The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-10-22


ike jewels in the freight. He was
good to his wife" she took up the
story again, and she died without
knowing that he kept an old picture
of me and this ring locked in secret
drawer in his desk. Only his son
brought the ring to me and told me
all about-the end. AT the last he
said, Patty he always called me So
| Patty. if you'll give me your hand,
| We'll go up on the hill where the flow
ers are in bloom. It's summer up there,
Patty. Let US go.' He thought that
We were young again, Betty
What a beautiful love story, Aunt
Patricia" the girl said when she could
control her voice. What a beautiful
story and yet how sad!''
Il had my dreams, child, and the
hope that he was happy. He loved
his boy-he was happy in him.
The old clock in the hall struck g,
and Miss Patricia sat up hastily and
brushed her hand across her eyes.
His son is coming to dinner tonight.
Run, dress and look your prettiest!
If love ever comes take it, my dear.
Don't let anything stand in your way
For a long time Miss Patricia sat
before the fire, dreaming the old
dreams that had lasted and kept her
heart young for 70 years. Somebody
stopped over her chair and kissed her
lightly upon the forehead. She looked
up and smiled to see him there. 1t
was only a part of her dream, she
thought, until she heard Betty coming
down the stairs, humming an old love
song.
so Miss Betty is really here?'
Miss Patricia laughed, little sill
very laugh that held in it minor
note of sadness that always made the
mans heart ache.
II didn't realize that it was you,
Bob. I thought I was just dreaming
when you kissed me- Then Bob
Thorne knew that she had been
dreaming of his father.
This is Betty, Mr.. Thorne."
Miss Patricia herself gasped at the
lovely picture in the doorway The
freight silhouetted the slender figure
against the velvet hangings, touched
the brown pair to gold and set the
sapphires, deeper blue than the
girls eyes, to sparkling like the waves
of the sea when the sunshine kisses
fairies at play.
"You-you are just like the picture
of Miss Patricia when she was |
girl he said slowly
81 have seen a picture of you,'' said |
Betty. Aunt Patricia keeps it in a |
little silver frame on her desk"
1T was his father when he was
young"
1t didn't take Miss Patricia long to |
see that although most of her dreams |
had been in vain, her very last dream
could come true. So after dinner she |
left the two together in the drawing
room, sweet as incense with the frag-
rance of the memories stored there |
the years.
Betty's heart fluttered in a new and
wholly unexpected way whenever she
met the calm deep eyes of Bob
Thorne.
Miss Patricia has been telling me
a lot of interesting things about you,
but I believe that you are younger
than she thinks
He was so serious about it that
Betty laughed while she secretly bless
ed the skillful fingers that had created
her youthful frock.
Don't you see, won't you know
that we are going to love each other?"
He went over and stood by her chair
looking down at her. Don't you see
illment all the love Aunt Patty and
father felt in those long, lost years.
Betty?"
Betty's breath seemed to stop in her
throat She stood up clasping her
hands together nervously. Why 1
nave only known you
Time makes no difference When
first saw you in the doorway, I knew
been waiting for. Don't fight against
ate. Betty. You are to me what Miss
Patty was to father all of his life,
Aren't you going to marry me?"
Betty looked up in his face and
what she saw there made her sur
'ender promptly. 81 Think will"
'he whispered.
Miss Patricia coming in at the door
miled at the two figures merged
nto one before the dancing flames.
All of her heartaches were forgot
en-. She remembered the joy of her
,wn union when she saw the happi-
less of the two before her. s
His love and mine,' she said soft ;
Y, "at last combined in their love. -
Copyright 1918, by the Mcclure ,
Newspaper Syndicate.)
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