The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-16

EVENING STORY.
Absence Did Help.

Absence Did Help.
BY CATHERINE PARSONS.
| Copyright, 1915 by Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicate.)
| when Katrina had listened to a per-
sis ent quail call. 'fBob White" for
nearly two hours, she flung her book
| on the ground and sprang to her feet
| impatiently.
I'm fool,'' she told herself cross
| ly. "a stupid, silly girl! / came here
to get away from Carter-because 1
thought 1 hated him-and I've never
passed such a miserable week in my
life"
voice near her Katrina looked
| around and saw small ragged little
| girl, regarding her intently. =
| Il live over the hill in the gray
house." she began by way of introduce
ton. Il seen you sittin' here yester-
day and you looked SO sad that 1
Thought maybe you got some trouble,
too"
And what could child like you
know about treuble?"
More'n most folks, / guess. There's
| lots of children over to our house, and
ma says wherever Inere's children,
| there's trouble. But she says too that
wherever there amt any, there's more
! trouble
| Katrina smiled How old are
yot?" she asked with more interest.
| Il amt sure. Ma says I'm nine
and pa says ten. There's so many of
us we get mixed. We got eleven in
all countin' my cousin that spends
when he marries Mollie-if they do
ges married now. That's another
| trouble
Is your sister engaged ?"
| w ell, she's been keeping company
| with Joe, but they've broke up now.
| Ma says it's all foolishness and she S
! awful upset cause she thought she'd
got Mollie off her hands for keeps
And Mollie cries and says she hates
! him and she won't ever get married to
no one. 1 gotter go, now, it's supper
| time, guess. I'll be round tomorrow
| if get time. My names Elfreda, af-
ter my aunt that died. Goodbye
she was off like the wind and Kat
rlna- watched the shabby little figure
disappear. with the first sign of in
terest she had shown for over week
4 wonder what they fought about
she said to herself, and Immediately
| decided to forget all about them.
1t was not SO easy, however for the
next afternoon E1freda came again.
She was fairly bursting with excite
| ment.
What do you think has happened -
And without waiting for an answer
she went on: "Nfollie's made it up with
Joe, and they're goin' to be married
Amt it grand,''
Indeed it is. dear How did it hap
penn"
Yesterday when MoIIie was over to
her place to work, the lady was all
broke up because a young Teller she
knew had gone away from home to
stay always because some girl give
| him the slip. An she told Iollie if
4 folks would have more sense an learn
very words such things wouldn't ha p
pen. When Mollie come home she said
l could take note to Joe. an I did
/ an he grlnned and said 1 was good
girl. He gave me a penny, tool
For moment there was silence,
then the child seized Katrina and
pointed at two figures crossing a near
| by field. The man had his arm about
the girl and their faces were radiant.
| That's them!'' whispered Elfreda
Amt they made it up greati''
| viii you mail letter for me ON
your way homer" asked Katrina. at
won't take me a second to write'
| Elfreda agreed willingly, and Ka-
trina hastily seraw1ed few words on
a piece of paper, and addressed the
envelope.
! There you are, ehild-thank you
I for posting its
1t was dusk in the field by the old
apple tree, but Katrina had forgot
ten all about time. She was thinking
the next evening. Would he come?
Perhaps he could not get away. Or
no might not care to come. She
thought of Mollic and Joe and her lip
began to CULVER. YEARLY, she leaned
her mead against the tree and closed
her eyes.
Unseen by her, young officer huf-
ried aefoss the held towards the rus
tic seat. When he was quite near he
called cheerfully: wake up and
eyes and for a moment gazed at him
dazadly. Then. light dawned and she
sprang to her feet.
why, Carter" she cried. You got
your commission! Oh, isn't it won
derfuL But what made you come
tell me, quickly, please
) We'll, you see, just couldn't keep
away. I've missed you so. and I've
hated myself terribly, and the, yes
terday 1 got my commission and Ri
have to go away. and 1 had to see if
you would go with mel knew YOU
| would never send fof me. SO 1 came
But did send fer v6u-the letter
went fn hour ago. And I begged you
to eorne-sha r1eIess'i-. / did,''
!. His arms vent abo7-+ her
What ma de you do it, dearest
he asked her
"a ragged. dirty little girl SFs -ss,4e
me feel SO mean and lonely ana mis-
cradle that there wasn't ANYTHING else
for me to dol" Then, her voice chang
ed, and she caught her breath in a
sob. +Oh. Carter, I've missed you so
dfeadfullyi There hasn't been a night
when I have not cried myself to sleep
and Aunt Alice thinks I am perfectly
mad. I Know. Please never leave me
again-pIeaset"
IT guess not, Well be married the
! minute we get hemei"
The next day Eafreda called to ask
Katrina to come to Mo1Iie's wedding.
I'm sorry, dear, but I'm going
hen1-to my own wedding" she told
her.