The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-10-04
The Euening Story
Mariorie,s Vacation.
(By Louise Oliver.)

ecStatically. "Oh, for the countryi"
Il must start right away to save
for my vacationl Two months with
out lunch and walking home in the
evening will help. Besides. I think
I'm safe now in asking old Mr.. Dodge
for a raise Of SIS a month
The next afternoon Marjorie. still
dreaming of the country where there
were hills and river, fields and
fences and barns, could scarcely see
i the keys OF. her typewriter. Finally
she got UP and went to the door of
| the office marked Private"
masculine voice called Come
| I'M" to her knock.
Mr.. Dodge was not there. In his
place at the desk was a young man
in outing clothes. Marjorie decided
| he must be son of her employer.
There was a resemblance-yet a diff
| ference. In the gray eyes was an ex-
preston that made Marporie smile in
voluntarily.
ct thought Mr.. Dodge was here"
said Marjorie, simply, turning to co.
He is" promptly responded the
other.
| ST mean Mr.. Dodge, ST., smiled
| Marjorie
| sure you wouldn't waste time talking
to the old man. The twinkle in his
/ eyes deepened.
! Marjorie flushed, yet she couldn't
4
IF L thought you had the family
pocketbook, I might have a prefer
ence,'' she returned. I'm after mon
ey!''
What. You, too! Poor pops! So
am I!''
Marjorie had heard vague runors
| of the sporting blood of Dodge, Jr.,
and guessing how the old man would
| be likely to receive another demand
for money from his son, her heart
1 She nrR6icfAd VRhanPnt e.
fusal to her own request.
'T-perhaps 1 had better not wait
I think I'll come again"
Look here, Miss"
Brown"
IT say, Miss Brown he pleaded,
| don't go. I'll slip out myself and
leave you a clear track. If the gov
ernor sees me around he'll never give
you a cent just on general principles,
| so I'll go before he comes in" He
picked up mis- hat. Good afternoon.
1 wish you luck And before Mar
jorie could stop him he was gone.
But Dodge, ST.. had eaten lobster
for his lunch and it was troubling
him. Marjorie met an emphatic re-
| fusal, and she returned, white-lipped,
to her desk. The vision of far hills
and winding streams was fading and
she got off her letters as best she
could.
However, the following morning
folded typewriter letter on her desk
brought excited flush to her
cheeks. Silas Dodge repented of his
hastiness and would give her not five
but ten dollars a month in addition to
her regular salary.
Two months passed. It was late
September. Marjorie, by marshaling
every cent she could spare, counted
enough for her trip.
Everything was ready but few
unfinished letters at the office. 1t
was Saturday afternoon, a half hol-
| day. The outer office was empty
when she went in, but she heard
voices in the private office beyond.
The door was closed, but the walls
were two feet lower than the ceiling
and every word was clear.
What do you mean by giving Stew
art ten dollars every payday to put
in Miss Browns envelope?.,
SilaS Dodge, Jr, that you underpay
your employees. The girl honestly
earns more than she's getting
But why should you undertake to
pay her? If you would quit spend
ing my money and make a living for
yourself perhaps I could afford to
pay more to others
You don't have to give me any |
more money, dad. I have been work |
ing. I earned that money myself. |
Moreover, have a splendid chance in |
the country to demonstrate my knowl- |
edge of scientific farming. L leave |
today.
Marjorie rose. She took $50 out of |
her purse and knocked at the office |
door. 1t was only the matter of an
instant or two for her to lay the |
money on the desk before the two |
astonished men and go out
She went home and unpacked her |
trunk, counted the little money she |
had left and did some hard thinking. |
The two weeks ahead was hers. Why |
should she stay in baking hot city |
when the whole green world stretched I
wide around her? She was a good |
81 fr,- ctr 11el
meals at farmhouses on her way.
Therefore, dressed in a plain linen |
suit and carrying very light grip, |
Marjorie started forth on her travels |
And never did she enjoy anything SO |
much in her life. Aren't people fool |
ish to depend on trains ?" she thought, |
II never knew walking was SO much /
fun
One afternoon, as it was warm, she |
halted under a big oak tree near a |
cool little stream. For a while she |
read and munched at a stick of candy |
she had bought at a country store. |
But she got very drowsy, and, making /
a pillow of moss, she was soon asleep. |
When she opened her eyes she |
smelled tobacco smoke. 1t came from
the other side of her tree. Moreover,
a smart little fire was burning near
her and she smelled bacon frying. She
shifted enviously.
.I hope you feel better" said voice
around the tree. 1t was oddly fami-
liar. Then she knew.
AT first she frowned; then she srnil- /
ed.
Il do, thank you"
That's good" same the voice.
Hungry %
Starved,
Better still VIII you have some
support"
IF you'll only come around and let
me see my host
siIas Dodge, 1r-. came around.
-sWill he do?'
Nicely"
do you accept"
Certainly. With thanks
Then you don't bear any grudge ?"