Evening star., 1915-12-17
THE EVENING STORY.
CALLED.
CALLED.
Copyright. 1915. by W. werner)

ITeta hlng sat back IN ner private
corner of tine veranda. out of the cool
quietly falling May night rain The
old porch chair and her dark coat made
her invisible to chance passers-by
Back in the house, by the light OF the
kerosene lamp. her father and mother
we're at their accustomed evenings oe-
cnpation of squabbling over the back
CANNON board. Unnoticed. Greta had
c-ept out to her dark corner to be by
herself and to think.
The next house-the big house-was
lighted all up and down the front
There was company in the parlor. Hafl
an hour ago Greta had seen Johnny
cameron leave his umbrella TO drip be-
Mrs Cramer had answered the bell.
YES. Valentines home. Come in, she
rad replied to Johnny's query In
siantly the parlor had bloomed with
electric light. And Greta. from her cor
ner. had seen through the window
Johnny standing by the piano waiting
for Valentine. How eager and earnest
he had looked, He lad taken off his
his handkerchief When he had re-
placed the glasses he smoothed his
thick. boyish hair nervously. Then VAL
entine had come floating in. She Wore
a white embroidered dress and gay
ribbon girdle. She had given her hand
to Johnny. and he had taken it as II II
were wonderful white flower too
fragile to be touched save dehcateiN.
upon the sofa. when Valentine had re-
membered the window. She had crossed
over quickly and pulled down the cur
tain. Thus Greta saw no more.
But her imagination had gone on fin-
ishing the scene. Johnny and Valentine
were still sitting upon the Sofa-NerH
close. Johnny had told Valentine ev-
erything. and Valentine had promised
to go with him as his wifc-Johnny
wife. Greta shut her eyes as the words
tapped upon her brain-Johnny's wife.
Once she herself had hoped. But that
vas beforei he saw Valentine.
She had known Johnny always. lie
was ten years old when his father
brought him to his grandmother and
left him and went away to Africa to be
missionary among the Zulus. Johnny
Until ne found that Greta lived up the
street. He and Greta became great
friends. They played together: they
went to school together. Greta knew
some day he was going out to be n
missionary. like his father. Once his
father came home upon a furloush-a
slender. sad. lfvery-lookins man. Greta
was fourteen then. and she had been
greatly interested in the traveller. All
that summer she had made one of the
trio that had sat under Grandma Cam
erons catalpa tree. She had learned
all about the strange dark peoples so
many thousands of miles away. and
had even acquired the accomplishment mt
of saying the Lords Prayer in Zulu.
clicks. whistles and all, a thing Johnny
missionary than l." Johnny said to her.
Greta shook her head. No, she had no
wish to be a missionary But mis-
sionary's wife-Johnny wife-ah, that
was different, Perhaps some day he
would ask her. Johnny. however,
never asked her. He got through high
school and went to college, they told |
him there that he would make better
business man than missionary. But
Johnny was not discouraged He had
trained himself to think of himself as
missionary and nothing else. 1t was
his fathers wish that he go to Africa.
and he was going. Duty called him.
His father called him. No matter if
his tongue refused to prove linguistic
or his head theological, he would go
and do his best. Ii was the thing ne
lad from the beginning been intended
for
Greta continued to wait and to heart
en- Johnny with her letters when he
was in school, and to inspire him with
her high hopes when he was within
reach of her voice. If he was resolved
upon being a missionary she would do
all she could to help him.
Il fear you're wrong. dear. Grandma
Cameron would say. Johnny takes
after his ma. and il shed lived you'd
never a seen Johnny's father traipsin
of TO Africy- No. ma'amt And you
wouldn't o seen her boy foolin' him
self up to follow his pa this away.
Johnny's only my grandson, and don't
feel I've much to say, but I never was
one myself for boostin them outlandish
heather that think white man amt
good for nothing but cooking.
When the Cramers moved into the
big house next door and Greta saw
Valentine she knew exactly what was
going to happen. II was no surprise to
her when Johnny gradually drew away
from her toward Valentine. BY and by
he forgot her wholly. Valentine had
become the only thing in the world for
and coquette. She became engaged
to Johnny at once He was pleasant
Young college man, and there was
nothing to hinder save his foolish talk
of going to Africa
DO YOU S pose he means it, she
ASKED Greta. Its the silliest notion.
As IL Id ever go way of therc-ush."
she shuddered. Greta knew that VAL
en.ine and Johnny often auarreled
Stil she felt thar when il came To the
lest. when Johnny was actually ready
10 go To Africa. Valentine would marry
him and accompany him.
The time Of test had come. That day
she had met Johssay Oh the street and
ne had said to her, with that exalted
light in his dear brown eyes: Il sail
in September. Greta. Isn't it glorious"
- don't know, Greta answered, sadly.
ut VIII be sacrifice for Valentine"
For the 6rst time it seemed TO her that
IL Johnny persisted in being a mis-
sionary he had no business TO fall in
love with girl like Valentine.
Now in her dark corner she thought
IL all out. There would be compensa-
tion even for living in darkest Africa
SO long as one had Johnny. Hes