The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-02
EVENING STORY
"Home Fires"
BY LOUISE OLIVER.


But, dear. it's the Oldest story in
New York to seek her fortune and
finally had to come home-or didn't
come back home-when her money
ran out.1
Toni"
well" bitterly. 'you know it,"
1--WE no idea what you are implying,
but it doesn't sound pleasant. To save
my feelings think I'd better say good
night"
And Laura turned away from the Ii
lac bush under which they had been
standing. just inside the gate. and
started up the path
Yes. there was, a lilac bush in full,
exquisite bloom, and a gate, and a
moon almost full. and a little low
house with a vine all over it, and all
around them, in the misty moonlight,
a hundred delicious smells of an old
fashioned garden just bursting into
bloom.
Tom caught her hand. Laura, for,
give me-" He pressed the hand to hts
lips. Tim a brute. But, of course.
I'm half mad with love for you. And
can't let you go. L cant-can't-
can't, that's ALL
trite now. ''If you'd only look at it
the right way it wouldn't be hard at
all. It's what I've been wanting al
ways, you know. I have a voice, not
that take any credit for it. It's like
the lucky penny in the bun. The bun
one says ought to make the most of
1t. and when Uncle Adam died and
left me $4,000, feel that I ought to
invest it in my voice instead of, say
real estate az stocks"
But what If you do succeed? What
o 70 sx,AI
singer? You can't go out over the
country singing and keep house too,
can you?"
That's further along"
lou mean you admit that you
"Oh, Tom, don't be unreasonable
I'm not admitting anything. Can't YOU
see that I'll. You don't want to nm
der stand. that's all.
Perhaps I don't" he said grimly.
and turning, walked out of the gate.
no Ike 81 mos. males: Tom had only one
had always pictured for himself a
future that included Laura and some
chubby, rollicking children in a neat
little shingle bungalow. of which he
already had drawn the plans. No one
khew' not even Laura, that he had
was all he did have. He intended
soon, when the promised raise in sal
ary arrived. to Join the Building and
Loan association. That was as near as
ne mad got to- possessing home. He
nad Just about saved enough to buy
Laura an engagement ring, when the
bomb of Uncle Adams death had
burst suddenly about his ears and
shattered all his fond hopes for the
future. How much more sensible 1t
would be for Laura to put her heri-
tage into property. say a neat little
inc
stead OF a rainbow vision that would
melt away in the hot sun Of disiIIusion.
Fer, of course. it was only q rainbow
VISION, he was sure of that. He had
neYeE taken any stock in music.
After the night in the garden. find
ing that he could not dissuade Laura
from her purpose. Tom assumed the
role OF the injured, and disregarded
all overtures for peace.
Laura, heavy hearted, but unde-
TERED. got her clothes ready. packed,
said good-by to her aunt, and departed
on>the morning express one day in late
May, without one word or line of fare
well from Tom.
A year passed. Vague rumors had
reached the little town of Laura's suc-.I
cess. rumors undoubtedly disquieting'i
to Tom. In his heart he had hoped
she would fail-a costly experiment,
he acknowledged, but the best thing
for them both. He had given her SO
long to discover the volatility of fame
and money, and had even hauled out |
the old dust covered plans for the
house.
But he had failed to consider that
Laura had some foundation to beginj
with, and that two Thousand dollars
Will go further when one is staying !
with relatives. The rumors were dis |
quietins. but when they were re-
peatedly verified and he began to see |
notices in the papers he gave up com
pletely. He put the plans away again, |
and enlisted before-$he draft
Another year passed, busy yearfor !
Tom. a year in which he learned many |
thugs. For one. he discovered that |
the world is big place. with big peo-
pie who have big ideals and broad, 7
fair minds. He found that his own |
point of view didn't count for much in |
the general scheme OF things any more |
than the fly on the elephants back
could lead the parade; that one lives
not for himself but for the good of
humanity, and that sacrifice brings
The greatest happiness one can know,
His thoughts were full of Laura
these days. As spring advanced and
The lilacs in the farmers gardens
spread their fragrance thru the air
waited their sweetnese of promise
across the fields. a queer sort of rest
essness seized him. He felt that-he
would give anything he possessed or
had ever hoped for for sight of her
He knew not where she was. 1t was
months since he had heard anything
about her at all. The old aunt had left
south. Greenwich and no one else
seemed to know.
There. was a, concert that night in
he Y. NJ. c. A. Every one was shaving
inQ putting on a clean shirt to go.
But Tom wandered across the road
rom the barracks and sat on a fence
the moon come up and think
ng of Laura and the night two years
lgo before when she told him she had
meant to go. l.
After while things grew quiet:
hen across the stiffness of the night
;ame a few chords on a piano and a !
Iweet feminine voice sang, Keep the
Home Fires Burning"
lumD rose in Toms throaf Tbaro