The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-04-20

BY VINCENT G. PERRY.
Syndicate.}
For whole week no morning paper
had been delivered to Edward Aiken,
and he had about reached the end of
his endurance. TIL give that boy a
good calling down." he told himself
as he set the alarm clock so that he
would be able to do so. Complaining
to the newspaper office hadn't made
things any better, so he was going to
take the matter in his own hands.
The first ring of the alarm awaken
| ed him. By the time he was dressed
the paper boy was due. The morning
was blustery, so he stationed himself
in front room where he could be
sure to hear him passing. After a
short wait he heard someone coming
up his walk. The boy was not going
to forget him that morning, apparent
~, but it was best to give him talk
ing to about past misdemeanors, he
| thought.
Here you," he yelled as he opened
the door. II should give you a cuff on
the ear for not bringing that paper
last week. Is that the way you treat
old customers"
Il beg your pardon. you have made
a mistake" 1t was a woman's voice.
| Edward gasped.
Il thought you were my paper car
/ rier," he fastened to apologize.
so 1 am She had stepped into
| a spot where the light shone on her
features and he could see that she
was smiling at his mistake. She was
pretty and the paper bag about her
shoulders gave her an air that made
| her very attractive.
This is my first morning on the
route" she explained. THE local
newspapers have had trouble getting
| boys to carry their papers. There are
so many positions left vacant by men
who have gone to the war that it is
| easy for them to get other work. Get
/ ting up in the morning, especially
windy mornings like this one, doesn't
seem to appeal to the boys"
Il shouldn't think it would appeal
to young ladies, either" he said. as he
took a closer look at her. There
| should be lots oe work that you could
find
II am doing my bit this way" she
answered with a touch of pride in her
voice "AIl the girls in our branch
of the Red Cross are carrying paper
routes until the spring. The money
| we get from it goes to the fund and
| then newspapers are war necessity.
Just think of the unhappiness there.
would be In the house if the latest
news of the doings of our boys over
| there couldn't be read at the break
fas. table"
at certainly is patriotic thing to
do he agreed. Carrying morning
papers is no little task
1T is nothing compared to what
some women are doing" she answer
ed. I'VE all must take hold to win
thi., war"
AS she left to finish her route he
looked after her with admiration.
There was a plucky girl if ever there
was one. He had seen her face some
whcre before Where? He remem-
F1oc H-,-
Bra:thwaite. one of the most popular
! society girls in the city. He had seen
her picture recently in connection
with a patriotic work review in the
paper. The article had given her
great credit for her patriotic achieve
ments 1t would not be difficult to
bee ome acquainted with her, and he
decided he would at the first oppor-
tun:ty.
Altho her duties as a paper carrier
necess:tated early rising, Cora did not
neglec. he other patriotic work. 1t
was not many days before she was
formally introduced to Edward Aiken
and then the story of their first meet
ing had to come out. Their friends
made more of it than either of them
liked, but they bore it all good ma
turedly.
| Ar. Aiken seems very anxious to
be in your company, Cora" one of
her friends said one day after the
story had been retold. 1T isn't often
a man falls in love with his paper
carrier my dear"
Don't be ridiculous Cora laughed,
but when she was alone she thought
over her friends words. Edward had
lmost forced himself upon her and
she had not quite made up her mind
| what to do about it. He was hand
some and genial and rumor said he
was rich. She was still little more
than debutante but most girls had
one or more love affairs their first sea-
son. Why hadn't she had one? She
had asked herself that often The
| papers said she was pretty and she
had heard the same thing elsewhere.
She had always taken well with girls,
but why hadn't she with boys? Per-
| haps the war had something to do
| with it. After the war she would have
! lovers galore. Some gallant soldier
would make her a bride and she would
have a military wedding. That was
Edwards invitations for social func-
tions. There was no room in her hear
for anyone but a soldier-even tho the
Stacker was handsome.
She was always nice to him but that
didn't satisfy Edward When all his
decided that the only way he could
talk to her was by being on hand in
the morning when she arrived with
| the paper, The alarm clock worked
overtime Even a word or two from
her cheered him for the rest of the
day. If she favored him with more
| than that he would muse so long over
| it the paper would go Unread. But all
good things come to an end sooner or
later. When warmer weather came
| paper boys were not difficult to secure
and the girls were relieved of their
duty-rather pleasant relief. too.
II Edward was walking home one
night thinking of Cora. His path led
him by a public building that was