The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-05-10
EVENING STORY
Annabel's Godson.
BY HILDA NORRIS.

gOdSOn because she nked MS hdHie'
Peter Winslow. 1t sounded as tho he
might be a nice sort of chap. for An
mabel had always liked the name,
Peter. Her sister chose one named
John, and her chum, preferred henry,
but Annabel stuck to Peter.
AnnabePs brother had brought
home the list of names from his camp.
They We're lonely fellows, every one
of them, he said, and would apprec1-
ate letters from some nice girl. SO
the girls wrote, friendly, whimsical
letters, or motherly letters, full OF al
vice, as they saw fit. Annabel started
out by being motherly. She was sure
that Peter would not know enough to
take ginger tea if he got neuralgia,
and he needed directions for sewing
on buttons. But Peters first letters
to her quite upset this attitude. Evil
IDENTIFY he took her for an uninterest-
ing old lady, and that would never do
So Annabel wrote like very young
girl, gay and bit slangy. And Pc
ter's answer was grave, perhaps III
tie disapproving. Annabei frowneo
ever it, much puzzled.
Now what kind of a person is he,
| anyway" she asked herself He
might be stupid or uninteresting, or
| else can't tell a single thing from
| the way he writes!"
The girls had neglected to get de-
| tailed descriptions of each soldier
from Herbert; indeed it was
doubtful whether he knew them per-
| sonally, anyway. Annabel felt her.
self consumed with strong desire to
| visit the nearby camp and see what
Peter was like.
| Her brother Herbert was quite OBJ
durate on the point of describing
Peter.
See for yourself" he urged. He
and some of the other fellows are
going to :, reception at your club on
4 Col rrr - I,a nh l0
pick him out-yaur own godsonl"
| There were a great many soldiers at
that reception. 1t was one of those
| friendly affairs arranged expressly for
the entertainment of boys far away
/! from home. And it was the duty of
the girls. as hostesses, to make the SOL
| diers feel at home. When Annabel
| arrived the party was in full swing.
Young men in khaki were grouped
about pretty girls in gay gowns, some
times several to one girl, sometimes
several girls to one soldier. Every one
seemed to be having good time. An
| mabel swept the room with a search
| ing glance. If Peter was there it was
quite evident that some one had pre-
empted him. How, among all these
strange men, could she find her Pc
ter?
And then her eye fell upon a very
plain. apparently very shy young man
who stood alone in a far doorway, as
uncertain what to do next. 1t was her
obvious duty, to make him feel at
home, so Annabel crossed the room
/ and told him she was glad that he
had come, and all the other pleasant
things that a hostess is supposed to
say. The young man looked at her
uncertainty, and turned quite red. He
was very shy young man. They sat
down and talked sketchily of the camp
and the war in general and the club
md n;
sibly seem interesting. But converse
ton Jagged, nevertheless, and no other
joined them to ease the situation. An
mabel began to feel a little desperate
Here the whole afternoon was going
and she was tied to this stupid bow.
! without even a chance to look for her
/ Peter!
You don't happen to know a-Mr.
Wfnslow among the soldiers, do you %
she asked him suddenly
Il Again the young soldier turned red
Why-yes. that is my name" he
returned.
"Oh!" Annabel exclaimed, and add
ed vaguely. Il think perhaps. I've
heard my brother speak of you
| But she was conscious of very keen
disappointment. He did not know thai
she was his godmother, and she would
not tell him. either! 1t would make
MIN shyer than ever If he knew that
ne nad been writing to her. and any
surprising thing about it was that his
| letters were SO interesting, when he
was, apparently, such stupid young
man! s
some one else came up just then,
and after decent interval AnnabeI
made her escape. She did not want to
| stay at the reception any more after
all she had accomplished what she
came for. Henceforth her letters to
reter Winslow should be chiefly about
\ ov,fy
| topics which should concern a god
mother. OF course. she meant to do
her duty by him. but as far as interest
was concerned -
Shef was so wrapped up in her
thoughts that she ran square into a
tall soldier who was just coming thru
the doorway
BEG your pardon!' he ex-
claimed in contrite tones Did hurt
yoU?"
"Oh, no-that is-no YOU didn't.
Annabel smiled. ut was my fault.
/ anyway
And then. quite curiousIy they stood
stun ana stared at one another. openly,
Now where" Annabe1 was the first
to speak. have seen you before? I
have, somewhere -
Il remember. even If you don't. 1t
was IN the eighth grade. way back in
Oldport. You sat across the aisle from
] me and you used to wear a blue sailor
/ suit. Your name is Annabel Ames,"
Annabe1 gasped.
| .'Of course! I remember. only
| how you've grown!"
! They both. laughed.
Come in and sit down here by the
window" she invited him. "Id like to
hear some more about Oldport"
They spent ten minutes or more in
the time Annabel was puzzled. trying
| to remember his name. Everything
else she knew,<the way he used to
| sharpen her pencils for her, the time
/ he spelled the school down, but she
| could not remember his name!
| 1--WE q young brother here some
! where" he remarked suddenly. There
he Is over by the door. You never
| III "A