The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-07-20

came in from the big outdoors and
laid an oblong of yellow light on the
bright rug, but she did not notice it:
She took the child up, and soothed
Then she wrapped her burned fin
gers with a cloth dipped in sweet
oil, combed her hair as we'll as she
could, deliberately put on her hat and
jacket, and got the baby's go-cart
from the closet under the stairs.
She dressed the child in his best for
out of doors, put him in the cart, and
was just starting out with him. when
a new thought came to her. instead
of just going for walk, she would
go to Fanny's.
Fanny was a friend who lived
across the town, had no children. and
always seemed to be having a gay
time She would go for several days,
perhaps a week. She had often been
invited, but had always thought she
could not leave Fred and the work.
She would leave a note.
She got a pencil and paper and
wrote him message.
1 am all tired out and burnt my
hand. have taken the baby and
gone to Fanny's for awhile. 1t is too
lonesome here, and you do nothing but
getting to be like a chain. and am
tired OF dragging it. I suppose you'll
get on somehow, but when you really
want me to come back you can come
and get me. I've got just dime,
and can't seem to ask you for money
if you don't want to give it to me your
self.
MARY"
1t was inconsequent, childish
enough, but she was only twenty.
She pinned it to the pin cushion on
their dresser She never had left him
f1ote-she had never been away long
enough-but she felt like a woman in
story she had read. Then she walk
ed the half mile and took the car and
forgot about the burn.
She had not been down town for
weeks, and the faces and voices
everywhere seemed good. Laughter
ging lines in her face lifted. The
pretty baby cooed and attracted
pleasant attention. She did not
transfer straight through-she had
] the extra nickel-but took the child
| to the store. The manager saw her
and gave her a bright word. and
praised the baby, and the girls, the
minute o'clock came, crowded
around her. Many of the same ones
were there, and all had liked her.
| She noted with her quick eye thai
they looked at her with a sort of envy
many of them were pale. And
Nora-her cheeks were far toe
bright and her eyes too big. Watch
ing the. girls, Mary saw her give thai
] nasty little cough-the cough tina
had once made her afraid. She asked
Nora to walk about a bit with her.
As they left the building a newsbo,
yelled his wares.
men killed at Stone Ware house
| Fell forty feet from scaffoldi"
Mary snatched at paper, handing
the boy her nickel, her face white
! But it was not Fred. Three of hi
men were dead. Would he be in AM
way blamed? Without a word, she
made her way to the car. forgetting
she was penniless, Nora, into whose
arms she had thrust the baby, follow.
ing her.
! Nora" she said.
The girl silently obeyed-and pait
the conductor. 1t seemed an hour t.
her corner, and the car was crowded
the platform full of workingmen
AS she and Nora got off she suddenl.
but unhurt, her husband. She clutch
ed at his arm.
81 went out-for some air. sh,
stammered, while he took his Sol
from Nora, and gave the girl smile
i ct left the work and all. Oh, Fred
He read her anxiety, and hastenet
to reassure her.
"The man who was to blame dice
with the others he said. But
don't see how you got down town
weeks I've been forgetting to leav,
you some money" He put a five-dol
lar bill into her hand 'And from tn
looks of Nora, you'd better ask her t,
stav a few months with US, Ell, Ma
ME ?''
Together. happily, the three walked
to the little cottage. And the chair
that held the young wife was love
and gratitude. She would save Nora
But the first thing she did on entering
I the house was to take a note from
the pin cushion and smuggle it int
the kitchen range, where it belonged
-(Copyrighted 1910 by Associated
Literary Press.)