The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-11-09
BY MAY BELLEvILLE BROWN.

was the first organization in Sloan
Center which aimed to combine pleas
ure with profit and work. But she
was very busy just then, as the Ladies'
Aid was arranging a living calendar.
and the Patriotic Sisters struggling to
put a bust of Lincoln in the public
library. You are so much younger
than the rest of u.s." was the stock
phrase which urged her on to effort
in these societies.
Carol was 80. True, that should not
be considered old, but she had been
the child of age and whatever her
masterful mother had thought or read
or been, Carol shared with her. The
only appreciable difference made in
her life by the death Of her mother
friends felt free to levy upon the
daughters time.
1.-The Merrymakers gave a progress
sive dinner last night" Aunt Luretta
was making morning call upon Carol.
You know-started with soup, that
thing at each house until they wound
up with ice cream and cake at Mari
Annals
Carol, a pretty picture in her pale
blue chambray. as she sat peeling
Peaches on her shady back porch,
flushed a bit.
They seemed to be having a good
time when they passed here" she re-
piled, adding to turn the subject, I'VE
have only five dollars more to raise
for our Lincoln bust, Aunt Luretta."
us that so?" Aunt Luretta's tone
was absent. "They say that Mariana
has her eyes on Edward Lindsay. the
new lawyer, and that he has his eye on
the nomination for congress from this
district. I fancy that Mariana would
admire running in and out of the
White House and meeting all the way
up folks down at Washington"
Mariana is real good looking"
vouchsafed Carol. half indifferently,
dropping a peach in the blue bowl
beside her.
"Mph! If you like red hair and as
bossy a way as ever was!" shifted
Aunt Luretta. "One thing, she's got
enough brass to tell the president and
all of congress how this government
ought to be run. But am forgetting
my errand. Old Mr.. Banks is worry
ing about the Harvest Home enter
tainment. You know, it's his tenth
year as superintendent. and he's about
out of ideas. besides being SO old. so
he wants help with the Sunday school.
Mariana won't let the Merrymakers
take it up-too poky, she says. So thu
Ladies' Aid just had to promise to
help. and when we talked it over. we
decided since we are all so busy and
you being so much younger than the
rest of us"
Carol dropped the peach she was
peeling and groaned.
Aunt Lurettar' she rebe1led. 1.-The
next time a Ladies' Alder or a Patri-
otto Sister says that to me, just to get
me to do what she doesn't want to do
herself, Tll--I'll have my front teeth
pulled and take to crutches and BAN
dagesi 1 might as well, for all the
being younger has ever brought me,
except hard work"
=, vka
retta. II didn't-why, nobody thought
you always
"Yesy admitted Carol. duly, as she
resumed her work. 81 always have
and I suppose I always will. I didn't
mean to fly off-only the monotony
of things gets on my nerves. I will
be at the church-when did you say?
Thursday eveninga Tell Mr.. Banks
,, to expect me-"
Thursday evening was sultry with a
fine, choking dust suspended in the
air. It was the last parched effort of
summer to assert its reign, and Carol
walked with tagging steps. remember
ing the hammock under her shady ar
Dor, but the Ladies' Aid had promised
Mr.. Banks her help She knew that
it would mean many hot evenings
drilling restless children and decorat-
ing the church.
An automobile passed her with Ed
ward Lindsay at the wheel. 1t shot
ahead to the church door and stopped
to let out a passenger, and Aunt Lur-
eta had told her that he was to take
Mariana Marks out to Crystal Spring
that evening.
There was every possibility that Ed
ward Lindsay, however often he
might meet Carol Thurston. would
| never take time to look at her with
the seeing eye. but Fate took a hand,
| with one of these happenings which
wreck the nerves of driver and
which happen SO often that the tale is
almost too hackneyed to repeat
Little JOY Nelson. who lived next
door to Carol and who worshipped in
her shadow. espied her in front of the
church, and daI ted across the street,
crying. Miss Carol! Miss Carol! Miss
Carroll" Just as the engine clashed
and the wheels moved, the child
rushed in front of the car, hating, for
| a paralyzing moment, in the teeth of
danger. Lindsay reversed, with a
] sickening sense that the act was futile
Then a slender figure swooped within
his vision, and dragged the little body
free of the wheel, which stopped the
next second. just where the child had
| halted.
| Then white and painting. Lindsay
faced a blue dimity angel Of deliver
ance. herself breathing little hur-
riedly, as she stood with her arm
about the frightened child.
ct can never thank you enough" he
stammered. but you took a risk.
:, the car might have struck you. too,
/ Miss"
| Carol looked gravely up into his
FACET was p likable face. with
| cleancut features, steady gray eyes.
and dark hair. craving a bit at the
| edges.
| It am Carol Thurston," she replied
simply. 10y is my little neighbor and
I would take a greater risk than that
for her, any time"
st am Edward Lindsay" he in
formed her. Won't you let me take
you both to your destination"
1--WE are here already" smiled
Carol. 81 anne to help Mr.. Banks pre-
pare for our annual harvest home
and Joy is one of the Sunday school
pupils"
Edward Lindsay fingered. The drive
to Crystal Spring. in Mariana Marks
bracing company. did not allure. Just