The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-03
THE EVENING STORY
serena,s Happx Day
(By irginia Blair.l

They are moving across the wav"
said Serana
From the couch her mother said
falntly, They will miss their pretty
cottage"
They are going to Europe" Serena
told her When they get away
shall go and look at their bungalow.
I've never seen inside"
| Such people seem to have every
thing, she went on. "Now if you
and 1 had such a pretty place to live
we would be perfectly contented.''
Her mother smiled at her ct think
we are contented as it is" she said
IN spite Of our poverty we are happy
that we have each other"
Yes" Serena said bravely
she did not dare tell her mother
now she was oppressed by a sense of
irespos1bility-their little bank account
was so low. the few music lessons that
she could get paid so poorly, and her
| mothers long illness had been expen-
| sive.
Il am going to give you your BROTH"
she remarked a little later, "and go
and look at that house. The people
across the way left in their motor car
about five minutes ago."
When she came back she had a let
ter in her hand. ST wish you could
see inside of that lovely place" she
said. Everything is so artistic The
living room is in brown with touches of
blue, and there are brass bowls and a
few good pictures and deep wicker
chairs. and it is as coy and comfort
able as anything"
spoke. and read a few lines and gave
a gasp. ''Why, mother" she said, at
is from a lawyer My great-uncle Jo-
seph is dead and has left me sic, 000."
What" Mrs. Carter exclaimed.
"Why, Serena, it can't be true It has
han1 IL
Joseph
HE has divided his fortune among
his great-nieces and nephews," Sere-
ma read. isn't it lovely, mother?''
After a few moments they Gained
down, and Serena said, soberly, ''This
will be chance for my year in Eu-
rope. We will go as soon as you are
well enough, and can study music
and come back and be ready to teach"
who's going to Europe?" asked a
voice from the door.
A tall. young man stood in the door
way. who's going to Europe?" he
repeated.
"Oh, Richard, Richard" Serena
few toward him. This is such a hap
by day. have just received q legacy
of 700. and mother and I are going
There was no joy in Richards coun-
tenance. 81 congratulate you," he said
stiff1y.
'Why, Richard" Serena reproached
him. aren't you glad ?"
"Oh, of course" he said hurriedly.
He didn't stay long after that. and,
as he took up his hat he said to Sc
rena, "Come and take a walk
Serena kissed her mother, and
danced down the path beside him like
a child.
As they walked along Richard had
very little to say.
you're a grumpy and growly bear,
Dizzy" said Serena, as they left the
public highway and entered into a lit
tie lane where the wild roses and
blackberry vines struggled over the
fences. "You act as if I had received
bad news instead of good news
Richard sat down on a great gray
rock at turn of the lane.
LET us talk about it, he said.
Maybe you'll understand then why
I'm not iubilant"
Her eyes questioned him.
"You see." he said slowly sit will
take you away from me, Serena"
"oh.'' she gasped. "but am coming
back"
cit will be different" Richard said.
"You will come. back a travelled young
lady, and you will have seen other
men, and will have slipped out of
your life. I haven't told you how much
love you. haven't asked you to
marry me. because 1 felt that 1 must
prove myself a man, but you're going
away will hit me hard, Serena
Don't you think I owe it to my
self?" she asked. Her eyes were
troubled. Don't you think 1 ought to
go when all my life I've wished for a
chance to study more and make my
music something more than an accom-
pIishment % ~
ct don't want to be mean and self
ish,'' he said -'I think it is the right
thing for you to do, and I'm not going
to try to hold you back. but you must
not expect me to smile over 1t, Serena"
The Serena who came slowly into
her mothers room was a very differ
ent girl from the radiant one who had
left
"Why, what's the matter, dear?" her
mother demanded.
Serena threw herself on the floor be-
side the couch. "I don't want unele's
old money" she walled. 81 wish he
hadn't left it to me-
Hush" her mother warned. "What
makes you act this way?''
ut will take me away from Rich
ard and he wants me to marry him,
mother only he isn't asking me now
because he thinks it is best for me
ssDo' you love him." Mrs Carter
asked, enough to stay here. dear?"
oh, 1 don't know" Serena answer
ed. ssBut wish he hadn't said any
thing about it. He has spoiled my
happy day.
The next morning Serena sailed
forth and took car to the city. There
she accumulated folders and informa-
ton with regard to sailing of ships,
the prices at hotels and all the details
that interest travellers. She visited
dressmakers and tailors, with a view
to acquiring some modish clothes suit
able for her outing, but with it all she
had no enthusiasm. no sense of joy.
In the afternoon it rained, and she
plodded along YEARLY, wishing that