The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-12-16
The EVENING STORY
The Captains Christmas Shopping.

the modern viewpoint with regard to
Christmas giving. He always bought
Ware, who kept house for him, and
some candy and nuts for Martha's
children. He generally included some
tobacco for Martha's husband, though
the latter gift was given under pro-
test, for Mr.. Ware was shiftlesS, and
only his wife's devoted affection made
him tolerated in the town.
But when Della Deems opened her
new shop the captain dropped in to see
her stock
You see,'' Della confided in her pref
ty way, people buy so many things
at this time of year, and I've been
dressing dolls all summer, and I've
painted some pretty little boxes for
candy, and several people are going to
send things to sell on commission. I
ought to make a nice little sum-
The captain ran his fingers through
his stiff gray hair. But I didn't know,
Delia,'' he said in a troubled way, that
you needed to do anything like this
I thought you had money enough to
be pretty comfortable
Della shook her head. Father didn't
leave me very well off," she explained,
and I've always taken care of Aunt
Lucy, and her sickness and her funeral
took most all I had saved. So I
thought I'd better begin to be a busi-
ness woman
'T didn't DREAM the captain began
again, but his observation was cut
short by the entrance of customer.
But the customer did not buy. Seems
to me your things are pretty expen-
she went out. "City folks may be able
to pay such prices, but most of US can
dress dolls ourselves"
When they were alone Della looked
at the captain in frightened way.
DO you suppose everybody will say
f6of Oh sir Al
make a very large profit, but I have
to count my time and the cost of ma
teriaIs.''
"stingy thing" said the captain,
looking with blazing eyes after the
critical customer. Let her dress her
dolls, there'll be plenty of folks who
will want your stock
But the words of the critical GUS
toner proved to be true. Della did
not make large sales. Her wares were
very dainty, but the folk in the little
fishing town we're not rich, and they
were saving in their habits. So the
business of the shop languished, al
thought the captain came every day
and bought inappropriate things for all
of his friends and relatives. It was
Martha Ware, however, who opened the
captains eyes to his real duty in the
case.
Some nice man ought to marry Della
DEEMS she said, as the captain
showed her the dolls he had bought for
her little girls.
captain with all the force of blow.
'fWhy should Della Deems get mar |
ried?'' he demanded. "She's better off
as she is
mo woman is better off, said Martha !
Ware. '"They can say what they like !
about my Henry, but at least he's |
something for me to work for. If |
didn't have him, where would I be, do |
you suppose? Living all alone, with |
nothing to think of but dying"
well, Della Deems has something
else to think Of" said the captain.
"WhatT demanded Martha, dress
ing dolls until her hair grows gray?
1t beats me that she hasn't married
some of the men that have asked her
Everybody knows that Abner Trefry
wanted her and Martin Lynch But
no, she wouldn't. Martin himself told
my Henry that he'd been running a |
race with Ahner since Della was efgh-
teen. and that he finally gave up in
despair. because Della said she couldn't
and wouldn't. Everybody thought
was set on" She looked sharply at
the captain, but he was unconscious of
her scrutiny.
"we1l' he said, tive known Della
Deems since she was a baby. She was
Just sixteen when I went off on my
boat. And when I came back she was
mighty glad to see me- and I brought
her a sandal wood fam
ct know" said Martha shrewdIy. ct
amt helped her to clean house for
nothing. Do YOU know where she keeps
that fan, captain?"
The captain stared at her. How
should I know?''
We'll. she's got it in a box with her
mothers picture and her fathers
watch, and there's bunch of
faded flowers. too-red roses; 1t looks
as if thew might have been, tied with
blue ribbon
Somewhere, way back in the captains
consciousness came the vision of girl
her swineine from a Iii ~ hive 1,bho7
She had taken the ribbon from the fan
and had tied It about the bunch of red
roses that he brought from his garden
and he had danced with her.
THAT was when I came back from my
second cruise" he said, aloud.
what was?'' demanded Martha, cur
You go and do your work: Martha
somewhat heavily in his chair thinking it ,
out Then, he put on his hat and took !,
the road to the plain square building that
crowned the top OF the hill outside the
town.
Later he sat in cheerless room and
to the mat sad Of the county
dren's ward-and there are fifteen chill
" ANY. "A " Christmas plans for them?" the I
10 she said, regretfully. "our ap-
tree, but there will be no individual pres I
' no dolls for the little girIs?'' the cap {
mo dolls" said the matron.
well. now, look here" the captain
stammered. IT want to make everybody