The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-14
EVENING STORY
Tommy Gives In.
(By Louise Oliver.)


Tommy was rebellious. "Oh, thun-
der. don't want to get married"
Mrs. Bottoms lorgnette went up.
'Thomas!"
ION, well.' Tommy hung his head
under her austere gaze. why does
every one have to pick on a fellow
when he is having good timer"
Because your father and know
what is best for you. Marry Gene
We've Sawyer and you will be happy.
Marry some silly chit without money,
brains or breeding and you'll be sorry
the rest of your life. You'll see,' more
tepderly, 1--WE know you better than
when your father has worked for
years amassing a fortune it's bit nat
ural that he should have an interest
in the person who will help spend it.
Give me time, mother. But it
seems to me that you and dad are do
ing the very thing they're trying to
break up in China. I'll bet the girls
tickled to death about it same as me-"
sourly.
she's got sense and she'll do what
she's told"
II hate highbrowsi"
She isn't a-a-the vulgar thing
you call her just because she took
highest honors at college" Mrs. Boil
ton picked up her embroidery and
Tommy sighed with relief The grill
first time the subject had been
preached to him.
"I guess I'll go fishing." Tommy
lit a cigarette and stepped off the
porch. The Bolton lodge was on one
of the many islands in the chain of
Canadian lakes. Boats took the place
of automobiles.
Once out of sight, Tommy dug down
for leather pocketbook and from the
neatly arranged bills and papers he
fSe1N hi I,nt6 fnv7
derby in the palm of his hand for a
minute, smiling reminiscently. 1t was
thin white stuff embroidered in pink
and blue daisies, with a delicate
tracery Of green leaf. The edges were
frayed and torn. Scissors had never
garment. Tommy knew that. He put |
it back tenderly and went toward the |
boat landing still dreaming. He Won |
dered where the girl was and who she |
waS-the owner of the dress. He had |
found her in a boat in little deserted |
cove at sunset, her engine gone dead, |
and there she was waiting patiently |
for deliverance like a demure little I
Thumbeline on her water lily leaf
Tommy had chugged around the |
corner and stopped.
''Hel1Oi" he called.
'Hello!" she answered.
What's wrong?"
Il don't knowi"
3 Want a lift?'
Yes, indeed"
Then I'm the person you're look
ing for. But you'll have to get in here. |
1 can't tow you've no line
Thank you. If you'll put me off
at the hotel, I can get my boat in the |
morning." She stood up and there
was sound of ripping and tearing as
one of the flounces caught and held.
oh, what rotten shame!" he |
sympathized, reaching over and trying
n nal flnr~ yfr-io afa
Il can't help it and it's too late to |
go home for another" she said. I'm
dining with the Merricks ana Alice can
pin me up some way"
Free at last, she stepped into the |
seat beside him and Tommy slipped |
the bit of muslin into a pocket and |
happily settled himself beside her and
turned the boat toward her destina-
tiCn.
Then he lost her! Next day he went
to the hotel only to find that the Mer-
ricks had departed He called himself |
a fool and everything else in the cal
endar for not finding out her name |
before.
He continued his search disconso-
lately for days each hour thinking of |
some new charm and almost wearing |
out his ragged souvenir with looking |
at it, "She was just the girl for me-"
he sighed. Little, pretty, curly hair,
pea chy lips, teasing eyes, jolly, dandy |
Latin grammar from a cook book. I'll
bet she doesn't wear awning stripes
either. That dress just suited her.
Sweet and pretty and kind of fairy
like" And lovesick Tommy would
take OUT the sample again.
Days passed, weeks passed, months
passed. The Bottoms had closed their
cottage and returned to New York.
Tommy had given up 1oafing and was
working hard in his fathers bank
/
ment, he had almost given in about
Genevieve Sawyer, although he had
never seen her, the family not having
come back to the city.
The first of November came.
Tommy was getting restless again.
May I have next week off, dad? 1
think, If you don't mind. I'll go up to I
Danny's in Maine and shoot bit"
Sure, boy, go If you WISH Bolton.
senior, was pleased with Tommy these
alliance. Besides. he liked
Tommy's growing energy for bust
ness.
So Tommy. with bag and gun case.
raped one evening at Dannys cot
tage and old Martha let him in.
''Bless me. it's the boy, DAM"
Tommy shook hands with the old
hunter, who patted his shoulder af
fectionately with his other gnarled
old hand. Wed sure miss you. Tom,
If yOE H1dn'I come ne WOOuS are /
thick with game this year and you're
wise to come early
After supper the men settled down
to talk and Martha sat sewing by the
fire. Strip after strip she sewed end
10 end, rolling them ito a ball for
the weaver Its for rag rugs for the
new lodge up yonder," she explained,
1.-The missus sent me bushels of
things TO cut up Here's one finished"
She proudly held up rug, all the
colors of the rainbow
Pretty, very" agreed Tommy "One
wouldn't think rags could be made
into that" His eye wandered over
the heap on the floor. Suddenly he
saw something's piece of white thin
stuff embroidered in pink and blue
daisies.