The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-02-24

cheerfully. And all the afternoon
Bonita had quilted and listened to
long accounts of this piece and that
piece, and whose dresses they had
Lens family. 1t was specially aggra-
waiting, since Wallace had been play
ing all the morning in the front room
THE Maid O. the Pines and various
melodies warranted to make ones
heart hungry for art and inspiration,
not patchwork quilts. All the way up
the hill road Bonita told herself she
would break her engagement to Len
the next day, and find what Jessica
called the path to higher happiness
And then over the edge of the woods,
just where the eastern sky was dark
ening at nightfall she saw a rising
column of smoke, followed by a squirt
of yellow flame. It came from the
house. she felt sure, as she broke into
a quick. light run along the frozen
road She wondered if Len and Tom
would be back from the wood lot by
now. Maybe her mother and the chill
dren were in the house alone, But
then there were Jessica and her
brother. They would help. At the
turn of the road she saw the fire cir
cling up about the old house, with
the three pines standing in sharp
silhouette against the light. A sharp
stone in the road made her stumble
and fall but she was on her feet IN
Then, Just as she reached the gate,
she saw Wallace He sat on the stone
wall with his violin, quite like Nero,
Bonita thought later, drawing sweet
strains from his. violin, and Jessica
was beside him with three suitcases
packed safely.
Where is mother? Bonita eX-
claimed.
"Oh, the young man who cuts wood
is fighting the fire in the kitchen"
Jessica told her happily Isn't it an
inspiring sight? Wallace has theme
already, Cleaning Embers. Do you
like it, Benita?'
But Bonita had fled around by the
back way Her mother was helping
Tom draw buckets of water from the
well, and soaking blankets and old
burlap sacks to pass up to Len on the
'elr' rocf. The twins and Dot stood
at safe distance watching, and Benz
ia Joined the bucket brigade with
curious rush of enthusiasm. The dear.
blessed old house-it was worth fight
ing for, and wasn't it splendid to feel
oneself a part of the family. all help
the flames and smoke hid Len from
sight, she found herself praying for
the safety of her Len, brave and fear
less. And thru it all, she wanted to
laugh Historically as the strains of the
violin stra ggled to her from the gar
den wall where Wallace was playing
the nocturne, "Gloaming Embersi"
1t was nearly before the last smol-
dering was extinguished. The fire had
been confined to the t'ell,' thanks to
Len, and he stood cycling the result
proudly, smoky and begrimed, his
arms bare. Bonita was beside him.
Over the pines rose the full moon The
air was keen and sharp with frost.
Len glanced down at the slim figure
beside him, and smiled. slipping one
arm around Benita's waist.
Hello, dear" he said. I'VE beat
it, didn't we?"
You were splendid" Bonita an
swered, solemnly, Just splendid. Len.
The whole house would have gone if
you had not fought the way you did
I'm awfully proud of you
Even if 1 can't fiddle?" Lens blue
eyes were twinkling. He had not been
altogether blind to current events the
past few weeks.
Bonita snuggled closer to him with
little sigh of relief.
81 don't mind Tiff it is at Easter,
Len" she whispered. II had a lovely
time quilting today, and your mothers
awfuIly dear to me. l don't like violin
music, anyhow, not at fires
And upstairs in the front room Wal
lace wondered what the young man
who cutwood was laughing at
copyright. 1917, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.)