The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-03-25


that he had ever tasted, inquired
meekly of his grandmother
| How did you know I was ilI?''
| She looked at him sharply over her
| spectacles. "A little bird told me- .
she declared.
He was sick two weeks, and every
day there came to him dainty notes
IN the graceful feminine script. They
came by mail now, and there was the
postmark of distant city.
| rom had learned by this time that
MS grandmother lived on the oppo-
site side of the hall When he was
strong enough he went into her plain
apartment, and then he wondered
Where the Injuries which she had fur
nlsned him during his illness had
been obtained, for in these rooms there
was no sign of affiuence, yet there had
been for him all the delicacies that
tempt the appetite of an invalid.
Now, grandmother he said one
morning, when he was dressed and
! ready for his first outing, we've got
TO have an understanding. 1t must
nave taxed you a lot to get all those
good things for me, and as soon as
l can get work, I'm going to pay you
back But 1 can't ever repay you for
the other things-your sympathy and
kindness.
The little woman patted his big
hand. There" she said don't you
worry about it, 1t hasn't cost me a
penny-there was fairy godmother
who met all the bills
But she would not tell him another
word.
The next day Tom began to look for
work. He had been badly placed in
his first position. He felt himself
equal to something better.
One day he found it-a bigger thing
than he had hoped for-with an ex-
cellent salary attached.
grandmother ct want to find my
fairy godmother," he said, land you
know where she is
Il DON'T said the lady fatty.
"Oh. come now"
Il don't" was the decided answer.
but can tell you who she is. She is
my niece, and when she was twenty
one she came into nice little sum of
money, and she made up her mind
that she would spend it on having a
good time But she's a funny child,
and she didn't call it a good time to
go to the shows and things, she just
wanted to spend her money on helping
other people. And one day she heard
you cough, and when your door was
open she peeped in, and she just
couldn't bear to think of your being
so lonesome, and so she planned the
little surprises, and one day she said,
Now, auntie, he needs more attention
than I can give him, and you just do
all you can, and l will provide the
money. And she has, and then when
you began to want to know her she
got scared and went home.''
Where is her homer" Tom de-
.'she amt there" said the little
lady. "She's gone to work. You see,
her money didn't last long, when she
spent it that way. But she said she
had the time of her life.'
What is her work p
shes stenographer,'' said the lit
tie lady.
Toms heart leaped. Then at least
she was not a rich girl. as he had fear
ed. How could he then have dared to
WOO her!
IF you know her home address, you
give 1t to me- he said, and reluctantly
the aunt gave it to him, and that night
he took a train and started on his
quest.
He found her, for fate was kind to
him. And she was dear and sweet, as
he had dreamed she might be.
He brought a letter of Introduction |
from the aunt.
KNOW" he said.
NO her cheeks were pink; "did |
you think 1 was very for
ward ?"
Il thought you were-an angel"
Tom blurted out
But he did not tell her then all |
hat was in his heart, for time was
needed for the wooing and the win
copyrighted, 1912, by Asso-
dated Literary Press.)