The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1910-06-23
In the Cracking
Flames
By coRlNNE JACKSON

WoTTlcO Iuc OluSF HAL. TuUuC Oplu-
ton ran high. for there was no doubt
that she had completely misled the
whole town. After three years of un-
interrupted courtship on the part Of
Tom Norton she had deliberately mar.
ried Herman Wright. Herman had
been hanging around for the past year,
selling any of the crumbs of Evamay's
attention he could pick up, but no one
had expected this outcome and Eva.
mays friends felt she had given them
cause for righteous indignation, espe-
cially since Tom was the idol Of the
town.
Its Just like her." shifted good old
Mrs. Kelly, who loved Tom as a son,
and 1t wasn't all because she had q
plain daughter. She was full of airs
and college ideas, and that never
comes to any good in girl. For my
part" with wise shake of the head,
Il wouldn't wonder at all If it were
Tom himself who did the jilting. He
walked home from the social with us
last night, but somehow l couldn't get
around to asking him the trouble out
right. | will yet, though" she de-
clared. with glance at her plain
daughter. Maybe 1t is elsewhere his
eyes are peeping."
He told me last night he would
never marry" blurted out the daugh-
ter, with an honest flash. HE was so
quiet and sad-like when he said It,
Why, here he comes now, mother"
A stalwart fellow, with frank face
and curling brown hair, stopped at the
gate.
How is everybody" he inquired,
genially.
Fine, and glad to see you," an
swered Mrs. Kelly. bustling across the
porch. Come up bit, Tom. There's
whole batch of cookies fresh and
warm for you"
That's the best news I've heard"
smiled Tom, as he came on to the
porch. Il guess this is about the last
chance III have for some time to show
my appreciation of those same cook.
les. I'm leaving tomorrow for the city
My uncle has secured an opening for
me in brokers' Office in the city, so
I'm off for the wies and snares of
Wall street.
Mrs. Kelly stopped where she was,
with the plate OF cookies out of reach
Of Toms outstretched hand. Tom Nor.
ton, you're not going to leave this
town. she cried, and all because of
that deceitful viXen It's shame
l."
Tom Norton rose. very white around
the mouth. Don't, Mrs Kelly" he
commanded, sternly, don't say any.
thing like that again as long as you
live. Evamay is all that is sweetest
and best in woman, and as such l shall
always regard her. If you are my
FRIEND his voice softened perceptibly,
and | know you are, be as kind and
good to her as you have always been
to me. That's the only favor ask of
you going away"
We'll, | never" broke out Mrs. kel.
iy, Wiping her eyes with the corner of
her pink checked apron when her Wis.
itor had departed, If he isn't taken
with her yet. What she sees in that
Herman Wright alongside of Tom |
don't know. III be as nice to her as
my nature will allow. But that won't
be all pie she added, with return of
vlndlctlve resentment toward the girl
who had scorned the idol of the town
1t must have been Herman's money!"
But the town and Mrs. Kelly herself
soon ceased to nourish their disap.
pointment over the whim of Evamay.
fnd soon settled into their customary
tut and routine. Other topics and hap.
penings nearer and newer occupied
their time and attention, and Evamay
gradually resumed her place in the
hearts and lives of her friends AS a
girl she had been the most envied in
The town when her father, the
Town. physician, had decided to give
bis daughter year of college life even
though it added another expense
which his unfortunate and risky spec
ulations made it almost impossible to
meet. Evamay had her year at an
eastern institution and came home the
same summer Tom Norton graduated
from the state university. The most
natural thing In the world happened.
Evamay and Tom became acknowl
edged sweethearts and Tom started on
the building up of law practice in
the busy little town. 1t was Evamay
who turned the whole community up
side down by the crashing of the
whole romance.
There's no use trying to find out
anything from her." Mrs. Kelly had
told the reading circle in despair time
and time again. "She is nice and no
nte-like. but the way she looks at you
when you say Toms name makes the
cold shivers chase each other up my
back. Evamay was always that way.
She's good wife to Herman, though. :"
the old lady Justly conceded. Il never
thought she would clean and bake and
work around the way she does. She
told me the other day she did it SC
She could sleep nights. Evamay always
was . high-strung little thing"
SO gradually did the light fade from
Evamay's eyes, the color from her