The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-08-06
EVENING STORE
Carlos Mistakes.
(By oliver Gray.l


description.
1t was only doll she was dressing.
But such a doll The finest that had
been purchasable after three trips to
the city in her big limousine. For
when Miss Martha shopped the occa-
sion was as much of ceremony as
her sewing Nothing but the best
would do.
The bits of lingerie that Miss Mar
tha's. skillful fingers were carefully
contriving were as fine as Thumbe-
lines bridal dress in the fairy tale
sheer, beautiful, dainty, white, with
unseen stitches of gossamer.
why shouldn't she sew well?" de-
manded the good ladies of Fairmont
shes nothing else to do, with all her
money and servants. and that big
house with nobody but herself to live
in? It's as little she could do for
the Red Cross!"
But they did not consider that Miss
Martha would more than likely buy
back her handiwork at a most extra
VACANT figure and give the doll to
some little friend.
A bell rang in the back of the house
and Michaels, Miss Martha's butler,
dropped his brass polish, slipped out
of his blue crash jacket into a white
one, and answered the summons.
In a few minutes he appeared at
the door of the sun parlor where his
mistress was sewing.
It's the Hicks boy for the pack
age" he announced.
Little Carlo Hicksi Why, he's come
for the doll and I'm not quite thru
with it, Tell him not to wait,
Michaels. I'll send it down this after
noon. Mo- she reflected amused
| ly, hes so cute, hate to let him go
sit down on the porch and I'll have it
ready in twenty minutes. And,
Eyes, Miss Martha
Tell Minnie to cut him piece of
cake and take it out on an old plate.
He'll be sure to break it! And.
Michaels, keep your eye on him or
he'll get at the parrot and have his
finger snapped off. Just oversee him
generally, will you 2?
and Miss Martha dressd my lady in
her snowy trousseau.
You little darling," she whispered,
smiling into the deep violet eyes and
kissing the cold bisque cheek of palest
rose. IF 1 could only keep you! You
look so real 1 could almost imagine
| you were my own tiny girl. A safe
| journey, deari"
Then came tissue paper and a box
and ribbon. Finally her highness was
packed and ready for the tender
mercies of Carlo Hicks
And Carlo, having finished his
cake, went on his way whistling and
planning how he could spend the two
dimes which jingled so delightfully."- in
his pocket.
Miss Martha suddenly felt very
loney. 1t had been a busy spring, and
the doll had been the last of a series
| of things that had kept her hands and
brain busy for months. But now the
old desolate feeling gripped her heart.
When troubled she always sought
comfort among her flowers, so now
| she got her gloves and culiing BASKET
and was soon lost among the ma yes of
| hollyhocks, roses and fragrant bloom
| ing shrubs
And then the major came! Michaels,
| having once more changed his -chry-
sails, appeared in his white coat, with
the majors card on a silver tray.
Miss Martha took it wondering. 1t
| was an unusual hour for callers,
All right, Michaels, tell the gentle
| man to wait" The uncertainty of her
voice was scarcely perceptible. I'll
| see him in few minutes
The color came slowly, painfully
into her face, flooding her throat, her
| temples and her cheeks. The major!
| Alan Hartwelli After so many years!
| She stood immovable among the
| swaying hollyhocks, bitter thoughts of
the past crowding into her confused
brain-the unfair quarrel after so
many months~of happiness, almost in
! fact, on the eve of their wedding; the
| majors departure to the other side
| of the world; the years of silence and
loneliness.
Suddenly a righteous anger surged
into her heart Why should she be
| friendly with the man who had spoiled
her life? She would see him. but she
would tell him what he had done and
let him go his way again.
! She followed a narrow gravel path
/ around to the front of the house To
4 ind he win of
! the porch she made very charm
! ing picture-her soft Iustrous hair
blowing in just a trifle of disarray,
her face flushed beautifully, the blue
linen morning dress and the flowers.
And then occurred an interesting
| tableau. A small boy dripping mud
came screaming up the drive holding
out an object that appeared to be the
/ product of a coal mine.
I fell over the bridge, screamed
! Carlo. land went into a mudhole. An
1 spoiled the package
| Miss Martha stopped aghast The
cold anger that had possessed her sud-
denly gave way to a new emotion.
Her beautiful doll was spoiled!
'-Oh. Carlo, how could you!" she
| cried. you're naughty. naughty
little boy, but''-more kindly-'1 sup
pose it couldn't be helped"
II was Just walking along and
/ "All right. Go back and tell Min
ME to wash you off. Perhaps the
dolly isn't hurt after ALL
I'D come down to help-but it
seems something's happened L can't
move,' said voice from the porch
Miss Martha flew up the steps,
muddy Carlo at her heels.
"Oh, 1 forgot" blubbered the little
! boy. IT put my blackjack chewing
| gum on .he chair while ate my cake
and forgot to get it again. There's a
whole nickePs WORTH"
| The major in immaculate white
flannels tossed Carl a quarter. Here,
you can buy some more, little boy:
run along now, will you? 1 want TO
talk to Miss Martha. You've done
/ enough damage for one day
| I'm sorry L can't get up" smiled
the ma jor- Tim unavoidably de-
tined, Martha, I've been unavoidably
detained all these years. Can't YOU