tell
the truth, I was afraid you'd be all
cut up about it. Besides, it wasn't set
tied until last night. Why, mother,
you're crying! Are you sorry?''
mo, no I'm-glad! Go on"
81 met her last year out at the lake.
Do you remember my speaking of
those girls out there? 1 knew then she
was the only one in the world for me-"
John spoke very softly.
So he had cherished this girl in his
heart whole year-and she had
thought herself to be his all in all!
Wasn't it strange, mother went
on the young man in a subdued voice.
as If his happiness was still a Won
derful thing, to be reverenced and
held in awe, wasn't it strange that
she should move here, not knowing it
was my home?''
Yes. Tell me everything, dear
and has Elg grav eve e9es Mary VIII Williams s
was built on generous, capable lines,
and her eyes were brown. Her hair is
like yours-brown and heavy. She
=
accomplishments except housekeeping.
''She sings, too-oh, mother, you
ought to hear her sing. And she is
as quick a bird and the prettiest
dancer
Can she cook?"
well, 1 don't know. but she can do
everything else. You see, there are so
many in her family that it's hard to
tell just who does do the work. I know
she can sew, for she showed me
dress last night that she had made"
After the supper work was done
and John had gone off whtstling'
give me strength to bear iti' she pray
ed fierceIey, holding tight to the arms
of the chair, then relaxing in sud
den burst of resentful tears. "How can
he-how can he bring that girl here
that Kitty?' ran her rebelllous
thoughts. and she forgot about her
PRAYER "Why, her very name sounds
Notwithstanding! If I was an old wo-
forty-seven and as strong as ever.
This is my house-my own house, and
1 keep it my own way. Yet a girl is
going to come in and shove me back
me, who loves John more than she
ever could! Don't I always come home
early from sewing society so as to
have Johns supper on time? Don't
make his shirts, when almost every
man buys them ready made? wouldn't
1 do his washing if he would let me?
oh, she can't love him as L do! Prob
ably she won't even let him smoke in
peace. oh, she can't come-she just
For an hour she poured out the re-
bellion in her soul to the leaping, SYM
pathetic fire. then sank back exhaust
ed. How selfish 1 ami" she cried
aloud. "I'II have to bear it, Johns a
man now" AS she grew more calm
she looked with disgust at her out
made of better stuff than that. and
this is the last foolishness youth hear
from me. If my son s going to be
married, why, he's going to be mar
But she forgot to be on her guard
the next morning when John enthu-
siastically remarked that she should |
have heard Kitty sing "Dearie" the
night before. 'Dearie''-what fool |
ish name for a song! And with that
one contemptuous thought all the Bit
terness of the thing came back to
her.
OO you always iAe1fC ~ AoAA cDOhS
her-even at the breakfast table -
Johns lips came together in a !
straight line ct Thought" he began, |
then stopped abruptly. Ten minutes
later he left the house in silence.
Mary would have given all she pos
sessed to recall those words. A sort |
of hopeIessness came over her. n
she could control herself no better |
than that now what would she do
later?
If she only could be sure that the |
girl would be sensiblei From Johns !
description IL didn't seem as If she |
! & L IL Il -