The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-09-14
The Euenine Story

The Epening Story
A Young Person
(By Martha McCulloch- Wflliams.)
Granny. the names are SO hard. can't
1 just say. They went ON and begat
one another to the end Of the chap
terri" Phil asked earnestly. his brow
puckered deeply, his fingers moist.
He loved granny dearly-there were
parts of the Bible be loved likewise to
read to her. But the begats! There hin
haltirg tongue always got him in trou-
BILE. And granny held literally that sal
walton abode in every word between the
lids Of the book Now that her eyes
were SO weak she insisted uncomprom-
isingly upon his beginning at Genesis,
and going straight through to Revela-
ton.
Commonly Phil was as docile as today
he was FESTIVE. What boy Of twelve
wouldn't have been FESTIVE with all the
school streaming past to the big lot.
where the home nine Of big boys was to
play or a match with q nine from
town?
/ Each nine had a game: this third one
would be final. It was called for
o'clock and the afternoons were short
ening sensibly, especially. in boy con-
sciousness. Saturday afternoons. You
never had time in them to do half you
had planned. Phil was % sure of that
he had got up early and spent the
morning trying hard to accumulate
tho lot. He had overreached himself.
When granny's questioning showed he
was quit of all his regular Saturday
jobs she had said with beaming smile:
How nice. My good child has nothing
to do now but read five chapters to
granny. 50 t-e.s4:,
He looked a. the clock anxiousIy az
she opened the Testament at the first
chapter Of Matthew. Almost 2 O'Clock.
Unless he escaped the begars, the read
ing would take an hour. Running every
step, he could lot get to the lot before
time was called. Every place worth
while would be crammed. and he had
picked out the tree he meant to climb
the branchy maple with the wide crotch
at the side. Tommy Binks knew of 1t.
Tommy was. l.. did not doubt, already
| in It. Still he would not mind even that
| IL he could but get there in time to hear
| the whooping and see snatches OF tho
play.
So when granny shook her head, say
ing almost eternly. Read ONT" he tried
to be obedient, but broke down in spite
! OF his twelve years. Tears blinded him,
| his choking throat refused utterance.
He dropped the Testament and dug fists
l
at him unseeing. but hae ears told her
his Distress She was abdlkt to speak
when Liza and Nancy 1ur in. crying
breathlessly,, "Oh. EoodyI Phil hasn't
gone. Mother says Il hesH take us we
| can 60 to the game" ;.
Sun-daxxled, they did not 1T first
note his plight. He turned q deep
beet red-ever since school began he
] had been captive to Lisa's blue eyes
and rosebud mouth. Tho Acton twins
were just his age. and lived. near
enough to be playfellows., People said
how odd It was twins could be 90 diff
ferent Lisa was a beauty-no mis-
take Nancy was az homely, a. her
name Stubby, straight hatred,
freckled, with a. thick nose and q
mighty square chin. she certainly
looked like changeling beside Lisa.
She had, though, q charm Lisa lacked
la soft, sweet voice, which she did
not squandeF in chatterin4.
i "Phil's cryin'? What for?" Lisa
exclaimed potntealy with mischiev-
j Granny cleared her throat IT sun-
pose 1t IL because he hates reading to
q poor old blind woman" she said re-
bukingly. ''rH pray the good Lord
not to remember and VISIT 1t ON him. IS
4 TI-you know-I- Phil stam-
mered with an appealing look at Lisa.
i She laughed outright ned pre-
l
haven Of refuge. the hay NOW.
4 Nancy found him there, and coaxed
him to come forth. She had made II
right with granny-wouh stay her
self and read to her. Phil ana I'm
might be In time II only they hurried.
AZ Nancy explained she was piclxina
straws from his coat and motionins
him toward the kitchen, where he
could wash and wipe away his tears
He could not look at her; his heart
was too full-nor see her, his eves
were too dim. But in his mind -
shaped herself anew as the most conn
!, forting and beautiful creature eve
made.
Times whirligig took Phil lar fror,
the homo of his boyhood. At aever
and twenty he was as haudsopne an6
promising . young lawyer a. tho towu
OF Exmouth could boast. His uncle
the judge. had taken him there 40,
granny died. adopted him, sent hin
through college. ana taken him int
. partnership in reward for winnins
!. nrst honors at the law school.
Just one thing more. son. he had
satd when Phil nrst nat down opposite
him in the private ONCE. Get mar.
ried. Quick. I want to play Win
your children, q good while before
die
Il From the Judge this was astound.
ing. He had been held almost child.
!. halter. Those 20 holding did not know
: the truth-that he had buried hi,
heart In the grave Of another mans
81 wife. She had left behind 4 DAUGHTER
4 almost her imago. What 20 nafu-a
- &hat he 5udgo shoul6 echdme hepe.