The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-11-30
THE EVENING STORY
Little Sue.
(By Jerome sprague.)

keeper, surveyed with dlSIaNOr Inc
cold gray scene which lay before MN
when he opened his door.
| ''It is a nice thing for a man of my
age" he grumbled. ito eat boiled
bacon and dry bread on a day when
all the rest of the nation is eating
turkey
AS a rule his pride in his work had
kept Sandy Marks contented. He had
been happy when his appointment as
keeper of the light had come, and ne
had enjoyed to the utmost the t1rst
few weeks that he spent in the pretty
house furnished for his use.
But as the days passed, and the
winter had come upon him, with early
snow storms, whose whirling makes
shut him away from the rest OF the
world, he sometimes wished that ne
need not travel the miles of desoIate
beach to reach the main shore. There
were times when he dared not leave
| the lighthouse, when every moment
must be spent in looking after the
great light and even when he whistled
| like the Miller of Dee, 81 cared for
nobody, no not I, since nobody cares
for me- he missed the human COM
partnership which should have been
his by right of youth and strong per-
sonaI attractions.
There had been time when Sandy
had thought of marrying. But some
how he had not found his ideal wo-
man. He had had a dream of some
wonderful beauty, whose loneliness
should shine like a star in the quiet
of the little home in the shadow of
the lighthouse. But he knew no such
woman.
He sighed a little as he went about
his work. He wondered II any one
thought Of him.
Il guess it is just you and me to-
day, Piper he said to his shaggy dog
as they came in together from the
chilly out-of-doors and Sandy pre-
pared to read a week-o paper.
The paper reminded him of little
Sue Salter. She was the teacher at
the little town on the mainland. She
was a demure little thing, like a
brown wren, and it was she who had
sent the paper to Sandy He won
dered why she did it. He had never
paid her any attention, because in a
sense, he stood in awe of her learn
ing He was a plain man and not
man of books. Indeed, little sue
Salter was the kind of woman that
Sandy would have liked to marry, but
he had not dared think of her as his
wife. How could he ask her to keep
his house? She would be above com
mon tasks. He laid the paper ASIDE
with a sigh, and then went to the
window A light snow was falling and
the strip of sand looked deserted ana
bare. Suddenly Piper barked.
What is it, old fellow?'' Sandy de-
manded.
Piper barked again.
Sandy went to the door and opened
it. Coming swiftly up the path he
saw woman. She had on rubber
coat and soft felt hat, and in her
hand she carried basket.
"Of all thingsi" he exclaimed and
went down to meet her.
at is Sue Walter was his wonder
ing remark as he came up to her.
She nodded gayly. She was out of
breath. and her cheeks and her eyes
were bright. II thought perhaps you
couldn't leave the light" she said,
$50 I brought you some Thanksgiving
dinner"
piper shifted at the basket with an
air of interest. HE smells the tur-
ssYou don't mean it! You haven't
brought turkey" Sandy cried incred-
ulously.
yes, I have"
Sue opened the basket and produced
the good things. Besides the turkey
there were cranberry sauce and celery,
and mince pie, and all the other
things which belong to the feast of
the festive day, all cooked and ready
to serve.
And you walked all the way with
this heavy basket?" Sandy said. Il
can't understand why you should do
such a thing for me-
Little Sue sat down in big chair
and looked at him. Il thought you
would De lonely, Sn0 SAID, anu
know what loneliness is. Nobody
asked me to have Thanksgiving din
ner with them. 1t just happened so,
and I haven't any hard feeling, be-
cause I know it is family day, and I
haven't any family. But I made up
my mind to have a Thanksgiving tur-
key if I had to eat it alone. SO 1
bought the things and had them
cooked, and last night, when l pulled
down my curtain, I saw your light
shining out over the water, and 1 be-
you would have, you and Piper. I
knew you hadn't been in town for
supplies, and 1 faneied you did not
dare leave the light. So, as I could
not invite you to my Thanksgiving |
dinner I resolved to bring it to you.
1t was a case of two lonely people |
who might have a little cheerfulness
and companionship if they could get
together
WELL Sandy faltered. 81 don't
know how I am going to thank you
the world; you always seem way up
above me, you know, with your books
and learning
"Oh. but I like other things besides
books, and now, if you will lend me
an apron, I will set the table and we
will warm up the dinner and have our
feast"
Such a great feast it was with /
Piper to finish up the bones! Then /
Sandy did the hard part and little Sue
the finishing off. Later there was a /
long hour of talk, and at last little |
Sue announced that she must go, but
Sandy urged her to stay aslittle longer,
for her frank friendliness, her absence