The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-08-26
The Euening Story
A Rainy Night.


(By Lolita Adele Gannett.)
MAZDA pushed the book aside, rush.
ed to the Window and viciously jabbed
her hands through her hair.
Rain. rain, rain! Keep 1t up Tor
ever If it is any satisfaction! Darn
rain, darn bookkeeping. darn being
alone in a big city! 1 wonder II any
body could think Of a more unpleas-
ant thing than being alone In big
| city the day before holiday-unless
| it is the holiday ftself?'
| Mazda gazed out on the dripping
streets and her eyes were filled with
| loneliness and self-pity.
II wish now 1 had accepted Helga's
invitation to go out to the park with
her-for, of course, it will clear on
and be nice and sunshiny tomorrow II
only to tantalize me-but, no, my
pride and New England prudishness
had to jump up and jab me in the
conscience and 1 refused. What il
Helga's crowd isn't just m. style? I'd
have had a pleasant day. Almost any
thing would be better than sitting In
the house all alone on holiday.
For a few minutes longer Mazda
stood and watched the people hurry
ing through the streets. Mazda felt
very much alone. Everybody except
herself had some one to greet when
| they came in tired and wet and out
| OF sorts with the world at large
l On, we'll, she S4lO d. AdSts tuA HAA6
from the window. I'D better get at
those books since I brought them
home with me, and see If I can find
that mistake before I go to bed"
In a short time she jumped up
again. IT wonder what is the matter
with those youngsters upstairs! III
| they don't stop that racket I'll go
daft! 1 wonder what they can be do
ing-what their mother is thinking of
to let them whoop and rOmp and run
around that way. One thing is GER
tain, 1 can't work while they keep up
that noise, SO I'll go out for a while;
maybe when come IN they Will nave
gone to bed
She put on her coat. pressed her red
tam down over her brown curls.
closed and locked her door. and then
ichanged her mind. I'll not go out
in this rain" she declared to nerseH.
I"I'H go right up there and ask their
jmother to keep them quiet! Thats
lust what I'll dol have some rights!
Arrived at the door Of the fiat above.
Mazda knocked loudly. It had to be
loud knock to make itself heard above
the din within.
Almost Immediately the door was
thrown open. Mazda opened her mouth
to deliver her none too gentle protest.
but failed to deliver it. Instead OF the
dapper little woman whom she knew
for the mother of the little flock within
doors, she found herself gazing up into
the brown yes of a tall man who wore
a checked Bingham apron
"Come right in," the wearer of the
apron said, holding wide the door:
l"Youl1 find Nell in there" with nod
of his head toward q door to the right.
lfor somehow Mazda found herself with
lin and the door shut before she even
knew she i-tended to go in, and glad
I am to see you. You just got here In
thine to save the lives OF these two kids.
to say nothing of mine"
"Why there, that is" MAZDA want
ed to tell him he was mistaking her for
some one else but somehow she could
MT say it and found herself smiling.
Don't make any excuses at all. Go
fright in, Nell will be ready to eat you
Eup, she'll be so glad to see you. Nellr'
lhe bawled, Here's your friend" he
said and gently pushed Mazda into a
room and stepped aside and closed him.
self out.
} Mazda found herself gazing down on
the pretty little woman whom she had
tso often noticed-and sometimes envieo
,i-going out with her two little boys.
and found herself in an instant beside
the couch on which the little woman
was lying.
"Are you ill?" she asked as She
caught the look Of pain in the drawn
= face. Can 1 help you? But first
must correct the mistake your hus-
! band made He evidently takes me
the fiat just below you and I came
: tup-'' Made stopped and bit her
ihp, She could hardly tell this little
woman who seemed to be in such pain
that she had come up to complain OF
her boys-but the little woman gave
. her no chance to finish.
You need not apologize for COM
, ing, dear. know you-that is. have
seen you often. I've thought many
times I'd like to have you come uI
, land see me, but you always kept sc
, aloof and seemed so self-sufncient
: that I never dared speak to you. Now
, that you are here I'm glad, no matter
J what has brought you. Jim took you
/ for a friend I sent for. have one
of my headaches, just want to lie
t down in a quiet room and rest. But
/ rest. Listen to that. The dear little
: fellows are SO noisy and Jim hasn't
: much knack in taking care of them. 81
J She stopped and smiled as a whoop
came to them through tho closed door
THAT ia" she went on. ito keep
them quiet. 1t takes a woman for
that" She WINGED with pain and
turned her head to tho WALL
; ''I wonder IL could manage them
!, Do you think they would let me put
them to bed-that IL. IL you wouldn't
: mind my trying until your friend
!. comes?"
20, If you only would. Td-well
. wait until you have some babies OF
i your own and you will know how
, grateful am"
) First, let me Ax your head, 30
! Now you-lie right still and TN go out
land 80 what can do with th0oe
NTH fealow1 - yours and when Tvz