The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-03-06
THE EVENING. STORY
Spinning a Fairy Tale.
(By A. Maria Crawford. }

! (By A. Maria Crawford.)
! Il want you to quit putting love
stitches in my trousseau long enough
to meet Toms friend who is stopping
over here between trains today, Julie
Tom didn't tell me his name. He is
rather an elderly person. I judge he
is thirty-five or forty said Marion, I'll
| whom age seemed a terrible monster.
! thoughtfully. His heart may be very
young"
/ Impossible! He has lived in some
heathenish place out West for wears
and years. That would take all the
/ youth out of any man. Dear Julie, you
Marion lovingly touched the soft white
| garments piled on the table beside
them Never mindi I'll make your
| trousseau when the time comes"
| That's a safe promise, little sister.
| Your fingers will never be pricked with
| love stitches for me-"
! Il wish they could be, for your sake,
Julie It's such wonderful thing to
belong she said softly, looking down
at the clear white stone that symbols
lied her betrothal. You've had so
many sweethearts. Why didn't you
! marry one of them?"
jules eyes were tender and wistful
as she lifted her head and looked be-
yound Marion to where the llacs
doomed beside the old-fashioned gate.
1--WE been too busy she said quietly,
spinning a fairy tale
You could have been the princess in
a real fairy tale if you had married
John Trayner and his millions. He
could have made all the beautiful
things you have ever dreamed come
true"
mo, he couldn't have made my fairy
tale come true.
was there -anybody-who
could?"
Once upon a time said Julie, and
tried to smile but failed, and lowered
her eyes to the 1aces In her zap.
go on begged Marion like an
eager impulsive child. what was he
like? Did I know him?"
Yes, but you don't remember him,
am sure. It has been such long,
long time ago.
How long?''
st was eighteen, now am twenty
eighteen years"
Tell me about him. Could you,
without making yourself sad?"
of course will tell you about him.
love to talk of him as he was. We
were children together and shared our
griefs, joys and gingerbread. He took
me to my first dance. How well re-
member! Later we went to the same
college and one night we walked down
a shaded driveway where the moon
light through the trees made fan
tastic carpet under our feet. The river
wound its way at the foot Of the cam
pus-"
'I remember the very place. Tom
used to make love to me right there"
interrupted Marion.
I'VE were quiet for a time. The old
river ran by, Nnging the same song
lovers have heard from its waters for
centuries. From somewhere across the
campus came the sweet melody or
guitar A boy s playing and singing
a love song popular in the theaters
then" Julie hummed it reminiScently.
"And there with the song OF the river
blending with the song of the boy from
over the hill, We plighted our troth and
the moon and the stars beamed their
blessing"
Dear Juliev breathed Marion softly,
what then?'
HE went away to make his fortune.
Once he came back, big and brown and
splendid After a year or two his let
tiers began to come irregularly, and
then one day he wrote me that he loved
somebody else. I remember how my
heart ached as I folded that letter.
knowing that it was the very last one
I should ever read. Music seemed TO
die in the world. It was a long time
before I could put my heart in tune for
the minor strain life meant for me to
NAV When I had put that last letter
with the others I took from my desk a
little picture of him, taken when he
PLAYED basketball on the sophomore
team and put it away a little spring OF
rosemary to grow in my garden OF re-
membered things. Now you know why
none of the ships, though some were
white winged and splendid. have
dropped anchor in the quiet little har-
Dor of my dreams"
.It isn't fair for me to have every
thing and you to have only mem
cries." cried Marion.
'"They are not bad friends, my dear. /
You asked me the other DAY why +!
up so carefully in one of my trunks
He loved that dress SO have kept it
in lavender all these years. wore
it the last night he was mere
"Put it on now, Julie! want 10 see |
you in it, too"
Julie took the girls face between
her two hands Just to please you
and because I am in the mood, will"
I'm wishing for him." whispered |
Marion when Julie had gone. "Pm
wishing for him with all my heart.
There are those who say that wishes
come true when one wishes hard
come across a world-to her."
A maid appeared and said that Mr..
Tom and his friend were below, and
would like to see Miss Julie and MISS
Marion imme diately.
Marion ran into jules room. In
the soft clinging blue satin with for
caught in the coil of
brown hair on her neck, Julie was
young. Dreams reawakened
by her story to Marion lay in her
clear eyes
''How lovely you are, Julie. Tom is
here and his friend leaves tonight, so
they can stay only a few minutes.
please come down as you are. You
are beautiful-like the picture of
mother father loves best of ALL
Half reluctantly she went with Mar
ion down the stairs
feThis is my sister-to-be. Miss Julie
Julie, is it really your" and whenl
ne stepped out of the shadow into the
light Julie. lifting her eyes. saw thas