The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-12-19
EVENING STORY
Change of Boarding Places.
BY S. B. HACKLEY.


cool dusk, made himself smile at the
elf that dragged on his long fine
hands. but he turned back before
they reached the corner on which was
the rented cottage of Cecilia Reeves.
the woman he loved.
Cecilia. a young milliner who took
four college girl roomers to help out
on her income, bent her yellow head
lower over her heliotrope bed as she
caught sight of his retreat. She had
meant to give them some flowers when
they passed. She knew he loved the
heliotrope. Had she offended him,
she wondered.
While she puzzled, with a hurt
heart. Driscoll was saying to himself:
Il must keep away must not see
her any more. The woman 1 marry
must love my child-she must love
my little Babs!"
In the fourth year of Barbara's life
with him, the baby with the rogush
black eyes had come to them. Then
the next year Barbara died. and the
baby, an elfish, whimsical, lovable
thing. had tumbIed up somehow, I'M
der his widowered care, and three
years of his old cousins somewhat
grumpy housekeeping and nursing.
Then the old cousin had remarked,
and he had shut up the bungalow
with its crown of purple blossom
covered bougainvillea, and he and the
child had boarded since then, some
what to Babs's disadvantage, he
thought sometimes. Then he had
fallen in love with Cecilia Reeves.
He had thought she was the moth
err kind of girl Cabs loved herr until
lately. Since the evening before, he
was certain she was not. Then he
had decided he couldn't as kher to
him Not that he in
she would marry him if he did ask
her, but he couldn't, anyway.
His landlady of the last month had
been Miss Reeves's friend until Dris-
coll and little Barbara came to her
boarding house, and it occurred to her
that her quiet boardCr, who had
something to do with the management
of the city waterworks system, would
be an ideal second husband. Then
after the evening Cecilia came to take
dinner with her and her prize
boarder" walked home with her, Mrs.
Akers was no longer Cecils friend
Somehow in the last week she had
made the impression on Driscoll that
Cecil didn't like children. He had
come home a little earlier than usual
the evening before and started to the
kitchen.
"I wonder Ned keeps that child
since his wife died and he has no one
to care for her." he heard Cecils soft
clear voice. Il am going to try to
persuade him to let me find place for
her in home!'
Driscoll felt as tho something had
struck him. He turned and went up
stairs. She didn't want him to keep
scfenceless thing like that" he
little Babs-she cared so little for his
her to a home!
The child dropped the doll Mrs.
Akers had bought her that day and
ksVat.r1 fr,f<, hi lite
eager little face over and over.
fOh. Cecil--girl-did you think that
you could persuade me to do a con-
scienenceless thing like that?" he
thought as Babs ran downstairs to tell
Mrs. Akers "favver' had come.
Mrs Akers was already aware of the
fact. She had heard his step in the
back hall; she knew she had heard
CeciPs last remark.
"Was Miss Reeves here just now
when I came in?" Driscol asked at
dinner. st thought 1 heard her voice"
Mrs. Akers's red lips flashed smile.
'Oh. you eavesdropper! I hope we
weren't saying anything bad. Oh, yes.
we-Cecil was saying something about
Babs, wasn't she?''
AS Driscoll lifted the child to her
chair Mrs. Akers noting his set lips
felt that she had scored Who was to
tell him that Cecilia had been speak
ing of old Ned Mount, a destitute
cripple who persisted in keeping his
tiny orphaned grandchild in dirt and
That evening when the little girl
slept Driscoll got out that other
Barbara's picture, a thing he did not
often do-much as he had loved her
since he had come to love Cecilia.
The house of the heart has many
chambers, Barbara, dear" he said to
the picture, land 1 wanted to put that
other girl in the one alongside the
one in which you stay. But she
doesn't love the child daren't ask
her to come, Barbara"
The evening after she saw Driscoll
turn away from her gate, Cecilia went
to the theater with Lucien Glover, a
faithful admirer whom she particu-
larly detested, and sat near Driscoll.
Driscoll, moody and unhappy. pre-
one thought. Glover had no right
to buy her her favorite Richmond
roses-he himself had done that so
long!
Two weeks later came the day of
the annual rose carnival. Little Babs,
wild with excitement, went to see the
parade in the care of Mrs. Akers.
That lady. engrossed in the converse
ton Of a gossipy friend. gave the rest
less child but scant attention.
Seeing Cecil seated above her. the
little girl eli mbed to her and leaned
confidingly against her Cecil squeez-
ed the plump little body to her, and
kissed the witching little face.
"Favver won't bring me to see you
any mc-c.H she whispered; ''he fink
you don't like little girls!'
CeciJ's hsart grew hot. Had Elsie
Akers pat that and other ideas in his
head!
Little 3abs danced away, but in less
tfIa!; tive minutes Cecil heard her
:'-raam CO terror. She sprang to her
feet
"My baby! My baby! Where are
=cu:" Then she saw the child-her
! light dress blazing. Somebody had
dropped a piece of burning paper. A
mist swa n before Cecils eyes, but she
shook it away and flung her tan
wooden cape around the ch.'d
ITS al. out--the little girl isn't
hurt" she heard somebody saying.