The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-09-24
EVENING STORY
A Needless Deception.
(By Lillian Hall Crowley.


| last four years.
Eyes, 1 know" answered Jane. but
| it isn't really our way of living. We
are only waiting until fathers peach
| crop is a success. But to an outsider
this place looks as if it belonged to
| a Hill Billy. 1t would class us with
| them forever
Doesn't she like you for yourself.
Jane?" asked her mother anxiously.
Yes, of course, she has been per-
feet dear ever since Ted and became
engaged. She made my last week in
college the brightest of all for me-"
well. dear. what could we do to
| this room?"
We'll do lot of things to it. In
I the first place. 1 asked Ted. to bring
/ his mother and sister the day father
is in town to be gone all day. l know
| he wouldn't have any sympathy with
the way L feel about this and 1t VIII
| all be over by the time he gets back.
| Mrs Wilson and her daughter were
sitting early one summer morning in
the only downstairs room in their
| house. They had come from Penn
sylvania four years before when Ma
| thaniel Wilson had invested all he
| had in a peach orchard in the OZarks
where one crop with favorable wealth
| er conditions woHld bring him for
| tune He had worked hard to bring
his orchard to state of perfection,
| but always some unfavorable occur
| renee hindered the 1ong-1ooked-for
bumper crop.
| When his wife had protested against
their going to the farm, because James
| education might be hindered, he had
assured her that there was a good
| university in the town a few miles
away and that Jane should have every
advantage. He had been able to keep
| his word and Jane, who had just fin
ished high school in Pennsylvania en-
| tered the college. She was now grad
mated and again home for the sum-
mer.
1 She had always been great help
to her mother when she was home.
She made the clothes for the fam
| lily, put up fruit, cooked and even
helped her father out of doors She
had learned many things in college,
| about milk and butter, trees and
shrubs. all of which practical knowl-
| edge was useful on the place.
During her last year of college life
love had come knocking at the door
of her heart in the person of Ted
Somerviue. He belonged to one of the
| wealthy families of the town and his
mother was a social leader. They
| had been very happy in their love,
and their Joy was complete when Ted's
mother showed instant fondness for
the young girl her son had chosen.
Everything had gone along smooth
| ly until now, when Jane realized what
an impression her miserable little
home might make on Mrs. Somerville.
The one large room IVES kitchen, din
ing room and living room, while up
stairs were two bedrooms.
| The house, with a few pieces of
furniture, had been on the farm when
| Mr.. Wilson had bought it. The family
| brought no furniture with them ex-
cept few old heirlooms. They meant
! to use the house only until such time
/ as they had money from the big peach
/ Crop Everything hinged on that.
Mrs. Wilson, never very strong, had
lost interest in keeping up her house
or her own appearance, and her hus-
band was too busy to notice.
Now here was her daughter stirring
her out of her usual calm lethargy.
Jane hauled out carpet that had
been packed around one of the pre-
cious pieces of old mahogany and had
since reposed, folded, on the floor of
the closet under the staircase.
Come said Jane peremptorily
lets put down this carpet
| But-Jane, L never tackled down a
carpet beforel''
No, but you have seen them after
they were put dwon. Come, mother
dear Let's hurry.
After the carpet had been put down
Jane looked around with satisfaction
until her gaze took in the windows
mo curtains! Mother, haven't you
any?"
I've never had the heart to make
curtains for a room like this" replied
Mrs. Wilson forlornly.
Jane ran to an old chest of draw
ers, relic of better days, and took out
bolt OF white material belonging to
her wedding outfit. Now We'll have
) curtains for all these windows The
) view over the mountain will be lovely
and We'll have lots of flowers
Jane had called in couple of the
: men working in the orchard to carry
Tn ha poJv of
| the house!
! You see,'' she instructed, when 1
go in and out for the tea things it will
look as tho we ha a kitchen out
there, besides keeping this room per-
. fectly COOL
"Ye 1 see."
Now, mother, you run up stairs and
, I'll finish. When 20 get far enough
along III do your hair, and, for good
ness sake, put on corset Get out
the one you bought thousand years
ago in Philadelphia. Let out the
, strings. but get into it somehow
Il haven't had one on for over two
years"
You simply have to get into one
. now and you must pull it tight
enough TO get into that white muslin
, dress 1 made for you last summer and
which you never wore"
Very we'll" Mrs. Wilson smiled at
her daughters enthusiasm and tried
to catch the same spirit.
Jane had arranged the flowers to
her own satisfaction when her mother
SINE downstairs.
Il am sure can never fasten this
dress; l m all out of breath now
Never mind, you won't need any
breath. 1 am going to do everything
There you are. Now sit down while
fasten these earrings. There-you
look just like a has-been-lady"
81 feel as if 1 were going to be pre-
scented at court"
You arei" said Jane. Now, moth
er, you must keep that chair because
it is the most comfortable one. 1 have
placed the best one here for Ted's
mother, so that her back will be to
the back door. Then this chair for