The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-11-05
The EVENING STORY
How .Craker Came Home.
(By Stacy e. Bakery

AAO O4Ny SQb NAOlAGS anu VAN OyAG
beard of Craker effectively disguised
him as he strobe carelessly along in
the rear of Plodville's two most sub
stantial citizens. Shreds of their con-
versation came back to him.
CrakeF had NO particular reason for
remaining incognito. except for a ivid
memory, the unhealed bruises of
which even now sInarted to the sneers
and comments of the same two, now
before him. on his simple statement,
years before, that he wished to become
lawyer.
Craker's father had been a fairly
prosperous farmer on a tract of land
bordering Plodville. Crackers grand
same plot-and there had been others
before him bearing the same name.
and with the same blood in their
veins That the last of the clan had
ambitions above that of filling the
soil had amused Plodville. P1odville,
rocked not of stress and the fighting
germ in a mans blood.
The harsh voice of Enoeh Sneed-
man broke in on the Feverie of the
youth.
Emma died this morning" came
from the lips of the old man. Ly-
man Tollman strobe stolidly along
beside his fellow townsman for some
seconds before he ventured reply.
voice at last. ''she was an expensive
critter. Emma was"
The nails of the man behind hit
into the palms of his hands as he
listened.
"Oh, she was all right" cham
pioned old Enoch. reminsscently. "but
pesky unreliable. and as finieky as a
lady lapdog."
Craker at these words took a sud
den step forward and then came to a
stop with a contemptuous shrug of his
shoulders, II can't assault old men,
he grumbled. half aloud 81 should
know more, anyway. than to expect
sentiment from such-cattle. Still
are in this world"
Although Craker had long since as
sured himself that he had put
thoughts of the ttmid eyed, golden
haired little maid from him. the duI
beat of his heart now told him of
the secret crypt that had long been
kept for her.
Emmal No other woman of his
acquaintance before or since his col
lege days could compare with her
sensitive. town tainted soul and
ruined 1t all.
Embittered with a town that could
not or would not understand the am
rise above his environments. Craker
had made just one visit back to Plod-
vile since the death of his mother
had made it possible for him to sever
all ties except one and take his long
dreamed-of college course.
This one tie had been Emma Sneed-
man. He had come back to her. and
into his conversation he had subtly
woven a question that would decide
whether she was above the narrow
prejudice of the town, or hopelessly
permeated with the views Of her
father and his neighbors.
Emma he had said. IT have fin
ished college. Where would you adj
visse me to locate?
Here" Emma had replied, simply:
and Craker, heavy of heart, had gone
away and never, until now, came
back.
Craker had gone to the far city,
come back for the girl, Business had
called him here, and now-she was
dead
She was dead! The heart. long sub
dued. bravely threw off it, shackles
to tell Craker the truth.
"I must go to the house." rumi-
mated Craker. There was noticeable
droop to the broad shoulders, what
beast Of a man that sneedman is to
talk in such a heartless manner of his
own daughter who has Just died. Let
me see Emma was nineteen years
of age when I left here. I have been
in the city eight years She was
twenty-seven when she died. II
wonder If she ever married. Craker
turned his feet toward the old Sneed-
man homestead,
There was little in the town that
had changed. Craker noticed. with
crack in the tavern window a scar
given it in the old days through a
rock propelled at him by Bully
Hend The town pump still
squeaked dismally as the Anticipated
Hobbs drew the water for the wife's
weekly wash
No one recognized Craker His
smart attire. the nose glasses and
his heavy dark beard, gave him an
appearance of prosperity that not one
Of them would have credited to the
queer boy who had left town years
before.
Craker strobe sorrowfully up the
long walk leading through the Sneed-
fashioned knocker of the front door,
1t was crepeless.
Beast" reiterated Craker. His
hand stopped as he reached forth to
sound his arrival. A gasp quivered
on his lips. Some one inside the house
was singing! Singing. at that, a
catchy little melody of last seasons
musical comedy; bit sadly amiss in
this house of sorrow. His hand again
found the knocker. The singing sud
denly ceased, and hurrying steps told
him that some one was on the way to
the door.
TTI am an old-er-acquaintan
of the family came from Craker as
a pretty girl suddenly flung open the
door. 81 have come to view the re-
MAINS
The girl stared at him a moment
in speeches. silence. THE remains"
she gasped. and then. with alarming
ly red cheeks, ooh, you are here to-
see-Emma'
Come in" giggled the girl
She led him speedily into the well
remembered parlor, and, murmuring
something that escaped him, she dis
appeared through the door into the
hall. A tinkle of hoidenish laughter
came eehoing back to him.
81 wish I had married Emma,