The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-07-04
THE EVENING STORY
One Glorious Fourth.
(By Dorothy Blackmore. }

Betty laughed softly to herself as
she tied a string carefully around her
great toe and attached the other end
to the piece of Irvine that hung over
the window sill. Then she turned out
the light and crept into bed giggling
like a schoolgirl into the pillows.
1t was the night before the glori-
Gus Fourth and Betty had decided
that inasmuch as the holiday came
during the vacation days she was
spending back at the old farmhouse
where she was born, she would be a
child again in her enjoyment of it. She
was tired of the conventionality, of
the life that was hers in the big city
in which she was now a wage Garner,
and these three weeks in the quiet
country were as days of gold to her.
To be sure, the farm was no longer
occupied by her parents-they had
gone to another world-but in their
place there were kindly people who
willingly agreed to take Betty for
the holidays.
tvs childhood chum was visiting at
her old home next door. She, too,
tolled in distant metropolis, but it
was Carolyn Harmon's pleasure to
send home each week a portion of her
weekly salary to help her father and
mother to keep the homestead. And
it was sentiment alone that made
Betty take her own room in the home
that had been hers instead of accept
ing the hospitality of her neighbors
and friends
Wen try to repeat some of the
fun we had when we were children"
Carolyn had said that afternoon.
Let's have a really, truly Fourth,
Bet!"
And tie strings on our toes to
wake up earIy?'' Betty had asked
Carolyn nodded. even that! Moth
er always wakes early and I'll call
TfTaf - kr,sr, 1T
and fasten it to the white picket fence
between the hedges and I'll pull it as
early as you like. Wasn't that what
we used to do?"
"Exactly-for mother. poor dear
motheri-would not let me get up
early and I had to do it quietly. Then
we'll take our firecrackers and go
down to the meadow just as we once
did to join the boys
"Ah-the boys!" Carolyn interrupt
ed with a sigh. I wonder where they
all are now"
You can make sure there won't
be any of them still in the old meadow
as they used to be with their punches
of firecrackers and toy cannons, Car
RE. That's all over" Betty's eyes
were wistful as her thoughts trailed
back over the dozen years or more.
Even now as she dropped off to
sleep, with the cool breeze blowing her
hair about her pillow, her thoughts
were among her childhood memories.
She was hardly prepared for the
strenuous tug that her toe received
some hours later. Indeed, 1t seemed
as if she had been asleep but a mo-
ment. She sat up to discover that the
string had been broken off at the win
dow sill.
Carrie is getting strong in her old
age" Betty said laughingly, as she
took the string from her toe and rub
bed its singing exterior. The jerk
had nearly startled her out of bed.
She dressed hastily in a fresh white
linen frock and pinned a roseladen
hat on her sunny hair. Then she
opened her door softly, picked up her
basket of firecrackers and crept
stealthily down the stairs None of
the good folk in the old farmhouse
was awake.
Betty sought the side door and
stepped out to the porch overlooking
the adjoining grounds and picket
fence. No Carolyn was in sight. She
have imagined the jerking of the
string, for it lay broken as self evil
dence.
It was a glorious Fourth indeed
Dawn was just breaking over the hills
in the distance and the warm pink
and golden glow was fast lighting the
sky. Betty inhaled long draughts of
the fresh morning air and stepped
out upon the close-clipped lawn. She
would remain up now and beat Car
olyn at her own game. Where could
she be?
Betty walked to the corner of the
white farmhouse and stood still There
in the center of the good farm folks
most prided flower bed, was a mono
lane. A little to one side and looking
ruefully at the wreck of his own air
craft was young man in flying toys.
Betty coughed. The man looked
about
Good morning.
Good morning" repeated Betty |
but it doesn't seem like good morn |
ing to you.''
You mean it won't be when the
when 1t is discovered that 1 have |
ruined a lovely flower-bed,' he |
laughed.
ITO say nothing of your own mon |
oplane," Betty added. She was grad |
ually going closer, for though she had |
seen many of this sort of flying ma |
chimes in the air it had never been |
her privilege to inspect one at close
range.
"Oh, bother the monoplane," re-
piled the man, taking keen but po-
lite glance at Betty. 'I suddenly dis /
covered that my engine was not act /
ing properly and had to make land /
ing here in these grounds. I encoun-
tered a bit of wire. or cord, Orwell |
something, just as I was reaching the |
ground, and it caught me across the /
face and-why-what2"
For Betty had burst into peals of |