The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-18
The EVENING STORY
AS the WINDS DO Blow.

As the Winds Do Blow.
(By Martha McCulioch Williams.)
Louisiana-Loo - there's a ring
around the moon," called Billy to his
big sister.
what if there is? It's got. two
stars inside it-that means it won't
rain for two days. she retorted.
And the lawn fete comes of day
after tomorrow! Say, Lou, whatever
did set you women goin' such a crazy
tazy gait2 Plain English and plain
folks"
You'll always be plain folks if you
never try to be anything else" LOUISE
ana said lof.ily, her chin high.
Her mother smiled. gentle wor-
ried smile. IT wish there was
building handy she said. "Of course,
know the old weather sign-and the
Barber lawn is an ideal place. But
since all the buildings burned, you
can't shelter anywhere, if. by ill luck,
there came up shower"
Treason, Mamsy! High treasoni"
Louisiana cried, running to pat her
mothers cheek. Our fete's going to
be splendid-just like a book. oh,
with the flags, and rugs and cushions
scattered all through the green. The
shrubs are in full flower-snowballs
syringa, lilac, and everything; the
early yellow roses will be out like
wise. and the grassl-you never saw
anything SO rich and green velvety as
it is since the boys moved it yester-
day."
''WeIl. you don't get my blanket
that's sure as shooting Billy said
Solemnly, but with twinkling eyes
Louisiana made a face at him-she
knew how to take Billy. He disap-
proved all she did upon general prin-
ciples-and worked like a Trojan to
make whatever she undertook a howl
ing success.
Spring had come late that year, but
with a rush at the last. Late May
was as warm as midsummer, so every
thing prom -sed more than fairly. Her
whole heart was in the feast-she and
her chum, Grace Watson, had melted
it, planned it and carried it through
by sheer force of will. It had an OBJ
ject, of course-help for the Orphans
home. Tickets had sold like the pro-
verbal hot lakes.
Five hundred tickets sold. Think
of it!'' Louisiana ran on. You know
there isn't place in town to hold
half that nunlber-except, of course,
the churches, which are out of the
question. All the folks may not come
must have room for them. Pray for
a fine day, Mamsy-that,s all we
need"
Next day was fine-too fine. indeed.
tHO IlOl udy llidL
farm folk call a weather breeder.
Louisiana went out into it smiling to
watch the skies. She came home a
little later, chilled and dropping, her
roses fled, her eyes troubled, though
she tried hard to look as usual Her
mother wisely asked no questions
she had never forced her daughters
condolences. Billy coming in three
hours later carelessly gave her the
cue.
40 ~, roo1- Do,say,,,e 1o,,,a a,5
got the dandiest girl with him. he
called to his sister uD stairs. His
cousin, you know-he had her out
driving-that's how I saw them. He
actually stopped and introduced me
Maybe he wanted me to break the
news ito mother. She's a locker, all
right-and .alks! My! Her voice is
like a birds. You just as well put
up the shutters, honey--sure's I'm
your big buddy, your cakes all dough-
at can't be. I never had any Fan
som CAKE" Louisiana called back gal
lantly. Her voice was even, but the
mother ear caught the strained note
in it.
Billy had plunged into the pantry
and stood with his hands behind him
contemplating the good things in wait
on the shelves.
'Lordy!' he naurmured, ito think
of folks that amt hungry eating such
things. I call it tragedy. But won't
1 come in on the Fragments
Eleven o'clock was the hour for the
assembly: at IL the breakfast was to
begin. People came in shoals in de-
spite a 1owery sky with fitful sun
shine breaking though the clouds. The
women were as gay and springlike as
the shrubs. the children likewise ruff
fled it in white and ribbons. Even the
soberest among the men had flowers
in the buttonhole. Altogether the
throng was in holiday mood, no less
than holiday attire.
Louisiana in pale blue, had never
looked more beautiful. Grace, in
pale pink, made a charming Pompa-
dour contrast. The other girls wore
white. They fitted, spritelike. about
the grounds welcoming, marshaling,
talking gayly to everybody Eunice
Ransom. in scarlet silk, looked at
them with a scowl that married her
beauty, and said petulantly to her
aunt:
"Why. I thought this was to be
real function"
''It is-for US, DEAR gentle Mrs.
Jack had rushed away the minute
they were safely seated on the soft
est cushion 70 be found.
eff only we get them fed, now they
are here" Grace murmured to her
mate as the last auto honked away af-
ter leaving its load.
IF only!' Louisiana echoed.
She had got back her color and her
spirit, but still hint of shadow lay
in her eyes. It had deeped when she
turned from Jack after gayly indif-
ferent greeting. Grace had seized up
on him and set him to work among
the tiny children. Jack had a way
of winning the shyest-which per-
haps explains why he had won Lou
isiana's love without ever asking for
it.
She had agonized over the knowl-
edge for some time, but acquitted
him, in her own mind, of either cow
ardice or double dealing. True, he
had looked love-but he had never
spoken it. She had known all along
it was the family plan to marry him
to his cousin, but until she saw the
girl, it had all seemed vaguely i'm