The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-06
The EDening Story
For the Rummage Sale.
(By Hope Ainslie.)

dated umbrellas, band-boxes full of
old hats and pieces of hats, saucers
without any cups and cups without
any saucers, and a motley collection
of out-of-date mems and women's
clothing-Such was the array of ar
ticles that Molly Bergen found in the
living room one cool morning in No
vember when she returned from her
usual trip to the village.
Whatever on earth'-she began,
pulling off her gloves and slipping
out OF her sport coat
| Her mother anticipated her ques-
ton. Those are for, the rummage
sale for the benefit of the old peo-
pies home.'' Mrs. Bergen was sitting
at her desk laboriously rubbing the
names off from Christmas and Easter
and other seasonal cards. I'm get
| ting these cards ready, too. I've saved
them over since before you were born.
There are many hundreds of them
and most of them 1 can use. We can
sell them for five for a cent Some
one will want to buy them"
| Molly drew her chair to the open
fireplace and stretched out her hands
to the blaze. Have you heard the
news, mother?'' she asked by way of
announcing that there was news to
again. Yes, it is Tom Stanley,
think. though 1 know you don't agree
with me when I say that he is quite
the best looking man that L ever saw
You're going to say that it isn't be-
coming for young, eligible girl to
make complimentary remarks ike
that about men-you weren't gong TO
say it just that way, but that would
have been the gist of 1t. But really
YOU mustn't mind. All girls are quite
frank about those things nowadays.
81 wasn't going to say that at al,
assured the mother. I'm sure Mr..
Stanley is very handsome, but don't
imagin for a minute that the heir to
that large fortune is going to be one
little bit interested in little country
mouse like you"
I'm not a country mouse at all.
Haven't 1 been away to boarding
school? Anyway I've met that Stanley
man and he's fine. His cousin was at
boarding school-not that he cared at
all for her. She was engaged at the
time. He dropped around to see her
once or twice. I met him. But "nat
were you going to say?"
'sSimply that your remark gave me
an idea that 1 might telephone there
thew have plenty of old things that
they don't want that would sell very
easily
man that drives his car. Old man
ates the country. Son adores it. He's
making the old house a headquarters
for a hunting trip. Just gets IN the
village on the eleven-seven and starts
out hunting again this afternoon,
That's what the village gossips say
Before Molly had finished. Mrs.
Bergen had picked up her desk phone
to get into communication with the
Stanley house. Her voice was sweet
ness personified when she spoke.
MIR. Stanley, excuse me for phoning
the minute you arrived, but we are
giving a rummage sale beginning this
afternoon for the benefit and so
she went on with her honeyed words
of explanation.
bell had been ringing when Stanley
arrived at the house. Tom had drop
ped the armful of paraphernal1a that
he had with him on the front porch to
hurry in to answer the call. There
was a chance that it was important
business news from New York Mean
time his one-time chauffeur, who was
active as chief cook and bottlewasher
and boon companion on the proposed
hunting trip, had stopped at the vii
lage for provisions and Tom had dis
missed the station taxi.
I'm sure 7 can dig up something.
Old books we have lots Of Tom said
over the phone. "And I have a trunk
full of old clothes somewhere. I'll get
my man to hunt them up. Nothing
very wonderful, of course, for we have
to wear our clothes till they are worn
out, but perhaps they will be saleable
for few cents. I really wouldn't
*
the house, though I am quite sure
there are loads of useless things, but
when my sister comes out next time
she might discover that 1 had given
away all the family heirlooms. I'll
send my man over with the bundle"
please don't bother" Mrs. Stanley
replied. ct shall be delighted to stop.
You may be away on your trip. In
that case, leave the bundle on the
front veranda. My daughter will run
n in fha Nv RI Ter1f for
she has met you. No, indeed, I should
really rather have her stop for them.''
Tom Stanley experienced a decided
ly agreeable turn of memory at the
name of Mrs. Stanley's daughter. Yes.
she was the decidedly pretty, vivacious
brunette he had met at his cousins
boarding school She had told him
that her home was near one of his
many homes. He had promised him
self the pleasure of hunting her up
! some time. In fact he had made two
trips to the country with half idea
of finding an excuse to meet her again
But Tom was anything but a ladies'
man and he had merely loafed around
the rambling old house for a day or
so reading beside the open fire that
his man kept burning cheerfulIy for
him.
Today he had intended to start out
after luncheon. He decided to wait
till the girl had called While his
man prepared the simple luncheon he
rummaged around the attic for the
promised books and clothes. He got
them ready in a large basket that
he thought could be easily put into
the car
1t was three when Molly called
! Tom had not gone. Even if Mr.
! Stanley should still be in" her mother
had warned her. Just pick up the
bundle from the veranda and come
away You know how people would
talk if they saw you going into his
/ house.
7 An hour later Stanley having
missed the sound of Molly's light foot
steps on the veranda and giving UP
| hope of seeing her, started off for
| his trip 70 the hunting club. On the
veranda, he looked for the bundle he