The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-08-18
TIE EVENING STORY
Too Much Father.
(By A. Maria Crawford. )

Is Mister Phil any kin to you alI?"
asked big black Liza as she stopped +
pairing apples and leaned over the pan
to question the small boy who sat on a |
little stool which was KEEP. in the |
kitchen for his especial use.
Not any blood 'lation, mother said, I
only just our best friend since father
died. kinda friend kin, I guess, Liza. I
bet ne takes up for me cause he knows |
how l hate step-fathers 1 don't want /
any father anyhow. don't need any, |
Now, honey, wait till you see him |
before you go to talking that way. |
Your ma she's lonesome like an wants |
regular company. Take tbs here apple !
peel an throw 1t over your left should F.!
er an see who you goin' to marry |
when you get to be a man."
Not even the long smoo h apple peel |
ing tempted Billy. Il won't ever, ever
get married cause it 'variabIy makes
some folks sad" he said disconsolately.
Liza looked in the deep brown eyes
for there was suspicion of tears in his
voice; but no moisture was apparent in
their clear depths. Billy was being a
man. although at such cust that only
his own tiny heart could have told
Tell Billy" so the telephone message
from his mother ran that afternoon,
THAT am bringing him a new father
tonight
A step-father. What hal he done
that such dreadful punishment must be
inflicted on him ? He had been so
happy with his mother, they had been
such friends, but now a man was COM
ing to spoil it all.
81 won't call him father. ThatIl
make him mad, I bet. I'll just say Mr..
t-ever-his-name-is, end If he tries
to boss me around, I'll tell him I was
here first, fore he was bonn, reckon
Liza knew that Billy had passed the
age where she could take him in her
arms and comfort him. He felt that
he was being set aside for some
stranger, and the thought hurt him
cruelty. There was nothing babyish
about Billy he had put away all child
ish things with building blocks and
nursery rhymes, and had assumed
manly and protective air over his
mother which had at once surprised
and pleased her.
He could not quite remember his tall
slender father who had died when he
was only a little fellow. Phil Warner,
his fathers friend and business asso-
ciate, had been his ideal of masculine
attractiveness since he WIS old enough
to think about such things. Phil was
always interested in his requirement of
knowledge and skill, and was never
too tired to play games or take him
riding in his big white touring car
Only of late Billy had noticed that Phil
did not laugh when people facetiously
suggested the possibility of a step
father, and were met with Billy's usual
defense, I'VE don't need man at our
house, and I don't need a father
Mother says that I'm mar enough for
her" At such times, Phi, only looked
at him sadly with grave, unsmiling
eyes.
AS Billy watched Lizafs deft black
hands handle the sharp shining little
knife over the apples, he reflected with
a pang that Phil must have known
about the coming step-fathe- and had
hated to tell him.
ST was hurryin', anyhow. fast as I
could, to grow up and be the man of
the house. Now never will be, Liza"
he queried after an ominous pause, do
you suppose he'll kiss mother mornings
when he comes down to breakfast,
same as I do?"
"'Cose. honey" she felt that she
must prepare him for an expected or
deal, "of 'cose. That's what she's mar
ryin' him for, little lovin' and regular
company"
81 loved her. much az anybody
could, but I reckon wasn't enough,
was 1. Liza?" The thought went deep
into his heart and Billy became vfndic-
tive. It know what I'll do. I'll tie a
string across the walk and throw him
down when he comes in. That'u make
him mad, bet.''
mo, Billy, you mustn't do that,
cause he's got to live here an you
might just as well STAR out peaceable
like. They amt no use in fussin'
What's dds did, an that's all they is
to it,
The telephone bell rang sharply and
Billy started up. Maybe mother was
only joking" he said hopefully. "In
go see.'
Tears ran down the old black face as
Billy went through the hall and climb
ed into his chair by the telephone. *Po
lii chile she said. "Po liz chile
Hello! This is Billy ReyonIds. Is
that you, Phil? Q. Phil. I've got
step-father coming. I just wish it was
you. No, mother never tcld me who it
was, she just said he was coming to-
night. Liza got some ice-cream slip
pers when she heard about it. but I
didn't want her to. I'm going to call
him Mr.. What-ever-his name is.
That'n make him mad, bet What's
the matter, Phil? What al you laugh
ing about? You're sending me a pony
That's fine. You come right over cause
you and mother" Billy hesitated while
he tried to swallow a lump that came
in his throat, you see, you and mother
are about the best friends I've got. and
guess I'll be kinda lonesome for a
while Thank you, Phil Goodbye
20 Liza, Phil's sending me a ponv1
He said 1t was his wedding present for
mother. Thatn make him mad, I bet.
cause won't any of 1t be his
BILLY, you mustn't start irwin tn
make MN mao Inatu make your ma
miserable. Pc Mis- Mary, she's had a
sight of trouble, an her GO young! Now
you be good boy, Billy, an help make
her happy"
zone fathers enough for any boy.
Liza Nobody wants more'n one.
Mother says that more'n one piece of
pie is too much pie and I think more'n
one father is too much father, too"
Not able to cope with lis argument.
Liza wisely suggested that he watch for
the new pony.
az don't seem to be interested In that
pony. Liza. It's fine of Phil to send IL
to me, but 1t just seems h e 'spects that
M. 70 e