The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-10-07
EVENING STORY
Peace Offerings.
(By Louise Oliver.)

loss of sleep, was suddenly made
aware of sounds of sobbing in the
kitchen. She hastily put down her
cup of coffee and, leaving the table.
pushed open the swinging door.
What in the world is wrong, Til
lie?' she asked kindly.
But Tillie, sobbing into a pan of
apple SKINS, was beyond explaining the
cause of her troubles. Her shoulders
heaved alarmingly and the corners of
her apron were inadequate to cope
with the flood of tears.
Aimee shook her gently, stop, Til
lie, stop this minute and tell me the
trouble. Is somebody dead?"
"No-he-hes not dead. Only
wish was. He's been that mean an
neglectful lately an last night here
l was dressed an everything an all
ready to go to the janitor's ball in that
pink silk ye gave me an new slippers
an real silk stockings an ALL An
Jake never came a step for me. l
waited till l 1o'clock an never so
much as his hat showed up. So goes
to bed thinkin' he'd call up this morn
ing an tell me what was wrong. But
no, sir, here it's nearly 9 an never a
word. I'll never marry him now. He
can coax till he's green, but l won't
give in
"Oh, come, Tillie. Jake's all right.
Something has kept him and he will
explain. Don't cry any more anyway,
and tell me if you hear from him. I'd
like 70 know what was wrong
''All right, Miss Aimee I'll tell you
an eat your breakfast. Why, 1 don't
believe you've tasted a mite. You look
as blue as saffron yourself this morn
ing. I'll make you a piece of fresh
toast this minute an you try an
eat it."
Aimee's lips trembled. She had for
gotten her own trouble for the minute
in Titles. But it came back now
with paralyzing force. the fact that
everything was over between her and
John Stratford. The day before. she
had sent back his ring and letters and
all the things he had given her, d
pearl cavalier for Christmas, an ivory
set for her birthday and a bracelet for
Easter. Then there were books and
pictures ana other things.
She had written a note clear and
conclusive. Dear John, your plea of
business cannot explain away all of
YOUR neglect lately. I'm keen enough
to reason things out for myself and
realize that you would hesitate to hurt
me by telling me that your love has
cooled. 1 am going to take the burden
on myself. l hope I'm broad enough
to make allowances for human nature.
If there is any one else, hope you will
be very happy. Don't try to see me-
please L am going away. Yours,
Aimee
But Aunt Sarah's rheumatism got
worse and Aimee found it impossible
to run away from trouble. She stayed
at homo and played nurse and tried as
hard as she could to forget her
misery. Days passed and, no word
came from John Stratford. It hurt
h n frrlI xy n MI hn had 7Rt
considered her note worthy of reply.
Il suppose" she thought bitterly
1.-THE other girl has the things by this
time. Well, L hope he doesn't break
her heart as he has done mine.''
One thing helped the long. heavy
days to pass-her interest in the
troubles of Titles and axe. Tillie. it
seemed, was having the upper hand.
Jake had come armed with good ex-
cuse of broken steam pipes and a
whole night without sleep, but Titles
Irish was up and she took delight in
her German lovers subsection.
you'll treat me like a lady Jake, or
I'll have none of you. Joe Dofan has
a fine job with the Consolidated and
his money rattles in his pockets like
the brains in some folks heads" So
Jake, yellow as indigo" as Tillie put
it thoughtfully, returned to his
vacuum cleaners and steam pipes de-
termined to ask the advice of his very
good frlend, the lawyer on the Iourtn
floor.
One day, Tillie triumphantly went to
a corner of the kitchen cupboard
when Aimee came in to see about
lunch and held up a tribute to the
dove of peace Amt it peach, Miss
Aimee? Jake brought it last night,
an won't it go well with the pink
silk?'' Tillie was clasping a fine gold
chain about her neck. "All 1 did.
though. when he gave it to me was to
turn up my nose an say I'd think it
over whether I'd keep it or not. He
never guessed how tickled 1 was.
Jake aidn't-'
But Aimee stood frozen to stone
The cavalier was the one she had
sent back to John. Had her lover no
heart at all, no consciencet
The mystery deepened when, a few
DAYS later, Tillie brought in the brace
let that had been another of Johns
gifts to Aimee.
One night, she went into the pantry
to get something when she heard Tillie
and Jake talking in the kitchen.
He's a fine man, Mr.. Stafford is,
TiIlie But sometimes wrong lately
and I can't make out quite. He'd been
workin' hard, stayin up nights till all
hours in some kind of a deal that
meant money to him, he said, if he
could put it thru. 1 used to open the
door on my rounds about midnight
and he was never too busy to pass
word or two. One night ne said.
Jake, I've been successful. I've made
a lot of money and now I'm going to
get married to the incest girl in the
world barring your Tillie' Then the
next day a messenger brought him a
package 1 was cleanin windows
when it came. And he opened it up
and read a letter, and he'll never look
deader till he dies. And he put one
little box in his pocket and then push
ed the rest of the stuff over to me.
Jake he says, I wish you'd take
these things aWay. I never want to