The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-09-16
THE EVENING STORY
Temper and Temperance.
(By clara Inez Deacon.)

Sunday afterno Don of his vacation or
the porch of the little cottage where
he was a paying guest. The greatest
excitement of the still afternoon in
the primitive Maine village seemed
to be the passing of country lads with
their lassies in the family blackboard.
For a time John Titus was interested,
/ but presently. his handkerchief thrown
/ flies and their ilk, he dropped Off into
a peaceful slumber.
Softly the strains of music began to
issue from the windows of the house
next door. An old-time organ was be-
ing played in accompaniment to a
the doing man that he was dreaming,
but as the strains became more IA
miliar he removed the handkerchief
from his face and sat up.
Not can't be- he said, almost
audibly. Then he turned in the direc-
ton of the sound and listened atten-
lively.
Father, dear father, come home
with me now" ran the song, "the
clock in the steeple strikes three
The young man slapped his knee
vigorously "Am I awake p he asked
himself. cor can it be that some one
really sings that song yet? TIT
seems Incredible
But the voice ran on even to the
incident of poor brother Benny"
hear her own voice, began again at
the beginning and sang the old song
over to it's melancholy end.
After a while, though the voice that
sang was unusually sweet, it began
to get on John Titus nerves and he
paced the porch.
IT suppose she will sing Where is
my wandering boy tonight when she
has had enough of this" he soliloquiz-
ed.
And as if by a mental message re-
ceived across the garden, the old organ
began the very song he had dreaded.
This is too much he said, as he
went indoors and sought quiet in the
cottage parlor. His temper was ris-
ing.
9sMr. Titus" began voice in the
doorway when he was becoming inter
ested in a magazine, ct wonder If you
wouldn't like to escort me tonight.
My brother unfortunately can not go
and-wen. I thought perhaps you
would see that I got safely to church
and back
Miss Patience Parsons was the
spinster of the household Of which
Titus was a temporary member. and
he could not refuse so small a request
from a woman whose joys in life had
been so evidently few.
tIlI be only too glad, Miss Par
sons" he said, smiling bravely.
Miss Parsons stepped in and beamed
down upon him. I am sure you'll en-
JOY the meeting-it's the semi-annual
meeting Of our church, |
and we have special speakers and |
views for this evening" |
she said, enthusiastically.
Titus groaned inwardly. Then-sud- |
7enly everything became clear to him |
md he knew that he must sit through |
Ill the verses of Father dear father"
again. The person next door had been
for the meeting
Too courteous to show his displeas-
ire, Titus told the spinster that he
ng evening.
Then ensued a dissertation by Miss
Parsons on temperance. She exhibited
her white ribbon, and told
Titus of the great danger of the state
t the approaching election. when it
night fall into the hands of non-pro-
libitionists.
Teatire cut short Miss Parsons re-
marks, and afterward she, escorted by
Ter young friend, found her way to
he pretty village church at the foot
Z the hill.
Pretty girls with their Sunday
eaux were strolIing toward the vine
overed building from every direction,
nd Titus and Miss. Parsons found {
themselves in the midst of crowd of
Dung people at the church doors.
Though far from interested. Titus
Stoned attentive1y to the speakers and
ook part in the pretty service of the !
hurch. He even raised his splendid !
snor voice to its best pitch and Joined
/ the hymns of the evening.
At last the organ struck up the tune :
e had been dreading, but when he
,oked up to see who was to sing the :
1ng-who it was that he had listened
} that afternoon with such irritable =
was taken back. Standing
Il the platform by the side of the Y
reat sheet on which were being f
lrown the stereopticon views stood a &
eautiful girl Titus rubbed his eyes I
nd looked again. Yes-beautiful was G
ardly the word; she was far more v
ian that No wonder her voice had
FUNDED sweet in the afternoon.
The girl stood there and sang until
iere was hardly a dry eye in the room
nd with every verse that she sung
titus fell more deeply a slave to her
harms. She was so simple-so good il
so different from the girls he knew
ack in the city. Il
Then a happy thought came to him
she lived next door. Perhaps he is
light meet her-even on the morrow.
The rest of the meeting was any
ling but long to him. He Toasted his -
res on the girl and was sorry when
le little minister had pronounced his Is
nal benediction, and he, with Miss
arsons, was being elbowed about by 7
lie departing crowds. II
On the way home he asked about
Ie girl who had sung IT
THAT is Miss True" his companion p
Id him. .sShe is at home for her va
Ltion ard we begged her to sing for 81
, tonight She is studying music in h
e city"
s-She has wonderful voice." Titus 81
id trying to keep his own tones from I'll
unding too enthusiastic.
t'Isn tell her you think So" Miss di
arsons laughed. re
Miss Parsons told everything she %
lard, so Titus had learned in his few o.
.ys' residence in the house. Ipl
When they reached home he heard Isl