The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-05-30
THE EVENING STORY
On Memorial Day.
(By Stacy e. Bakery

Down the broad pike leading into
| Centerville came, all arrayed in rusty
| blue, the bent, wizened figure of a lit
tie old man. An old-fashioned soldiers
cap was perched jauntily on his head
and from beneath this fell a few scat
tering locks Of gray. The aged veteran
| leaned heavily on his cane. Time had
| robbed Ezra Halfway of much of his
endurance.
The ears of the old warrior were no
| longer keen, and he did not hear the
honk-honk of motor behind him.
| The touring car that swept around the
sharp curve thrust him aside so rough
| ly and suddenly that he was thrown
unconscious to the ditch at the side of
the road
| With barely a perceptible swerve, the
great machine kept to its mad way.
| The knocking down of the gray old
! soldier was but an irritating incident
| to the pleasures of record-break1ng
ride The chauffeur was not one to
faunt the number of his car in the
face of a victim.
Fred Corliss. in his wheezy little rum
about, came in the wake Of the fiier to
the inert mass of mangled blue by the
roadside.
Ezra Halfway, a thin stream trick
ling from his temple, reused himself
and suddenly made wavering attempt
to regain his feet. His gaunt frame.
balanced precariously on two totterly
and emaciated legs, showed signs of
sudden collapse as Corliss came to a
sudden , and leaped to the old mans
assistance.
why, Uncle Ezra?' he exclaimed,
whats the matter?"
Uncle Ezra Halfway, as he was
Familiarity known to all residents of
Centerville, was a popular favorite.
who'd a thought came from the
recovering octogenarian, testify, that
I'd a lived to come through tn hor-
rors an evils of war to be downed at
last by one of them pesky benzine
buggies?''
Young CorIiss gave relieved laugh.
With his own handkerchief he care
fully stanched the blood emanating
from a slight cut in the old mans fore
head nd assisted the reluctant vet
eran toward his own little machine
Pm all right, Fred protested the
injured man. mo use in my bothern'
you to carry me into town.
But Corliss, tall youth with de-
termined eye and resolute jaw, per-
sisted. -e
Uncle Ezra lived some miles out of
CenterviIle On Memorial day he in
variably arrayed himself in a well worn
suit of blue, and not only walked into
town but marched with the comrades
of his post to the little cemetery a
half mile beyond. This, as the years
rolled on, was becoming more and more
difficult to the old soldier, but he never
acknowledged the encroaching inf1rm-
tiles of old age-even to himself.
You shouldn't do this remon-
strated Corliss, seating himself beside
the old gentleman and starting the
machine. There is no sense in it.
You have horses and a buggy, and
the walk is too much for you-let
alone the liability of accidents. The
roads are not what they were ten
years ago. These touring cars keep
a pedestrians life in danger, unless
his SanSe of hearing is wonderfully
acute.
Huh" snorted Uncle Ezra. II see
myself riding into town after walkin'
it all these years.
The old mans scanned face was
strangely pale. 1t was evident that
the accident had Jared him more
than his resolute old lips would ac-
knowledge.
In front of the Horton domicile, just
skirting the town, Uncle Ezra sue
cumbed to a sudden fainting spell,
and crumpled against his companion
with closed eyes and pallid counten-
ance.
This was doubly unfortunate.
The Horizons were the last people IN
the world of whom Corliss cared to
ask favors. Since the engagement be-
tween vivacious Dolly Horton and
Fred had broken off by mutual con-
sent-an engagement planned IN the
infancy of the two by their parents
the youth had felt a strange sense of
aggrievance, although, previous to TINS
he had believed that his future was
spoiled by this prearranged match.
No one could have cause TO COM
plain of a lack of charms in the young
woman in question. This was evident
as she came tripping to the door in
response to Horizons knock
The girl was pretty as budding
of twinkling sunshine, and even now
they beamed- mischievously as they
fell upon the broad-shouldered youth
your. she said, and the careless
laugh in her voice was softened py the
Eyes it is l." he answered shortly,
his proud head alert, and his strong
law thrust out at more determined
angle. "I am not here however. TO
call''-he could not resist the thrust
"but to ask favor. Uncle Ezra
Hathvay has met with an accident,
and seems to be SERIOUSLY hurt-how
seriously. I don't know. He fell into
a faint or stupor, just as we were OPP
posite this house. and SO l must ask
you to care for him while l go for
doctor"
AS the explanation progressed, the
expression on the girls face underwent
a change. The coquetry died from her
ewes to give a chance to womanly
look of grave concern
.sFather,' she called. suddenly,
"come here
An elderly man came leisurelv out
of the house, and, in a second. the sit
uation was made clear to him. The
unconscious veteran was lifted careful
Nv from the runabout ana taken into
the house From afar came the stir
ring rhythm of drum and fife The
comrades of the old man were gath
ering to do honor to their hero-dead.
On his way to the nearest doctors
the brain Of Corliss was a mad jun
Bile of riotous thoughts. al; thinly veil
ing the keen sorrow he felt at Uncle
Fzra's predicament 1t had sudden
Nv come to him-and with startling
emphasis-that this fluffy. furbelowed
girl with the gold in her hair was