The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-11-25
The Euening Story
John Arthur's Harvest.
(By Clarissa Mackie.)

(By ClariSSa Mackie.)
81 suppose 1 have succeeded" sigh
ed John Arthur as he closed his pri-
waite ledger and locked it in the safe
| concealed behind the bookcases. ITO
day am 40 years old and 1 am worth
half million, but haven't a relative
in the world to share it with mel
He stared moodily into the fire, the
leaping flames lighting up the gray
hairs about his temples and bringing
his sternly-cut features into strong
relief.
John Arthur picked up the receiver
and the voice of his friend, Billy Fen
leigh, came over the wire:
Il say, Johnny, Ethel and I want
you to dine with us tomorrow-SOrt of
a family affair, but you won't mind
that"
Thanks" replied John Arthur. but
I'm sorry that [ can't come, Billy!
a suitable excuse; then he added i'm
pulsively: Fast is, I'm going to
spend Thanksgiving down at my old
home on Long Island
"Ah-Coquologue Ell? Wish I was
going along for some duck shooting.
but were entertaining the family to-
morrow. Sorry you can't be with US,
Johnny. You know you're always
welcome here!"
Thanks, Billy Il understand
you're mighty kind was John Ar
thurs husky answer as he hung up
the receiver.
well, I've got to go now he said
slowly, as his gray eyes wandered rest
lessly around the handsome library.
q wonder what made me say that
l hadn't really thought of going down
to Coquologue after all these years.
There won't be a soul there to well
come me. All the old folks are dead
and as for the younger generation,
why, they never heard of Johnny Ar
thur who was sweet on Mildred Prime
and ran awaJ because she wouldn't
marry him even though he hadn't a
penny to his name.
Poor Johnny Arthur. and wise Mil
dred PrimeH he laughed bitterly as
he glanced at the portraits of his
dead parents which hung on the walls
of the room. Poor enough am l in
spite of my dollars. If I had only
waited at home there might have been
THANKSGIVING for me tomorrow, with
wife and children gathered around. AS
it is I have sown the wheat of my life
and nov, after all. there is no harvest
for me save gold!''
The next morning found him speed
ing along the north shore of Long Is
land, his big motor car purring sooth-
ingly as it glided over the perfect
roads.
The sweet, salt smell of the mead
ows was in John Arthur's nostrils and
the frosty tang of the November air
whipped a little color into his face.
His eyes frightened as the road I'M
rolled familiar scenes before his eyes.
He had not travelled along this road
since that bitter day, fifteen years ago,
when he came down to lay his parents
away together in one grave. Then he
had turned the key in the door of the
old home and gone back to Wall street. |
Betimes he brought the car to a stand
still before long, low, rambling house !
with tall locusts lifting their distorted
branches into the clear. blue sky.
Children We're Dl1VinR the front
lawn and there were many pleasant |
reminders of the old life on all sides. |
A woman came out and stood on the |
porch, gazing curiously at the motor |
and it's solitary occupant.
That's the old Chamberlain place." |
he thought IF Milly Prime married |
Henry Chamberlain--as they said she |
would-why, that woman must be I
dreni"
The motor car sped on up and |
down hill. now revealing a bit of the |
blue sound with a curve of white /
beach and dark pines in the fore
ground. Soon he reached the quier /
burying ground set among evergreen /
trees. John Arthur removed his hat |
and carried a great arnful of chry- /
santhemums up to the wide grave. |
He stayed there long time and he +
prayed little too.
. A few minutes later the car was in
speed. He had planned to have din /
ner at the white-painted village inn /
that catered to motorists with a
qus int, old-fashioned daintiness of /
service that had made it famous.
Because it was Thanksgiving, there +
were few guests at the Inn. The
black-eyed girl at the desk explained
that most folks preferred to eat at
home on that day, but that there we're
two travelling men and n school teach
er who had no other place to go.
They will be glad they stayed
she smiled confidently. There Will
be the dandiest dinner-Miss Prime
has seen to that
Miss Primer repeated John Ar
thur, as he went into the dining ROOM
where the windows were craped with
living green of vines growing in boxes.
"Of course Prime is common name
in Coquologue."
Still, the mention of Milly Primes
name had brought back a host of
memories, and he tried to dismiss
them by reminding himself that
Milly Prime had married Henry
and was probably at
this moment the center of a Thanks
giving feast, surrounded by an alnr-
ing husband and several children.
Il wish 1 had remained in town and
dined with Billy and his wife,, he
muttered as he waited for mis- soup.
Il should have known that coming