The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-30
TIE EVENING STORY
Toms Mother.
(By lola Forrester.)

why didn't he come himself?"
Mrs. Ellis puckered her lips at the
challenge in the girls tone. She
smoothed out her gloves on one knee
and smiled-a doubtful, wistful little
smile.
HE didn't think you'd ever want to
see him again.
| Il didn't-for a moment" The
tears flickered on the long, dark
| lashes before Ina could stop them
She stood over near the open window,
looking out at the pretty garden and
the old Roman seat at the turn of the
walk where Tom had first told her he
loved her the best in the world. Size
| thought of the night for a mome6t t,
| until the memory of the morning g
news swept it out of her conscious
ness. The headlines faced her still,
/ Toms name in wide letters, then the
whole flat truth of how he had taken
funds intrusted to him and used
| them to speculate with. 1t had added
| that he was engaged to one of the
prettiest girls in Harbor View and
needed money to keep up her stand
ard of a good time.
why did he try to make out he
| had plenty of money to spend?" she
| said suddenly, turning on the little
| nervous figure. "It isn't true what
the papers say. I never asked him for
anything"
But if he didn't take you out good
y
could afford to. Not that I'm blam-
ing you, child. Land, everybody likes
to have a nice time, and Toms been
pretty well tied up in a business way.
I've seen he was worried for long
time, but didn't say anything"
81 noticed it, too Just for a mo-
ment the eyes of the two met in the
first gripping sympathy. Where is
he? 1 suppose he had to go away"
Mrs. Ellis shook her head.
Hes home. I left him lying on
the sofa in the dining room, with his
head in the cushions, just the way he
always did when he'd done something
he knew he'd oughter not when he was
little.'
ct thought the papers said they
were going to take him away today
Hes waiting for them to come
now. But he won't run away. / know
to come himself and tell you all about
how it happened, but he just wouldn't
You know, Ina, he's cared Tor you
ever since you were running up and
down Main street on a bicycle eight
years ago, hair flying and laughing
over your shoulder at some one. When
he came out of high school ! went
down and talked to Mr.. Carey at the
bank. used to go to school with
Tip Carey years ago, and didn't mind
a bit asking him to give my boy a
chance. He started Tom in right away
and he was doing well and satisfied
until
II came along" Ina spoke bitterly.
1t was true in a way. She loved pretty
things around her. She had told Tom
she wouldn't marry him until he could
take her to her own home. She didn't
want his mother to live with them.
She was oId-fashioned and just funny
little old lad--. Ina's father had been
sheriff in Harbor View, and even coun-
ty treasurer before he died. She was
stenosrapher at the hotel now, but
no one except herself knew the air
castles she built at her desk. Tom
had not usually been included in them.
IT suppose he blames me for every
thing. How much did he take?"
The old lady pincLed her lips to-
gether again as if she had suffered
quick pain, but her eyes were wide
and placid.
ABOUT five hundred, all told. He
took it out Friday and wired it east
and expected to put 1t right back by
Monday. He says he figured he'd clear
enough to start in housekeeping right
away, and get you the piano, too"
Ina put her hands over her face.
The tears were coming faster. She
had wanted the piano and suddenly
she remembered the look on Toms face
a piano in every room If she married
Owsley Rawlins, the hotelkeeper.
eff he doesn't put in any defense,
how-how long will he be sent away?''
she asked.
IT. depends. He just wanted me to
tell you he did it so he could have
things nice for you"
Ina knelt beside the little figure in
black, her arm around Toms mother.
''I'll go with you and see him." she
whispered.
Land. child. you needn't" protested
Mrs. Ellis kindly. ''We'H get along.
Tom don't expect to hold you, of course
He's made a mistake, but he's going
to stand by it and do what he can to
make up. But he knows girls aren't
made. that way. It's funny, amt it?
After you're married, you'll fight tic
the last inch if he's in trouble, but
before you blame him."
81 don't blame him. I want to &C
to him, now" Ina was pinning on
her wide-brimmed hat, her pretty face
tear stained and determined, her lips
pressed together firmly. He did il
for me an I'll glad he hasn't run
away
The streets were dark as they hur-
ried along. Down at one cross street
ina saw the lights around the hotel |
They seemed to throw out a radius |
of brightness like n lure to the love
of luxury in her heart. She slipped
her arm around Toms mother and |
bent her head to the keen autumn |
wind that brushed by them.
There was somebody waiting in the |
shadow of the porch when they came |
to the Ellis cottage. Ina hardly no
went and turned into the dining room. |
There was no light She went to the |
OLD fashioned sofa and knelt beside It, |
her face pressed to Toms rough, curly |
i:air.
ssDear, I've come" she whispered. |
And don't you care. Tiff you have |
to go away for 1t, Tom, I'll stay here |
with your mother, and wait
-nas