The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-09-03
The Euening Story
Emmy's Way
BY ClariSSa Mackie !

face bent over his book. There was
SO much she wanted to tell him only
she was such very small girl, only
five years old, and Miss Weed. the
goVerness, had impressed it upon the
motherless little maiden that father
did not have time to listen to stories
about birds and bees and dolls and
fairies and that the first duty of
worry father"
Emmy sighed and slipped from her
chair. Miss Weed was suffering from
severe headache, father was busy
whom she could flee to relate the re-
markable happening of that summer
day-the lady who lived over the wall.
So Emmy's chubby little legs car
RED her swiftly down secluded path
to hole in the privet hedge, which
she wriggled through and found her
self in the enchanted garden Of the
lady who lived over the wall
The lady, whose name was Angela
Barclay, was sitting on rustic bench
buSlly sewing seam.
well, sprite!'' she smiled as she
kissed Emmy's rosy lips. How did
you guess I was lonesome and was
wishing you would come to see me?''
Did you really?'' cried Emmy
radiantly. st guess it was because I
was needing you" she added quantity.
You blessed infant" cried Angela,
hugging Emmy close to her. Tell
me why you no0QeQ me.
'It was what happened to Euphemia
Marie began Emmy, Importantly.
tEuphemia is my pestest DOLL" she
explained; land you can kiss me all
you want to- she limited shamelessly.
Angela proceeded to carry out this
suggestion entirely to Emmys salts
faction
'I was in the garden with Euphemia
Marie and she was sitting under a
bush and 1 was making a bouquet for
ont nj hnnaUSI1nx1oS ST
pinned the flowers on her dress when
a great big bumblebee came proving
along and he sat right down on
Euphemia's shoulder and drank
honey out of the fIowers!'
Angela was wide-eyed with in
terest
Did Euphemia cry?" she de-
manded.
mother proudly. After while the
bee went away, but it was such a
funny thing to happen to a dollie
that I went to tell Miss Weed, but
she was asleep and father was busy
reading and 1 mustn't interrupt; SO
would like to hear
/ Angela interrupted with a shower
of caresses and Emmy snuggled
down in the close embrace, and pres
August day, drowsed off to sleep.
Angela, sitting here with the child
in her arms, felt a passionate desire
to run away with her.
81 need her." she told herself,
'.such a beautiful baby, such a heav-
emily comfort and no one wants her,
really!''
And at that very moment Bruce
Fosdick parted the hedge and stood
before her, smiling gravely.
$50 this is where my runaway lamb
isl he said calmly.
Angela was angry at the red flush
which swept her face from brow to
chin.
"She is fond of my garden" she
said rather lamely.
yet it is smaller than her own, An
gela.''
1T is her way to be happy with
small things; she had a story to tell
about bees and dolls and she came to
me- Angela hesitated. She wished
Emmy's father would not look at her
in that disconcerting manner. Years
ago they had been sweethearts and a
trifling quarrel had separated them;
then another girl had caught Bruce
Fosdick's heart on the rebound, but
she had not lived very long, this
delicate mother of Emmy, and so Fos-
dick was left alone with his baby and
mis- shattered dreams.
Angela, his next door neighbor,
spent much time in the west with a
married sister, and it was very rarely
during the past seven years that they
had met This very afternoon, Fos-
dick missing his little girl, had in
stinctively followed down. the path
that led to the gap in the hedge, and
for a long time he had watched them,
while Emmy told her story clasped
closely in Angela's hungry arms.
Now Emmy stirred and was instant
" wide awake. Angela silently gave
her into her fathers keeping and with
a few commonplace words to the man
and a handful of flowers to the child
she let them go, watching their depar-
ture with eyes unconsciously wistful.
And the very next day Emmy came
back, this time in great distress, tears
trimming her blue eyes.
ooh, Miss Angela" she Sobbed,
I'm never going to be happy any
"Oh, OH" soothed Angela, folding
her in her arms Tell me all about
it, Emmy"
I'm going to have a new mother!"
sobbed Emmy. Il don't want any
new mother!''
Angela felt that her heart had al
most stopped beating
"a new mother" she said slowly
you should be happy. Emmy. You
need a mother, darling."
THAT is what Miss Weed told
and she said it would be Mrs. Smyth
and she has crooked teeth and 1
don't love her. What shall 1 do, Miss
"Be good little girl and make your
father happy. l am sure your new
mother cannot nelp loving you, EN-
my, dear!''
Angela was silent for a long time,
her chin pressed against the golden
head. Jealous pangs tore at her heart
as she fancied Emmy in the arms of
Bruce Fosdicks new wife All, fate
was cruel indeed to give SO much to
some women and to deny all the joys
of motherhood to othersi
Emmy lifted her detected head, a
newborn hope in her sapphire eyes.
Miss Angela, won't you be my new
mamma ?'' she pleaded.
.sOh. Emmy, darling, I wish 1
co11I5fs, cried Angela breath1eSSIy