The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-09-26
EVENING STORY
seThanks to a Purple Hat .
BY FANNIE BARNETT LINsKY.

BY FANNIE BARN ELL hlSSh L..
Anne was cross. More than that, |
she was discouraged. More than that.
she was blue. And she had, SO she
told herself, the very best reason in
the world for being all three.
And the reason was. of courseZa
man, A most exasperatine. irritating.
fascinating. sood-loeking, ikable
Young man. In other words, it was
Bob HARDWOOD. who had been coming
to see her SO long and SO steadily that
all the other boys in town had
dropped Off"
But still, Bob said nothing. That ia.
nothing that amounted to anything"
as Anne explained it to herself.
"I know he means to propose, she
said wrathfully, not addressing any
one in particular. and she slammed
her book into the corner.
"I thought last night that he was
Just on the verge of saying something
but then-I've thought that dozen
times before now and nothing ever
came OF it!''
picked up the much-despised book. II
suppose might just as well finish my
story" she said half aloud, Its a good
one, too-but every time think OF
Bob HARDWOOD it makes me so angry
/ can't even read
led in her book once more, and quite
oblivious to all the spring loneliness
about her. The afternoon wore on
and Anne was aroused from her read
ing by the CHEEKY whistle of the gray
haired postman as he came up the
path on his afternoon rounds.
Anything for me, Mr.. Hobbs?" she
called out gayly-
"Only one letter, Mamie" he called
back, for the old man had known
Anne since her pinafoTe and pigtail
DAYS. and they were great friends. In
fact, on many an occasion Mr.. Hobbs
had been Anne's most trusted adviser,
and he had helped her to decide the
fate of more than one Mossville youth
before the advent of Bob HARDWOOD
upon the scene.
81 really wasn't expecting a letter at
ALL" confessed Anne, as she dropped
her book and went up the path to
meet him. IT wonder who it's from %
why, it pears to me like it's your
Aunt Martha's writing" said the old
man, scrutinizing the letter closely.
Wonder what she's got to be writing
about" he observed, as he handed over
the missive, and he stood there wait
ing to hear the news. For wasn't he
postman--and as such expected to
know who got letters-and where they
were from-and what they were
about? That was Mossvil1e etiquette,
established of old and far be it from
Silas Hobbs to neglect his duty in this
regard.
"You must be mind reader, Mr..
Hobbs" said Anne. glancing thru her
letter. 1T is from Aunt Martha, and
she wants me to come and spend a
week with her. She says it's SO lovely
up on the farm now that she wants
mo to come up and see it for myself.
But-I-really-I don't KNOW" hest
tating. "I really don't just know
whether want to go or not. I don't
somehow just feel
NOW you take my advice, Mamie,
and go right along" said the old man.
wisely shaking his head You know
( young MAXWELL, this'll be just the
| tiitngss If@T was yeu.- I'd go right up
1 and get ready now, and I wouldn't say
nothfn' about 1t, neither. Take my
| advice now. and run along and pack
You just stay up at the farm for a
I week or ten days and don't write him
word, and 1 guess thatll bring him
to his Senses if anything ever will.
| just wish I was forty years younger,
| I'll bet I could show some o. these
young fellows how to go courtin' in
| proper fashion," And he looked at
Anne with twinkle in his old gray
I eyes.
| why, I do think that you are right,
Mr.. Hobbs It's the very thing" said
| the girl, getting quite excited at the
!
| up and get Mary to help me pack, so
l can be ready to start the first thing
4 in the morning. And she started on
a run up the back path that led to
| the kitchen door.
Mary the maid. was just finishing
her work for the day.
| I'm going away for a week or so,
Mary" said Anne. as she entered the
spotless kitchen where Mary reigned
supreme, but it's to be dead secret,
and If you'll come up and help me
| pack before you go out, so that 1 can
get away the first thing in the morn
ing, why, I'll give you my purple hat
that you liked so much"
"Oh, thank you, Miss Anne" said
Mary, "and indeed I'll help you. But
that's the hat that Mr.. Bob, always
liked on you-are you sure you'll be
wanting to give it away? I'll help you
ANYWAY, Miss Anne, you know that
oh, yes. Mary, you may have the
hat" said Anne, Then wrathfully to
herself, "Mr. Bob, indeed! 1 guess it
won't make any difference to- Mr..
Bob after this what hat wear
So they packed, and when all was
done. Mary went off to prepare for her
l"evening OUT
Il shall start the first thing in the
morning" decided Anne. as she wan
tdered around giving a few finishing
touches.
I Down the street that evening saun-
tered Mr.. Robert HARDWOOD. He had de-
cfded to call upon Anne. She did not
texpect h.m,-very true, but still he was
sure she would be glad to see him.
She always was.
Enjoying his after-dinner cigar he
turned the corner of her street and
glanced over at the house.
Just then the door opened and down
the steps lightly tripped a young wo-
man. He would have recognized Anne
anywhere by the purple hat that she
wore.
Good gracious, what's thatr' nut
tered Bob Harwood, as he stepped
back into the shadow,
L. Anne-and a-man! o, what a
fool I've BEEN" he calculated, sudden
~ brought to his senses. "Now sup
i pose some other lucky fellow has STEP
per in and cut me out. Well. II serves