The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-06-11
EVENING STORY



(By Susan E. Clagett)
1t had poured steadily for three DAYS
and nights and as Martha Pendleton
stood in he doorway peering out into
the gathering. darkness there was so
heavy a downpoar it seemed as if all
the waters in the heavens had been
collected in one vast bucket and over
turned upon the little mill town. She
watched the sweep of rain with dis
may, hesitating to brave the onslaught
that made of the street a small river
While the wind whipped savagely at
everything animate OF inanimate that
came within its path.
You had better wait until it holds
up. This cannot last long" cool,
pleasant voice said from out the shad-
ow at her back. AS the man spoke
he was thinking of a talk he had had
with his father some days before, and
its consequences.
How is it that Richard Pendletons
girl is working in the mill?" he had
asked the older man.
Old Tom Daily flicked the ash from
his cigar and paused quite time be-
fore answering.
'Why?' he had asked at length.
"She seems out of place"
IF she has to make her living 1
fancy she is doing it in the way she
partment Isn't her work satisfac-
tory?'
Perfectly. I was only wondering
why she had to make her living
There was a slump in certain Sc
curities and all Dick Pendleton saved
the edge of town where the girl and
her mother lived. Then, to make mat
tiers worse, the shock killed him. He
had been sick for months. Able to be
about but sick ali the same. There
We're several of US hit in that slump
Your mother and 1 lost about every
thing we had, but 1 had health and
strength and have since made good.
have never mentioned it to you. You
were in college at the time and l
meant you to stay there"
Couldn't you have done better by
+the girl than put her in the mill?"
Il tried, son. But, my boy. there is
a pride that will not accept help un-
less it be given in the form of work.
1t was best for her to stay in her home
town with her mother, SO I gave her
such employment as l could. I would
gladly have done more" He looked
keenly at the younger man. Your
interest is sudden. 1 have not heard
you speak of her before"
Mo-
Have you been out there?"
Not yet. 1 mean to go. however"
| Why" The question was blunt.
We'll, you see. dad, 1 expect to
marry some day"
Yes
"And-oh, hang it. Didn't you
know what you wanted when you saw
it?"
His father threw back his head and
| laughed. Know what I wanted? Ask
| your mother. 1 didn't waste much
time. l met her one DAY and at the
end of the week told her to put on
her bonnet, that we were going to be
married"
, And she did
She thought as 1 did, God bless
| her." He looked at his son whimsical
! ~ You are pretty Swapping fell
/ low, Tom, but you were once a roly-
poly baby that held your father and
| mother in the hollow of very tinv
| hand The hand has grown in size
and is as strong mine the day
| met your mother. I think nv bow
all you need is assertiveness.
The girl has never given me a
"All the more reason to find a wav
TO make her think. She is sweet and
wholesome and both your mother and
Will welcome her. You have brains
enough to think out a way. or vo,1
Ihlsht just tell her to put on her bon
net and come along. You have known
her longer than 1 knew your mother"
/ 1irls don't wear bonnets nova =
| days, dad
men you have missed something.
I IS something in the way a pretty
sirI Ties her bonnet under her chin
tnal sets young fellows heart to
humping. I'm sorry Won won't Sae -
But get along with you. Thinks ont
your own problems. 1 had no helm
1on laughed and swung himself ont
OF the room. An hour later he was
Iahsacklng the town to find something
70 make Martha Pendleton think
Roses? There were none. RooEs 49,
candy seemed too ordinary a medium,
with which to approach her At last
selzed by an inspiration, he wrote to
her, and this was his letter:
Martha Pendleton, up to now vo,,
nave never given me a thought. From
now on, for week, am going to com
pei your interest by writing to Won
every day Just line. Unfortunate
ly, I have never dabbled in GORE
spondence. Now I wish that I had.
1t would make it easier for me in This
determination to draw your thoughts
in my direction.
Il cannot give you longer than a
week because 1 hold you too close in
my heart to wait longer. You will
= have to think of me, dear You will
not be able to help it, because 1 am
only going to sign myself, One Who
Cares
Every day for the week he had sent
a letter. Sometimes it was closely
written, sometimes but line but each
evening when che girl reached her
home the big white envelope was lying
upon the hall table. Not for an in
slant had she doubted the sincerity
of the writer. Every word was weight
ed with truth. And Friday night when
she found her letter she also found
lying beside a big box of roses from an
out of town florist. She gasped a little
when she read the note:
This is my last letter. Martha Pen
dleton. Your week is I'D. Have your