The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-12-05
EVENING STORY
Au RevOfr.
BY LILLIAN EsTELLE HALPERIr

With her neat but worn coat but
toned to her chin, her shabby, black |
hat drawn down to meet her thought |
full brows, and with two books under |
her arm. Rolla was running down the |
stairs OF the Home Boarding house. |
Then something happened. Something
serious enough to bring tears to her
grave eyes. The heel of Rolla's slip
per caught in a treacherous place in
the ragged carpet; she clutched the
air, dropped her books, then fell in a
detected heap.
To add to her discomfort and hu-
initiation, young man in navy blue
came to her assistance. His solicitous
questions and attentions only served to
increase her embarrassment and,
strangely enough, she felt a resent
ment toward him as he helped her re-
gain the scattered articles.
Thank you, I'm not hurt" she said
CURLY.
There was ripple of laughter, and
Rolla saw a tow-head disappear.
With flaming cheeks and close to
tears, Rolla hurried out, and not I'M
til she had turned the corner did she
stop to brush the dust she had gath
cred in her mishap from her skirt
and sleeves and to pull her hat into
place. When she reached her desti-
nation-the Murray Hill School-and
glided in between the swinging doors,
the tense expression on her face re-
Taxed and she breathed sigh of re-
lief.
Rolla Randolph had attended this
very school when she was a youngSter
in "middies' and pig-tails. She had
been "out for the valedictory, but an
unfortunate turn of affairs at home
had made it necessary for her to short
en- her braids and lengthen her skirts
and enlist in the greatest of all armies
the army of toilers. Things had
gone from bad to worse. Mrs. Ran
dolph had become too i'll to keep house
and had gone to live with a sister. and
Rolla was obliged to make the great
est of all sacrifices-to live with and
among strangers.
Rolla had two passions-her mother
and education. She never passed a
school without a sigh, and witnessing
a graduation of a high school class
was at once a joy and an anguish to
her. In her heart she Rugged a hope
that some day she would take up the
broken thread of her education; and
now she had moved into this board
ing house because it was nearest to
her school," She could slip away to
the evening course as soon as she had
returned from the office and swal-
lowed her meager supper.
And how she loved those hours she
spent among the serious evening stu
dents. They we're the only bright spot
in her drab. lonely life.
Good evening. Mr.. Franklin" she
murmured, as she passed the tall
shoulders she could see above the
moving throng of students.
She offered this greeting nightly,
tho she never received nor expected
an answer; not that Mr.. Franklin
would purposely ignore her, but be-
cause he never heard her voice. Her
good evening" was merely a natural
expression of the gratitude she felt
toward the man who was at the helm
of an institution that offered her the
opportunities she longed for.
On her way home after school that
evening she ran fulls tilt into a sailor
who politely lifted his white cap. All
the confusion she had felt earlier in
the evening returned to her. She felt
| a sense of shame at her ungracious
department toward this man, and she
made a, desperate effort to mend it
now.
'I-I-thank you for-you must
pardon me- she stam1aered.
Perfectly all right he murmured,
lifting his cap again. Then, with a
smile and pointing to her books. he
said: "Studying French
Her embarrassment was forgotten
| in moment, and she felt as if she
| were conversing with an old friend
| had answered. and soon they were
| lost in books.
! I'm trying to have some one teach
me the meaning of a couple of words.
know" he told her.
Rolla was on the point Of offering
what little service she could, when
suddenly she remembered that he was
the friend Of the quiet girl on the Sec
ond floor. Perhaps this boy who op-
other girls fiance. Rolla would not
| come between them. She managed
to steer out of dangerous waters by
changing the trend of the conserva-
| ton.
Il went to see the Great Lakes
Naval Station. Our boys make a Won
derful showing, don't they?" she re-
marked.
Yes" he agreed. they make a
pretty decent showing, but they're
| fiercsly anxious to show the kaiser
| what they're doing
Rolla began to thaw out in spite of
herself before this boys wholesome
frankness.
do you know" she found herself
saying, Il fancy I saw you there?"
You might have; I was in the let
ter "A in America and in ~ when we
formed the word navy You must
have recognized me by my white cap"
They both laughed.
You call here often" she remarked
| irrelevantly.
Eyes, 1 came to visit Alice regu-
| 1arly," he answered
She bid him a sudden and cold
good night" and ran up to her room,
| resolving to avoid him in the future.
To see him was not right toward the
quiet Alice.
| When school was dismissed next
evening and she was making her way
| out she noticed Mr.. Franklin in con-
| versation with a sai1or-the Sailor!
A few minutes later, as she turned
ha 70 hn,- IL, 1. i
some one repeating her name. She
| turned to find the sailor greeting her.
He surprised her into cordially.
"How do you happen to come to my
school?" she demanded.
IT know the hurry high pretty we'll.
1 taught French there. besides, I am a
nephew of Mr.. Franklin as well as of
Uncle Sam" he laughed.