The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-10
EVENING STORY
Friends for Mary Jane.

| (By Dorothy Douglas.)
| A clear, cold wind curled around
and about the twisted bypaths on
Riverside drive.
| Mary Anne drew in deep breaths OF
| it, The doctor had ordered that sne
get as much fresh air into her system
as possible during her enforced free-
dom from the basement in Whlcn she
sold household utensils. her scan.
clothing was all too thin Tor SO coio d
| day, but the clear air was lnVlgofatihe-
| Coming toward her on the pain an
old man came slowly along wheeling
| a tiny go-cart- His eyes spafKled anu
were very contented as they rested Oh
the baby-his grandch1ld-ln the cart.
Mary Anne smiled. Perhaps it was
a wistful smile. She had no one or her
| own to love-no one to minister TO- In
Mary Anne's philosophy happiness de-
pended entirely upon having some one
| upon whom to Squander a1fectlon-
| .Ain't it awfui-bein' alone?" she
remarked to herself.
i The old man and the baby trundieo
nearer. The baby's cheeks were IKE
red apples. Mary Anne speculated as
to his future and hoped he would not
| have to work in basement and thus
| lose his color.
Life amt worth much-workin' in
basement" she supplemented her
thought Guess I'd "a crooked, right
|
wasn't a human bein'." She pondered
over the realization that she was out
| on Riverside drive trying to 1nhaie
sufficient fresh air to keep her on
her feet, when, according to all the
| laws of department store management,
| she should be down in the basement
selling clothespins or tea pots to testy
customers.
And I'm gettin' my six per-just
the same" Altogether, Mary Anne
| E Il, la< harN III II1
for. She fell to wondering where the
mother of the baby was and why she
wasn't out with it.
| Probably home doin' the wash"
she SurmiSed.
The old man stopped suddenly. APP
parently something had gone wrong
with the baby's fittings. Mary Anne
watched interestedly. There was little
to claim ones attention on SO cold a
day on the drive.
| The progress of the two was GER
tainly suspended. Mary Anne won
dered if she could be of any assist
ance. The old man seemed perturb-
ed The baby was getting fretful.
| Mary Anne's desire to help domi-
mated She arose and approached the
pair. The old man was struggling
unsuccessfully with the woody cap
that had protected the baby's sunny
Want any help?" Mary Anne ask
ed. gazing hungrily at the baby.
| Chunks has busted the string off
his bonnet" the old man said, CRATE
| full for the sound of feminine voice.
1T don't seem to stay put without it"
| Needs a pin-don't it, honey?"
she questioned of the blue-eyed baby.
With quick fingers she extracted the
pin from her scant neck piece.
You're robbin' yourself the old
man said and turned his kindly eyes
upon her. Mary Anne felt rewarded
for her theft
| Men folks don't know much about
babies the old man remarked. Me
and Jim and Chunks miss the women
folks"
Mary Anne turned tragic eyes on
him You don't mean that Chunks
amt got no mother-do you?"
That's just the case,'' he told her.
MY sons wife died and left me and
Jim and Chunks to get along as best
we could"
"Ohr' gasped Mary Anne, ready to
sob tears of sympathy for Chunks and
the two helpless men who tried to be
father, mother and all to him.
| Couldn't 1 come over and help a bit.
| can wash and cook and mend
Chunks clothes"
A warm glow suffused the old mans
| face The very thought of womanly
| hands pottering about the tiny flat
was emotion begettlng.
| Still, he glanced doubtfu1ly at the
girls frail body and pale face.
1t would do me whole heap of
good" she said quickly, interpreting
his glance, Just to have some one to
10 help" She gaZed longingly at
Chunks. THE kids cottoned to me
already" She smiled wistfully. I've
been eating my lunch all alone in
my room and heating my milk on the
gas jet. That amt much sport, is it?"
So it was that Mary Anne pulled
herself into paradise by the power of
her helping hands. Each day she and
Chunks and Grandy, as she called
him, met on the drive, had their long,
health-giving walk and romp in the
fresh air, then went to the tiny flat
and cooked lunch 1t was like a
holiday to Mary Anne. She rejOiced
at her homeIy duties and rummaged
among her scant wardrobe for dresses
suitable for cutting down into frocks
| for Chunks. She also found time to
mend and darn for Grandy and jim
Jim wishes he was in on our good
times Grandy often remarked; he
| don't get home nights until T." His
kindly eyes always wore a peculiar
expression when he mentioned his son
and Mary Anne knew what was behind
his mind.
I've baked him a special little ap-
pie pie for his dinner tonight Mary
Anne said shyly; Il hope he likes
pie"
Hes liked everything you've done
so far" Grandy told her. Women
folks certainly do make home
home.''
I'VE mustn't think of the time
when I have to go back to the base
ment," Mary Anne said with swift
emotion coloring her cheeks We're
good palS--you and me and Chunks
amt we?" she demanded. She turned
read in their depths the misery that
Thoughts of working in the basement