The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-01-04
The Euening Story
In the Twilight.
(By Dorothy Douglas.)

In the Twilight.
(By Dorothy Douglas.)
| Dusky twilight was creeping slowly
down among the little shops that COM
prise the life of lower Granton street.
Soft shadows flung their slanting gloom
Unfortunately over prosperity and
poverty alike. So impartial was the
distribution Of shadow that the passer-
by in the little shopping district might
not distinguish success from failure
Patrick Malone, in his small butcher
shop, knew, however. that he was one
Of the happy and prosperous dealers.
Even in the gathering twilight Patrick
looked with pride on the beef and mu.-
! ton that were already displayed to lure
the Saturday night shoppers. Always
on that night his shop was SO crowded
and his business SO great that. with his
two friends from Ireland. he worked
| without cessation until the lights were
put out at midnight.
But only two doors up the street an
other shop accepted theScOming of dark
a world of gloom. Behind the counter
Nora Gaines sent a swift glance of ap-
prehension at her younger sister.
I'VE have failed" she said dismally.
and her soft eyes would have wept had
she been the weeping kind of girl IF
We don't do a miraculous business We
must close up the doors our father
opened. 1t would break his HEARTH
he were hereto see the little business
he worked up slipping away into bank
ruptcy. perhaps She gazed fondly
| about at the stock of oddment that
lined the shop. There were electric fix
lures, lamps. candlesticks, shades, oil.
SOAP bric-a-brac and almost every
thing that might be in demand at an
odd moment when other shops were too
far distant to accommodate the GUS
toner.
You were not intended for BUSH
ness, as father was" the younger sister
said with more of the brogue In her
voice than Nora. Anyway. I'll be light
ing up the shop before the shadows
grow deeper in your eyes,"
Nora smiled as she watched Anne
struggling to reach the lamp that hung
from the ceiling. Then she glanced at
the now dark streets.
Its strange how late everyone is in
lighting up tonight. she commented.
But it was not in the least strange
to one who realized the frantic condi-
ton that prevailed in the little shopping
district. The small traders were in a
state bordering on panic for the elec-
trio current had been disconnected and
complete darkness reigned. The one
should have doomed had been flung
into blackness. Few of the shops. or
even those living above the stores.
could boast a lamp. Those who did had
lost no time in lighting them and put
ting the dim illuminations well into
their windows
Patrick Malone did not possess SO
much as a candle with which to lure
hungry mortals into his shop for the
Saturday night marketing. His fine
beefs and muttons were mere. dull
patches Of shadow. and for the first
time since prosperity became his he
wished for primitive lighting.
| Suddenly Patrick's eyes were riv-
eted on the window of the rival butcher
across the street. In the dim light of a
single candle the man was filling a half
dozen newly purchased lamps. Patrick
could watch the process Of unwrapping
and few moments later a most glow
ing window Haunted itself before the
public. Patrick ground his teeth and
wondered where his rival had secured
the lamps. Suddenly he remembered
the small shop that he had called a
junk shop, and a second later he stood
outside the store in which Nora Gaines
and her sister attempted to wait upon q
dozen clamoring customers at once. The
miracle undoubtedly had happened
1T must have been fathers spirit tina.
| tempered with that electric current u
Anne found time to whisper hurriedly
|
| lamp in the store and turned out the last
quart OF oil for customer.
/ Nora sent a swift smile into Anne.s
eyes. then found herself gazing into the
| anxious face of Patrick Malone,
Il haven't a single lamp Left. she an
Inquiry. We have plenty Of candles--ii
they will do
Patrick decided swiftly. because two
customers were demanding illumination
| of any kind.
Sure they WILL he said. land IL yor
have candlesticks. give me couple o,
/ Dozen Patrick waited impatiently while
Nora delved for the cAndiesticks among q
heap of bric-a-brac- He found time how.
| ever, to admire Nora's trim little figure
On or two of these pink shades would
be pretty-just for the window" Nors
suggested while she held up for Patrick
i inspection dainty shade of pink sill
with Dancing beads Your rival has nc
pink shades" she added. and the dimpies
came into play.
Patrick was lost He purchased thu
candle shades, and It ives not until hi
was out in the dark street that he fell e
| wondering how Nora knew what his bust
butcher across the street. Rememberins
Ncra's loneliness. Patrick smiled inward
ly and determined t. zee her again.
Back in the butcher shop. he lighted Z
4 single candle and found that he knew nj
more about the patent holders he ha6
purchased than he did about dressmak
ing. A srring shot out from one Of
them and was lost in the darkness Pat
rick hed never before seen sandIe holder
OF that kind. His two Irish friends hAs
them standing in the faint glow from
ringle candle while he ruehed back t.
Nora Gaines for instruction.
<''rm - ooryy." nhe Uatd swiftly. =