The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-07-04
THE EVENING STORY
Fireworks.
(By Dorothy Blackmore.)

ence day her parents had called her
| Gloria-Gloria Manners. And she
mikht well have been called "Glori-
Gus" for she was glorious child and
she became a glorious woman.
| 81 suppose it would have been Pa
| tricia had l come along on the sew
enteeth Of March," she had remarked
the day that she was sixteen
years old. "And then would have had
to wear a shamrock and march in the
parade for the sake of Old Erin. Or
1 might have been Valentine, or
Christmas Carol-eh, father?'
You couldn't have been improved
upon, my daughter remarked the
proud father as he looked at the tall.
| slim girl beside him. And now what
about your birthday party?"
| THE village president has ordered a
safe and sane Fourth, our usual
| celebration and fireworks cannot be.
I'm dreadfully disappointed, father. L
| love fireworksr'
| If the truth were known it was
more than the mere fireworks that
| Gloria's father always celebrated her
| birthday with that the girl loved.
| Each year, for the last three holidays,
| the big fireworks company who fur
nished the display for Mr.. Manners
| had sent the same young man to take
| charge of the entertainment. Gloria
| had always been in the midst of it, !
and she had become interested in the
good-looking, quiet young man. She
did not know his name, and she had
never seen him except on the three |
holidays when he had come to her |
fathers house at the bidding of his |
company. |
And yet Gleoria knew that she cared |
for him. If she did not, why could |
she not forget him? Why should she
think of him all through the year and
look forward to his coming on her /
birthday?
This year there were to be no fire. |
works, and Gloria knew that the |
safe and sane" Fourth meant for her |
a sorrowful sad Fourth. But she would !
not let her parents see her disappoint- |
ment it would dampen their joy in
her birthday.
A picnic supper was planned for the |
evening and all of Gloria's young |
friends had been asked to come. There |
was to be a dance in an out-of-door
pavilion to take the place of the fire.
works, and, altogether, Gloria knew
that she ought not to be unhappy
Late in the evening her father an
nounced that there would be a cotillion
figure in which all of the dancers We're
to join The lights went out suddenly
and from various directions were
thrown colored light effects on the floor.
The patterns marked by the lights
on the dancing floor were to be used
in the cotillion and when Gloria saw
the young man who had always at
tended to the fireworks for her care
fully directing the placing of the light
ed patterns on the floor she could hard
ly believe her eyes. The whole party
took on a new aspect.
Daughter, you begin the figure with
young Mr.. Raine-Mr. Raine, my
daughter Gloria said Mr.. Manners,
holding the young fellow by the arm
in friendly fashion.
Gloria bowed and blushed, ana
though she did not understand how it
had all come about she was too happy
to question the situation.
IF your father hasn't explained my
position, Miss Gloria" Edward Rafne
was saying, after the intricate figure
had been successfully danced, let me
do so. My father as you know, is the
fireworks king and the first year ne
for your father on your birthday
-Four years ago!" interrupted
Gloria.
Yes, four years tonight. I was
just becoming interested In the pus,-
ness-it was my first year out of col
lege-and I decided to begin at the
bottom and know the whole line.
Then, even though I had graduated
from that particular line well.
came again the following year and
the next" he said, looking at her.
Gloria's head was bent over her fan.
II remember you," she said. softly.
do you, Miss Gloria? ?" the young
man asked, eagerly 81 had hardly
your father came to see US in regard
to the lighting effect for the dance in
lieu of fireworks I happened to be in
the office, and a-weH, it was I who /
suggested a cotillion and the lead
ing of the figure myself I hoped it
would be with you that I might lead
and it was. 1t looked like a bad
piece of business for us-this shut
ting down of fireworks displays on
the Fourth of July, but I think the $
safe and sane Fourth is the happiest J
I have ever spent, Miss Gloria he {
said earnestly.
II was feeling terribly disap-
pointed at the loss of the fireworks
1ntiI-untiI the surprise father had in
store for me TRANSFERRED" Gloria ad- '
mitted. And if young Rafne might {
have been permitted to judge the
state of her mind by the color effects '
in her cheeks he would have been |
happy beyond words.
He had just finished marveling at !
the exquisite tint of her cheeks when :
G1oria's father came up to them
where they sat on the white marble l
bench on the lawn. Y
rs this a safe and sane Fourth,
Gloria, my daughter" he asked,
looking from one to the other. '1
see many signs about here of things !
that look anything but safe-and !
sane" he added, laughing. l
Young Raine Joined his laughter. S
Its too glorious a night to expect /
else, Mr.. Manners" he re- r
Piled. IT notice a few cases myself, 3
here and there. Is it time for an g
other figure?"
LAS you nke-you're running this q
party now, young man." replied Mr.. II
Manners. walking off, putting his big Il
cigar satisfactorily.
shall we dancer Edward Raine
asked, rising and looking down at \
Gloria And will you not mind be- h
Ing a partner in this figure again? 1t ! s