The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-07-01
EVENING STORY
A Present for Stephen.
BY LOUISE OLIVER.


II haven't seen one since l was 10
years old. It's bean shooter, isn't
it?'
Jane laughed delightedly. Yes. it
is. Do you thin a small boy would
IF he doesn't, he isn't human II
should say"
There's only one trouble about
that, tho went on Jane more sober
| ly. II never thought until after l had
| bought it, that his mother is in very
| beans for a small boy to shoot into
peoples eyes might not happen to be
the way she would choose to spend
| her money.
| in a maple grove beside the road.
| Overhead the birds were chirping and
| fluttering in ecstacy for the day was
one of natures rarest, the kind she
| filings before the eyes of a winter
worn world to rekindle hope and faith
! in better things to come. It-was early
| spring, but already there were signs
that one young mans fancy had turn
ed lightly to thoughts of-very great
| admiration at least for the girl beside
! him.
In front of them on the road stood
car, James, that had stopped for re-
( pair. Just as it happened, the lieu
| tenant had come along and offered to
! help mend the perforated tire.
Jane had accepted gratefully and
now the car stood again ready for ac-
ton, to use military phrase.
There was really no reason why she
! shouldn't have gone ahead on her err
rand, but, when even the birds were
fussily choosing their mates, and the
long day was theirs, why shouldn't
they rest few minutes on the log and
"1+'s bir+bdav basket p, taking
to little friend of my mothers" Jane
explained, dumping the things out on
| the ground 81 wish you knew my
mother" she went on. IF you did
you would appreciate these things.
The dear soul was born without any
sense of humor at all, and dad and I
nearly have fits about her. Every
| May she's been sending some poor lit
! tie fellow out this road a birthday
present, and she always chooses the
awfulest things for him. One year it
was ear muffs and mittens she'd got
at sale. She said his mother could
I keep them in moth balls till tho next
| winter. And cnce she sent six bottles
i of sarsaparilla, for she said all chill
| dren needed a blood purifier in the
spring and no doubt his mother was
| too poor to buy MIN any. She's sent
everything from the life of Shake
speare to Gibbons Rome in the read
ing line. and once when she couldn't
|
sent a bolt of shooting for his moth
err"
| Evidently she has a sense of val
ues," laughed the lieutenant.
You're right there" nodded Jane.
We'll, anyway, she was too busy to
attend to it this year with all her war
/ work. and had a notion to let 1t go, but
l thought it was good chance to
make up to the little fellow for all his
years of disappointment, so I offered
to take the burden of shopping and
delivery off her shoulders. Ana here
1 ami -, z-.--- .-- -@f-
Blessed person! And how old is
your little boy?"
Bless your heart, I don't know"
said Jane. And 1 doubt if mother
does, either. The little fellow was a
proteSe of Aunt Mary, who died. And
all we know is that mother was to
send birthday present to Stephen
HAMPTON every year on the tenth of
May"
But perhaps" the lieutenant
stopped. You're right. There isn't
i doubt in the world that your visitation
will make up for all his former trou-
bles.''
We'll, there's the bean shooter, ami
here's bag of marbles-nearly all
/ classics, too and a top, and a mouth
! organ, a baseball and some peanuts
and bananas"
Bully for you! He's a funny boy if
he can't have perpetual birthday all
summer.
Jane put her treasures back into the
basket. 81 must be going,'' she said,
rising quickly. TT is getting very late.
My boy won't have any birthday pres
ent at all if stay here any longer
| That's sol" he agreed relucta ntly.
But won't you let me go with you ?"
| Jane considered a moment, then
looked up into his steady gray eyes
Mothers very touchy about my talk
ing to strangers. and the sky's been
our only introduction-that and the
car But she's dotty on uniforms
soldier to her Is a combination of mar
tyr and saint-so I guess you may
come and see Stephen get his pres
ents. Do you happen to know where
the Hamptons ive?"
Yes. I'll take you there If you
really don't mind my going
Before long they turned into the
driveway of a very pretentious coun-
try house. Jane was startled.
Where are we going?"
ITO the Hamptons."
WHY don't understand. Surely
they can't live here. 1 thought they
were poor"
They used to be. but somebody left
them some money. But surely that
doesn't make any difference. does it =?
They're the same people, not changed
bit. and boys are the same the world
over"
That's true" answered Jane, a bit
obviously.
"And 1 do think you'll miss some
thing if you don't know Mrs. Hamp-
ton. She's the finest woman 1 know"
They had come to the door now.
"All right said lane, stepping out of
the car. But I was thinking of the
sarsaparilla.''
In the big sunny living room Jane
was to discover something. The pho
} tograph in a silver frame on the read
) ing table and that of a little boy on
the wall were evidently the same per-
!, son, and encountering the eyes of the
officer, she realized that he was the
original of both
| AS this information conveyed itself
to her brain, and the consciousness of
fearful blunder was sendirg the
very blood to her cheeks. Mrs
Hampton came in Jane waited for no