The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-03-11
The Eoenine Story
Whero She Was Needed.
{By Louise Alice Knox.)

WheEo She Was Needed.
{By Louise Alice Knox.)
1t wasn't that she resented Hazel's
not wanting her in the house. What
young bride could. feel delight in hav-
ing q grown-up stepdaughter around
all the time. She understood Hazel's
feelings thoroughly.
1t was that she had fooled herself
into thinking that Hazel would want
her; 1t was her own stupidity that
she was blaming now. She had
dreamed and planned. 80 many
weeks!
Whatever made me think, in the
first place, that I wouldn't be in the
way?" she wondered, staring out of
, her bedroom window at the green or
chard afar on on the hilltop. "Or
didn't think at all?"
That had been it. She had not
thought at all. She had just felt.
Ever since her. mother died she had
had an Unsuitable longing to have
another woman-person in the house,
for, although her father had been q
real chum to her, yet, what could
fathers understand of the Joys Of
dressmaking and party planning?
And Hazel, a girl from the city. had
seemed sent to her in direct answer
to prayer.
that's all" was the decision she final
ly reached. There is poor, lonely
Aunt Jenny needing me, and here I
lam staying where I'm anything but
needed"
Her next decision was to pack her
suitcase and get or to Aunt Jenny at
once. The dear old lady's farm lay
only two miles out of the village. She
could walk that easily.
Nor was there any time to be lost
in getting of. Hazel was now down
street. marketing. When she re-
1 rrr -
or two before she discovered that her
stepdaughter had flown. thinking that
she was, as usual, at her music les
son. The danger lay in not getting
cut of the house and far up the street
before Hazel started homeward. It
| ing q suitcase.
The best way to go was to go I'M
expectedly. She would leave q note
| on her bureau telling them that she
had been needed suddenly by Aunt
Jenny. Was not Aunt Jenny over
rushed trying to nh all the butter or
ders she received? So as not to
| arouse their suspicion. she would tell
i them that she would be away only q
week or two; later she could lengthen
the stay. Perhaps, too, 1t would be
best to address the note to Hazel. Not
for anything would she make trouble
| for the girl.
For 1 guess I'd grow stiff and un-
| friendly and solemn, too, If I were q
bride and had to have a third person
around all the time" she told her
self fairly
When the suitcase was packed, she
| flew to the tiny child's desk, which
she had always kept, even though she
had long ago outgrown 1t. and. drop
ping to a cramped position before it,
| wrote the note:
"Dear Hazel: You'll think me the
fdghtiest thing in the world for chas-
! ing off IN this scatterbrained way, but
don't be alarmed. haven't eloped.
| I've Just packed my suit case and gone
out to stay with Aunt Jenny for a day
| or two. She sent word that she need
ed me to help her with the churning.
! SO I thought 1t wasn't right to wait
| even a minute. 1 know how she gets
nervous and unstrung when she has
| more orders than she can fill by her
self, so I simply threw a few things
into the suit case and took to my heels.
I hate to leave you and Dad. Your
loving GERALDINE"
The pen dropped from her fingers.
i She sat long time motionless. Ten
derby. her fingers touched the green
felt imitation blotter of the tiny desk.
It was on this blotter that her fathers
big hand. years ago. had guided her
enough to sit before it comfortably.
then. Somehow, she had never been
able to part with the toylike thing.
1T will be lonely without mel" she
| thought chfldishly, as she rose.
There was not q moment to be lost,
and yet, strangely, she made no move
to go. Silently, listlessly, she wan
dered toward the window and stood
looking down on the garden below. II
that she and her father had spent 20
many long summer evenings. 1t was
there he had made to her what she
| always called to herself his "confes-
SION"
Have you ever noticed" he had
broken out suddenly, one night. that
| I'm not like other people
She had started and looked at him
in surprise. Then something within
her seemed to tell her that it would
be best to not express establishment.
NO." she had answered. guardedly.
| Are your
with that he had thrown back his
head and gone on as though talking
| to himself.
i 1--WE always been different from
every one else. I've often wondered
IL you'd noticed it. I've got the sort
of nature that can't be itself unless
it II sure that it Is admired. Now with
you can joke and sing and even clos
dance-can act like q foolEbut with
fcvery ONE else I'm 30 silent that they
think I'm critical. That's my reputA-
ton, you know Critic
4 There his confession had stopped q
abruptly a. 1t had begun, and 0erAl-
dine. listening to that strange new
voice, within her, had not referred to
1T then, or after.
|, From that moment she never had
forgotten It. The memory that he had
trusted her enough to confide In hel
filled her with pride She .rew to
: feeling in her love for him . tender,
new. almost protective quality.
But goodness!" she shook herself
s , aoooaeS S,~ nov