The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-03-09
The Evening Story

The Evening Story
The Mock Prodigal-
(By ALA Randall Pierce.)
From his retreat behind the green
vines Of the shaded veranda Britt
Maxon somberly eyed his younger
brother. the gay. central figure OF q
lively group on the lawn.
All his life Cecil had been care
and q trial. He had defied restric-
into all the petty dissipations of the
town. loafed. laughed and snapped
his fingers at everybody who sought
to restrain. advise or reproach him.
His final act before his disappear
ance had been the appropriation OF
which sum his father had promptly
made good-and an attempt to elope
with the minister's pretty daughter.
The girl however, had Enthusiastically
left him at the second railway station
and returned home, weeping and re-
pentant.
Yet, for all the dark record Of q
checkered past, here he was at home
again. with the family and half the
town gathered about him. each one
trying to Guido the others in glad
some hospitality.
.'vfve the returned prodigal!" The
elder brothers meditations were bit
ter. isn't it wonderful! The folks
wouldn't make such a fuss over me
making every day a fete day now.
and nobody knows or cares whether
I'm in it or not"
Britt Maxon was usually of good
humor and kindly disposed toward
every one. even the erring younger
brother; but, at this moment, his mood
was hostile. His watching gaze took
in not only the 1.-THE, boyish figure of
the returned truant, but the slender.
blue-gowned girl who had been beside
him almost constantly since his ar
rival. Mora Kemp, too! And she had
scarcely known Cecil before his alb
sence.
hected the watcher. Give a man
the reputation of a dashing. devil
may-care scamp. and they'll find him
charming. Yes, Cecil's a mighty good
looking fellow-more like a gypsy than
ever. But thought Mora Kemp had
common sense! Well. I'm on
He turned abruptly, running into
his sister. Fanny, near the inside
stairway.
"Oh, Britt. will you come and hull
some berries? I'm going to make
some Of those. biscuit shortcakes Ce-
ellis SO fond of. He says he hasn't
seen one since he went away. And
Miss Kemp's going to stay to tea. She
and Cecil are going over to the farm
I'd send Molly, but they think it'll be
lark" - S
: Britt considered the. long, lonely
path across the wooded hills to the
farm house, and ground his teeth. His
brother was certainly making the most
of his early opportunities.
At the tea table, encircled with
guests, none was 30 merry as Cecil
and the blonde girl who sat at his
right hand. She turned two or three
times to challenge her older friend.
Britt Maxon; but the dull, savage
mood kept possession Of him, and
mechanical
In the evening Cecil played the
mandolin and sang fascinating for
etgn songs, some of them accom-
panied by languishing glances into
was time for the little party to break
up. he went home with Mora Kemp.
"A little more Of this sort Of thing
and I'll turn prodigal myself. declared
the elder brother. "Cecirs a hero! I've
been sane. safe and steady 30 long,
gave them all something to think
about"
A week later. after Cecil and Mora
had been out canoeing and the former
had carelessly upset the boat, and had
then made a heroic rescue, carrying the
girl in her dripping garments to the
Maxon home, Britt felt that his time
for action had come.
The next day. everybody in town was
talking over the strange news. Britt
Britt Maxon had suddenly given up his
fine position with the richest firm in
town! Britt Maxon had thrown his
family into panic. and Fanny Maxon
and Mora Kemp had been seen crying
on each others shoulder. while Cecil
was trying to comfort them.
Let the duffer go-it'N do him
good" cried the gypsy-like one. Pm
glad to see Britt cut Up bit. Shows
he's human
7 don't believe he's gone away to
But imagine him leaving his splendid
position with the Lomax-Tweed COM
pany."
''Why. he started to work there a
mere boy, at three dollars a week."
made president OF the Canton club.
And I'd counted on his playing all my
accompaniment this winter"
"I'n play for you" offered Cecil
blithely; but his sister shook her head
Cecil was given to introducing start.
ing lmpFOVlSdtAOnS III al nIS muc1Cdi
performances. "Oh. well, Britt'n be
back before winter"
Indeed. no. sighed Fanny. He
wrote mother-which IL more than you
did when you ran away. Cecil-and he
limited at q trip to South America"
Cecil wllistled. His travels had never
taken him as far as that
The summer passed and no message
came from the absent one; but Mrs.
Maxon received q gift now and then.
bearing some distant postmark. The
tokens came unsigned. but the mother
smiled softly when she saw them.
Once Mora Kemp found a handler
chief Of delicate Mexican handwork In
her mornings mail: but she spoke of
this to No one
It was early in the next spring that
the station master at Canton saw q