The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-07
EVENING STORY
The Hope Chest.
BY VINCENT 6. PERRY.

BY VINCENT G. PERRY.
Copyright, 1918. by Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicate.)
There never was chaperone like
Aunt Flo; both Leslie and Nora agreed
on that There would not have been
half 50 much fun at the seaside If she
had not come along. and she knew
just when to leave the young people
that was her best point But II every
thing had gone along as evenly as
Aunt FIo,s chaperoning there would
not have been story.
Leslie and Nora had been engaged
for over a year. He had a line posi-
ton and an income capable OF taxing
they were married. But Nora coulo
not see the situation in that light;
Why, she was just having the time OF
her life. 1t was all very well TO De
engaged and she was proud OF her
ring, but getting married in the near
future was out of the question. the
more Leslie urged her to set the GATE
for the day that would make him the
manifest man in the world. the more
unreasonable she thought he was.
"Why Geslie,' she said one DAY
near the end of the season.. you tax
as if 1 was on the verge OF being an
old maid like Auntie. I'm just IN my
early twenties-the age when a girl
getE the very best out OF lie. MY
good times have just begun
THAT doesn't say that tney WIN
cease when you become my wi1e' ne
argued. "You know that 1 love you
and that your happiness Is my iirse
consideration"
|. But arguing only made eacn more
stuhbornly sure of his own OPINION
a,,d finally Leslie left Nora in tears
He wished there was some way man
could relieve his feelings, but women
seemed to have control of all such
resources.
the veranda of the hotel. The minute
she saw Leslie appear alone she knew
something had happened and was
ready with her sympathy wnen ne
poured out his troubles.
II agree with you; Nora is foolish
to wait" she said after he had nm
| ished Have patience, tho, for 1 have
plan"
| He did not ask her what it was. but
when he left there was feeling that
| the day he had hoped for was not SO
! far off.
The next week was a wretched one
No one seemed to find anything to
smile over but Aunt Flo. and she
smiled all the time, anyway. Leslie
and Nora were not on speaking terms
i Nora had decided that a man with
such persistency was not the right
one for her, and had sent him back
her ring She was sorry after she
|
always gave the veranda gossipers a
subject to work upon and every time
| she passed them she imagined it was
she they were picking to pieces. Les
| lie did not seem to take it as hard as
she thought he would, and the way
he stayed around Aunt Flo irritated
| her. If Aunt Flo had not been so
sympathetic and had not smiled so
lovingly she would have become angry
at her.
| Near the end of the week, a trunk
arrived for Aunt Flo. She had not
said anything a bout it's being expect
| ed and Nora was rather curious to
know why it had been sent. Surely
her aunt had not bought new clothes.
She had more than she would be able
to wear there, as it was.
| ut contains some things 1 have had
sent here for you. dear" Aunt Flo ex-
| planned when Nora questioned her
about it. They are some things of
mine that I have intended giving you
and they can go home with your lug
| gage
You're a dear! What are they?"
! Nora asked eagerly.
Some things that / started collect
| ing when I was younger than you.
L prize them and would not let any
one have them but my favorite niece
| thought once that 1 would be able to
make use of them myself. but that
y d
sadness in Aunt F1os voice-the first
Nora had ever noticed
Nora found the trunk in her aunt's
room and the key was in the lock. 1t
was an old-fashioned trunk but it
| looked as if it had done very little
travelling She looked it ever rever-
emily before she opened it, Somehow
there seemed to be something sacred
about it. Carefully, she lifted the lid
ana the odor of fresh cedar filled the
4 IL
green silk. On top was a picture of a
very beautiful girl. She picked it up
anC looked at il wonderingly WHY it
was Aunt Flo when she was a girl.
w nat sweet and pretty girl she was,
toC! IL was some time before Nora
could take her eyes from the picture
her aunt was not unlike herself
| me picture, however, was forgot
ten IN the wonders found in the trunk
linens OF all kinds in sheets, pillow
| cases towels and many other things.
Before she reached the bottom she
knew what the trunk had been. 1t was
aunt F1o's Hope Chest" Now she
knew why it had seemed so sacred to
ner- Poor Aunt Flo, she had never
| been married, After Nora had the
| things all out and placed on the he'd.
sne stood back and admired them
| what a store of fine things there
| were! Wouldn't any bride be proud o
them! The things she had at home
ana NAG thought We're SO lovely, were
as nothing compared to these After
gazing at them and handling them
with cautious fingers for nearly half
| an hour, Nora decided to pack the
| things back As she leande over the
| trunk something caught her glance.
A neat pile of letters tied with a pale
| ribbon rested at the bottom. There was
| the same sacred feeling as she picked
them up and looked at the address on
the top envelope. 1t was dated years
before, when her aunt had been a girl
and the address was written in a bol|
| masculine hand. They were her aunt
| love letters. she knew without looking
, inside If her aunt had not meant to
| have her read them she would not
| have left them in the trunk shA
| thought. Slowly she undfd the ribbon