The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-04
EVENING STORY
John Holway's Glorious Fourth.

Wy Lila W. Doh6o-J
AS John went out to pick peas for
the Fourth-of-July dinner of his
mother and himself, he paused. and
his dark eyes swept over the scene be-
fore him with a sense of pleasure. ia
miliar as it was, for the small farm
stood on high ground, with green
fields and woods stretching to where,
a mile away, the clustered roofs and
white church spires, pricked out
among the green, told where the vii
lage lay. The sky was cloudless, the
air fragrant, and golden robin fiuted
from the elm above him.
Going on, the young man soliloquiz-
ed, Il declare 1 feel like a kid. I'd
like to jump up and down and holier.
I've put out the flag. and L dunno
what else to do, but I'd like to have a
real glorious Fourth
AS he went on he bethought him of
a circus that was to take place in the
neighboring town of Berrydale, and
when a little later he returned to the
house he looked UP the handful re-
garding it. Yes, here it was. WON
derful High Glass Performance. Aero
bats, Trained Dogs, Chariot Races
Mile. Rosalie, the Queen of NEques-
trians."
it read we'll and at the breakfast
table he announced, 1--WE taken a
notion to go TO that circus over to
Berrydale, mother. 1 don't 'spose you
want to go to that, but can't 1 leave
you down to Aunt Marthas?"
"Martha's going to be away today"
Mrs. Holway returned. 81 guess I'll
stay home; there's some work 1 plan
ned to do. Don't think O. me. But
I'd go to the circus if rs you; you've
stuck to home pretty close all sum-
mer"
Accordingly, in due time, John, in
his runabout. set out for Berrydale,
passed the booths outside the tent, i'm
mune to the temptations of pink
lemonade. peanuts and popcorn, and,
entering the circus tent, found a seat
in the front row nearest the arena.
There was nothing SO wonderfully
high class" about the performance
as the advertisements might lead one
to expect. John was not overcritical,
thru the scenes till a burst from
band announced the appearance of
Mile. Rosalie. Then the young man
Strengthened with a new interest, not
only in the feats of this equestrian
queen, but there was something APP
pealing about the dainty figure in her
fluffy skirts, as poised on the back
of the "high-spirited Nero" she came
flying into the ring. Her blue eyes
met his once or twice, and just before
her exit she turned and threw a kiss
directly to him from the tips of her
white fingers
1t was doubtless all a part of the
performance. but John Holway-big,
honest, Standardization from
head to foot with unaccountable long
ing, and, to the evident amusement of
those nearest him, sat half dazed, for
nothing like this had ever happened
to him before. Once more Mile. Rosa
lie came on and Johns gaze never
# her for moment till-what was
the trouble? What had happened? A
shrek from o a "a
trotting out riderless, and a crumpled
heap in the sawdust of the arena
John could never clearly recall the
next few minutes. but with a bound
he was within the Enclosure, the faint
ing girl in his arms. Presently just
outside the tent he was one of the
little group standing about the still
figure of Mile. Resale. Looking down
at the long lashes of her closed eyes,
he had a curious feeling that he could
not go on living if they never opened
again. A painted and bespangled
woman performer kneeling beside her
remarked pityingly: sit never SEEM
ed like she was one of u.s.
A physician was called, and arrived
just as the girl regained conscious
ness. mo bones broken" was his an
nouncement, but a badly sprained
ankle, and shaking up generally. She
will need long rest" And he added
something about a shock to the nerv
GUS system.
well. what's to be done?" ques-
toned the proprietor. "She's no good
to us like this, and we can't take care
o. her.
Upon this John stepped forward
IF there's nobody else, I'll see that
And so the girl consented. And,
only too glad to get her off of his
hands, the man gave her over to
John, without question, and John took
her straight home to his mother.
Here John briefly explained the sit
uation, whereupon the motherly heart
of Mrs. Holway was stirred with sym
pathy for this fororn bit of woman
hood. Rosalie was placed in a COOL
airy chamber, where the honey
suckle's sweet breath was brought to
/ her, and as she sank back in her
white bed she looked up into Mrs.
Holway's face with the words:
'I didn't know anybody in the
world could be good, When I left
the circus folks IL didn't care what
became of met
MY dear children" began the
woman, when the girl broke in:
And you don't know who 1 am,
or anything about mel
I'VE know you need the care that
we can give you,' was the reply.
That's enough to know"
But 1 want to tell you all about
it" The girls eyes filled with tears
well. tomorrow, maybe; but now
drink this, and go to sleep, if your
ankle doesn't ache too hard
The following day Rosalie told her
story. Her father had married. for
a second wife, a girl who had travelled
with a circus. She gave up that life
after marriage until her husband,
Rosalie's father. had died. after which
she had gone back to it, taking Rosa
] lie, then a girl of fourteen, with her
A year before this stepmother had
died, and the girl, already tired of
that sort of life, had wished to give
: it UP. Il meant to run away" she
said, ''but I think Graffan, the pro-
prietor, suspected this. and he would
not give me my pay. He said I was
! not of age and he would keep it for