The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-27

got so bad"-he WINGED and spoke with
lowered voice-"I couldn't stand it,
Marcy. I bolted from the cIub one
night and came back home"
Pclly's pink toes. Fine kiddie." he
said, very fine kiddie But where did
you get her, Margy?"
Marcy flushed with pleasure. Tn
SO glad you like her. It's Mary Halls
papy. o remember poor Mary. that
went to school with me? Her husband
left her nothing, you know, and when
She died the baby was put in an
asylum, a horrid place where she had
to wear a uniform" She Rugged Polly
Marie close I'D been going to see the
little thing, and when the trouble got
SO bad"-her turn to speak with lower
Ell voice. couldn't fight it out alone.
80 went right down and got Polly
Marie for my very own"
I'm glad" declared Wade with sat
lsIaction- The little house had always
wanted a baby. Marcy"
Perhaps" she suggested. ..if we'd
mad n it wouldn't have happened AS
II DID" Then, for a woman must ever
NEEDLE with the tree of useless knowl-
eoge' What made it happen, Henry?
was 1T the stacks of money that
brought on our d."
But his hand was over her ,;ns
Husn, Margyt Not one word of that
mat happened back there in the world
wren you come through the iron gate.
cnoer the h~oneysuckle arbor. and rails.
eo lhe BRASS knocker On the door-you
remember how We searched the +oHDn
for that knocker ?-then vo,, Ief+ ar
"orio oen1nd. You must never saw thai
Meru IN mere, for it would hurt tha 1it-
Tie Drown house. You see. Marcy +ba
niue Drown house is a real home. and
the minute that word is spoken. Or
even of, within its four walls.
a real home dies"
how stupid of me-" she cried. .and
20 thlnk L almost killed the little
uouse, L mustn't say thai word even
20 ten you how sorry 1 am. Henry
IN was SO FOOLISH and unforgiving."
NO, my dear, not even to give me
Inc chance to tell you how ashamed
l am or the wrong I did you"
ne Grew a bowl of violets across
. .dTl Iapie and held them toward her.
IneyH make you forget, Marcy.
Ihey grow so close to mother earth
That they know her sweet, wise Sc
oh, wild. faint. woodsy SMELL"
flowers. AZ '"o
Henry" she declared. looking IN
at MIN with sudden understanding,
you've been working in the gar
den all day. Henry. you didn't-you
90 nottunl De so cruel as to plant my
He nodded guilty.. "How could I
happen?"
"Oh. you're the stupid one now,''
sne answered %joyfully. For shame
to have so little faith. Didn't you
know I'd come home at last?"
you're right" he apologized. ''but
you see I had to plant ever SO hard
today, to take my mind off other
things Tomorrow I'll dig it up and
You can plant it all over again"
He made a chain of the largest
blossoms and put it on her head,
anvil her hair about her face.
Madonna" he called her. my lady
of the earth and man and all things
~sorrowful and human and STOPPING
quickly he kissed her.
Margery blushed like a school girl
and sat up in a sudden, wild eyed re-
membrance. Henry, Henry, I must
go. I can't stay here tonight You
aren't my husband any longer. What
would people say?"
People would be Mortified. But
you can't go out in all that storm,
Marcy He laughed a long, con-
tented laugh that def1ed the storm,
the world and people Tomorrow
We'll be married again to restore
our reputation, and in the mean
time let US go on being happy. You
aren't my wife. Marcy; I'm not your
husband, and Polly isn't our child;
but for all that the kettle is singing
on the hearth tonight and we're a
real family in a real home."-(Copy-
righted 1912 by Associated Literary
Press.)